Is hard on females...it can cause PCOS (polycystic ovaries) and other
hormonal disruptions. Not good for mood disorders.
http://www.psycheducation.org/hormon...polycystic.htm
PCOS affects insulin and sugar metabolism which can be very bad for mood swings.

Depakote also depletes l-carnitine which affects metabolism big time.
You can have blood tests to see if this is happening.

Also zinc supplements can help with hair loss, in some patients.

But Depakote also affects liver functioning as well. You are probably doing periodic liver tests.

You might consider discussing a change in mood stablizer for her.
Discuss this with the doctor. Options include, Lamictal, Tegretol, or
Keppra. This would be your doctor's decision.

Hello everyone, I was checking this site because I wanted to see about B12 injections, and noticed how so many people were having problems with tingling in their extremities, associated with pain, and complete loss of feeling.

Well...I am bipolar, and all of the drugs used to treat this disorder cause these, not to mention many other drugs on the market for other health issues.

I have had loss of feeling in all parts of my body, pins and needles, and my left side weaker than my right, to the point where I would limp. I have also had my eye site deminish from these drugs.

So I encourage anyone who has been on ANY drug at ANY time to research, and go to forums, and check out what other people have experienced.

All my tests came back inconclusive for nerve damage...2 years ago, but it is till going on....however, I have now decided to go the natural way. Too many things have happened to my body. I encourage you not to put up with side effects, or realize it is caused by prescription drugs. Most doctors do not even know what drugs cause what problems, only a few of the side effects they are aware of.

Most mood stabilizers (as for bipolar) can also cause a b12 definciency, and many other problems.

Was great to see the positive results on B12, I am looking forward to being healthy was again!

As I read through threads like this one, I wonder how long I was B12 deficient before figuring it out. I had complained of carpal tunnel type pain for years before I was diagnosed with it. I remember my mom teaching me to crochet and me complaining that it hurts my hands and she would tell me I wasn't doing it enough and that I was too young to have such pain. That was in my 20's. I know now that I had gluten problems then, so I am wondering if my neuropathy was in the beginning stages way back then. My sister was diagnosed with vitamin deficiencies at a very young age, maybe 6 or 7--of course, celiac disease was not thought of then, not for us anyways.

How do we know how much B12 we should be taking? Doctors only go by the standard levels and on my last blood test (the last one he checked my B12 level anyways) my level was 1277, of course I was taking a daily dose of 1200mcg of B12 then, now I take 2400mcg and feel the same. The progression of my neuropathy is slow, which I am very grateful for--yet, how do we know when enough is enough?

but B6 too that you need for carpal tunnel.

I found only the activated form called P5P worked for me.

Hypothyroidism also contributes to carpal tunnel. Excess fluid is
deposited under the ligaments with low thyroid and this compresses the
area and pinches the nerves.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=3&gl=us

You know Mrs. D--retaining fluid, can that be anywhere. The thyroid issue is something I am trying to get info straight to take to the doctor. My doctor said my thyroid levels were fine, yet when I listed them in the forums, i was told that they border on hypothyroidism. I have been taking my temp at random times now since Friday Mar 2nd. It looks like my average temp would be 97.2, going as low as 96.0 and never higher than 98.4. I'm told that a adrenal test is something I should ask for.

T4, Free 1.1
T4, Total 9.3
T3 Uptake
T3 Uptake 27.2
T4 Free, Calculated 2.53
T3 Total 140

I do not know if this test should also be done after fasting, if so, it wasn't. I had no idea they would test my blood at this visit. I returned for a 2nd blood test after fasting for cholesterol and a 2nd thyroid test, just to compare and someone in the office decided to not do the thyroid test as the doctor ordered because it had been tested in Dec.

When ever my carpal tunnel is mentioned, the doctor says it is part of my neuropathy. I have fluid pockets on both knee caps too, could that be connected, been there for 5 years now.

