B12, I think it might be helping!

[Erin]

I've had numbness in my right hip (diagnosed 2mos ago as Meralgia Paresthetica) since April. 2 months ago, I developed Optic Neuritis in my left eye (which is why I finally went to a neuro for my hip)

They did a MRI on my brain and found two little "white spots" (didnt call them lesions) on my brain. The neuro said he thought that the little spots were related to the migraines that I've had since I was a kid. He didnt see any evidence of any demylineation and said to just let the Optic Neuritis run it's course and if I wanted to, he'd do nerve studies on my hips (I also had some numbness in the left hip, but not as bad as the right)

I decided to wait for the Optic Neuritis to start to get better before doing anything. I researched a lot and aside from finding all the scary info about demylineating diseases, I also found info on B12 deficiencies. I decided to do an experiment last week.

I figured it wouldnt hurt to take some B12 every day to see if things would improve. I bought a couple of bottles from WalGreens and started out by taking three 100mcg pills one day (to get a blood level up) and then have been taking one to two 100mcg B12's every day. It's been a week now, and I'm not too sure I'm really having an improvement. I think I might, but I've had the numbness in my hip since April, so I've almost forgotten what normal sensation there feels like.

I have been taking notes, and noticed yesterday and today that the bone-dead exhaustion I'd been feeling lately isnt as bad as it was. My gurgly tummy that I've had for the past 3 or 4 months is barely making a peep, and it almost feels like the numbness on my left hip (the least affected) is nearly non-existant.

The right hip (actually the whole leg down to my ankle) still has the numbness, but today the...quality of the numbness seems to not be as annoying as it was.

Plus, my hands dont feel as cold as they have been lately.

I havent really noticed that much improvement with the Optic Neuritis, but I get the feeling that it would take longer than a week for me to notice any improvement there.

I think the B12 might be helping...it doesnt seem like it's hurting me. I probably needed it anyways. I dont have the best eating habits (eat out a lot. drink a lot of pop. dont eat a lot of healthy foods)

I probably should have had them check my blood before taking the B12, but I didnt have all that great of an experience with my doctor's office the last time I was there (felt like they didnt believe me about the hip numbness until I came down with the optic neuritis)

Hopefully I'm having real improvement and that this isnt just a placebo effect or something.

[mrsdoubtfyre]

However, I think your dose is too low. The typical oral dose to treat is
1000mcg/day--and some severely impaired people use 5,000mcg.

You are probably paying more for your item at Walgreen's for a subpotent version.

For 9 cents a day you can have methylcobalamin (the active form of B12) made by Jarrow. you can find this at www.iherb.com

It is best to take any B12 supplement on an empty stomach, away from food and/or fiber. Only about 10micrograms is typically absorbed from 1,000 mcg.
That is why a large dose is required.

Rose will be here soon, and will reiterate this advice.
In your case more may be very helpful.

And for neuritis issues, I'd suggest 200-300mg a day of Thiamine (vit B1)
This is very effective for neuropathies. It is an old treatment, but it does work
and is inexpensive and benign.

[Erin]

I have been taking it on an empty stomach.

I had taken it right after eating one night, and I got a stomach ache a few hours later...not sure if that had anything to do with it.

I started out with a lower dose because I hadnt really seen much info on how much to take.

I dont know if it's a placebo effect or what, but I do feel a little better since starting the B12. Still numb in the hip, but I feel like I have a little more energy than I did. It took almost all week before I started to feel a little better. Hopefully it starts helping the numbness in my leg eventually.

I had bought the WalGreens brand just because it was inexpensive and I was basically experimenting to see if B12 would help. I'll look at that other brand you mentioned tho.

I'm also going to try to change my eating habits. I need to start eating food that's healthier for me and not go out to eat so much.

At least I've already been exercising, so all I've got to do in that area is just exercise more.

[rose]

that 100 mcg dose would give you plenty. However, in case you are in the process of losing intrinsic factor it is very important that you stick with the 1000 mcg minimum.

And a B complex (at a different time of day) would be a good idea. Sorry if I missed it and you are already doing that.

As far as optic neuritis and other central nervous system problems, they can take a long time to improve. Improvement can even take place over several years when significant damage has been done.

Best wishes,

rose

[Erin]

Thanks for the reply Rose...

I was doing some more research on the internet tonight about B12 and saw that I should get some B Complex too...

My aunt (a nurse practitioner) suggested that I take a multi-vitamin in addition to the B12 (she actually suggested Flintstones vitamins!). She said that the Flintstones would have some of the more pure forms of vitamins and that the WalGreen's "special" that I've been taking might have a lot of filler in it that I wouldnt need or want.

I have yet to ask a doctor if it could be a vitamin deficiency, but just from my little experiment over the last week and a half makes me think that that could have been my problem.

It was only friday when I started to feel like the "quality" of the numbness was changing. Over the weekend, the numbness in my right hip and leg was just driving me nuts....almost as bad as it did when it first started having problems. Today, just sitting or having certain types of clothing on my leg was making me want to crawl out of my skin. It's still making me feel strange, I've actually been having to stand or kneel on the floor, or lay on my stomach because sitting normally makes the front of my thigh feel weird all the way down to my knee.

But even with all the weird little sensations, I am starting to think that it might be improving some instead of getting worse. That surprises me (and makes me think it could be a bit of the placebo effect). Everything I've read lead me to believe that once you have nerve damage, it takes months to years for things to improve if at all. I'm going to call the neuro I'm seeing for migraines about that tomorrow...

I've noticed that the B12 has been making me feel a teeny bit nauseous (aunt said it would) but it's not really affected my appetite or anything. I love the fact that my gurgly stomach that I've had for I-dont-know-how-long feels a lot better too. (my aunt said B12 would help digestion and other stuff)

I'm going to call my doctor's office tomorrow and tell them my suspicion about the possibility of a B12 deficiency, and possibly have another checkup for my overall health and then ask them about a diet and what kind of vitamins I should be taking. I'm thinking of trying to have kids in the next few years (if my boyfriend is so willing...knock on wood!) and I probably should start now in getting my body to a point where it will be able to handle the stress of being pregnant. I'm 37, so I really should get my act together on that.

Hopefully all the stuff that's been going on with my body (the numbness, optic neuritis) will be reversible if I start taking care of myself now.

[mrsdoubtfyre]

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, you need to ask your doctor
for prenatal vitamins NOW. These have 1mg of folic acid, which is recommended for women planning on being pregnant, and during and after pregnancy.

There are even new prenatals with essential fatty acids in them:
PrimaCare
Duet DHA
are two names. I'd strongly urge you to get one of those, for best results,
for you and your future baby.
example:
http://www.primacareefa.com/

Taking too much Vit A in supplements is not recommended for those wishing
to become pregnant. Vit A is implicated in birth defects. The newest prenatals we have now, have lowered Vit A levels in them.

[Erin]

I'll look into the prenatal vitamins you mentioned.

Is there a difference between regular vitamins and prenatal vitamins? Would the prenatals work just as well for vitamin deficiencies?

My optic neuritis eye is giving me fits today. Just feels weird...feels like my eye is trying to cross...argh! Having to do things like crochet and type with one eye closed. My numb hip feels about like it did yesterday. I'm so hoping the vitamins will help. (they probably cant hurt)

[rose]

I do hope you will follow mrsdoubtfyre's advice. She is soooooo educated and informed.

Also, do remember that the process of improving, especially if there is damage due to B12 deficiency, is often one with hills and valleys, twists and turns. Nausea, vision, sensation, and too many other things to mention, can seem worse as the body is adjusting to its positive changes.

Hoping.

rose

[Erin]

I just had a long chat with my dad (I'm unemployed and live with my parents, who also pay my medical bills) and he agrees with me about the pre-natal vitamins (he's a nurse) that they'd probably be good for me.

He did pitch a fit when I told him I wanted to have a doctor check me for vitamin deficiencies and to make sure there's not anything else wrong with me. He apparently doesnt want to pay the doctor bill. I explained to him that a bill for a doctor's visit would probably be cheaper now than it would be later if there is something wrong with me that needs more than just a B12 pill every day.

I'd had a blood test in August when I developed the optic neuritis. The only abnormal finding on it was an elevated liver enzyme. (I dont know what all they were testing for) I'm curious as to why it was elevated, and I've been fighting my dad on going back to have my blood re-tested. (I really wish I could find a job soon...maybe then I wouldnt have to depend on my dad for everything)

As for my vision being more wonky the past couple of days...at least it's nowhere near as bad as it was two months ago. I can deal with a little blurriness...it's those big blind spots that obscure 2/3rds of my vision that I hated. (those went away about 2wks after my eye went weirdo on me) If taking vitamins is going occasionally cause my eye to seem more wonky while it's healing, I can deal with that...as long as it heals.

I'm actually kind of excited that the B12 seems to be helping. Now I just have to figure out if I'm short on anything else and make sure I keep everything in balance.