For many the dose of B12 does not show a difference in the short term. Generally, it is more of a long term difference.

Of course, one is not guaranteed that all damage will be repaired, but much often is over a long period of time (in those who have not been treated early). And symptoms can be so subtle for so long (and so confusing and seemingly unrelated), that frequently the damage has been occurring for much longer than one realizes until seemingly unrelated things begin to improve.

How long did you stop B12 prior to each of those test samples being drawn?

rose

Rose, I never stopped my B12, I was never told I should. The facts they leave out!!!! Most of the time, I didn't even realize they would be doing a blood test. I have been taking B12 now for 2 years and never stopped taking it. The first blood test I had here was a non-fasting test and my B12 level was 1277, so my doctor told me my level was fine, not a problem at all. Before he ran the test, he was telling me he wanted me to have B12 shots, after the test, he never mentioned it again. I have always thought that my B12 level is only supported by my taking B12.

I research and research and just can't find what works for me. My variety of food is very limited now because of my intolerances. I know I can't get everything I need from my food, it's just not possible. I have gained weight, which I am very unhappy about, I do not feel good. I even told Kev I am about ready to eat gluten again, if I am not going to feel good, I might as well enjoy my food! Which, any of you that know me, know I will never do that, yet SOMEDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!

Aha! They can't tell you what they don't know, and chances are 100 to 1 that they don't know.

That is not a very high level considering you took B12 right up to the test. If you had been at that level after stopping the B12 for a few days, the result would be a 99% indication that your stores were full and your body awash in healing B12, which would be a very good thing. But, in the case you describe, there is no such indication.

Regarding "too much," the better lab ranges don't even have an upper level, because they realize that "too much" is not an issue.

I would keep on taking the larger dose, and in fact I would take more.

Have you looked at thyroid, which is likely to malfunction in conjunction with B12 malabsorption or as a result of the damage it has done. Sometimes the thyroid recovers on its own, but sometimes it doesn't.

rose

If I were you I would also read up on the benefits of adding n-acetyl cysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, and acetyl-l-carnitine to your supplements.

The combination of all three can help repair and protect against some kinds of neuropathy and in general, they help protect everyone against a host of different medical conditions that can be caused by environmental stressors.

The amino acid arginine also helps repair nerve damage.. And also make sure to take fish oil, thiamin, and other B-complex vitamins.

Also, anyone who is having neuropathy issues, you should check for hidden *mold* in your environment. Even if you don't smell or see anything, it can be hiding inside of walls, attics, basements, etc. Spore counts may not show anything, but the mold toxins persist as a coating on tiny fungal fragments. Then the normal motion of air through a building can spread it everywhere - it can coat your possessions and cause major inflammatory issues that can ruin your health and send your immune system into an inflammatory nightmare.

Once they enter your bloodstream via inhalation, dermal absorbtion, or ingestion - (Inhaled toxins are very effective but also 30% of inhaled mycotoxins end up in the stomach as well) they recirculate in your bile and they can damage your liver, kidneys, gall bladder, stomach and GI tract, as well as your thymus, pancreas, brain, eyes and immune system.

They can cause lesions in your brain, which show up as 'UBO's on your MRI.

Often, this causes memory problems, chronic fatigue, etc. And much more.

Mold toxins can be very destructive of your health and they can persist for a very long time after the actual mold growth has been 'killed'. For decades or even longer after a water intrusion issue has been fixed. Once your body goes into an inflammatory state, recognizing what exactly is setting the inflammation off is hard because the inflammation lasts a long time because the toxins are low molecular weight and they permeate your entrire body, and store up in your fat. You can get them out with cholestyramine but often they have already done a lot of damage. And you also have to get out of mold completely.

Mold and even the dust of old now-dead mold needs to be physically removed, not just covered up and hidden.

I live in a basement apartment

And Rose, yes I have been worried about thyroid. I posted my numbers earlier in this thread. The doctor didnt think thyroid was a problem, but I am not so sure.