B-6 vitamin danger!

Posted by Lynsorensen @lynsorensen, Dec 11, 2017

With the assistance of a neurologist at Mayo Clinic, I have almost completely eliminated the uncontrolled muscle spasms now. First and foremost: beware of taking multi-vitamin capsules that have B6 listed. B-6 overdosage (which is contained in every multivitamin I found in stores and on the internet) can cause loss of muscle control and spasms in some people. So can gluten found in many foods so now I am also gluten free. I now work out with a personal trainer 3 days a week and do water aerobics another 2 days. Got off gabapentin and also clonazepam. Using CBD oil capsules each morning (no more opioids or chemicals) and using a CBD topical ointment to rub on my leg muscles each night. He says I don't need him anymore! And I don't. No more shaking or muscle cramps or pain. Still a little numbness but that is receding also.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Thank you all for your comments on B6. After reading all the posts I asked my doctor to order a lab test for B6. Just got the results. B6 was 31 with the upper limit at 20.
My question now is how do I get it back into the accepted range.
I have already stopped my daily multivitamin and my daily protein drink. Any other suggestions are eagerly anticipated.

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@arnrob

Thank you all for your comments on B6. After reading all the posts I asked my doctor to order a lab test for B6. Just got the results. B6 was 31 with the upper limit at 20.
My question now is how do I get it back into the accepted range.
I have already stopped my daily multivitamin and my daily protein drink. Any other suggestions are eagerly anticipated.

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Hello @arnrob -- Did your doctor give you any suggestions? I know stopping any vitamin supplements is probably one of the big ones due to most of them having way more than the daily allowance of B6 in the ingredients. I did find a site that offers some suggestions here to lower B6 levels:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/522968-how-to-lower-b6/

John

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@johnbishop Thank you for the site referral. I am easily within the safety zone unless there are underlying symptoms causing neuropathy. Because of Depression/anxiety along with fibromyalgia I no longer mention any new symptoms. I see a specialist and it seems the only thing they see in my chart is depression. Think maybe it is there in red?

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Hi @parus -- I wonder if a heart to heart with the specialist could have them focus on other items in your chart. Not sure how I would do it either if that were my case. Maybe ask them what about x, y and z is causing my depression?...something to focus on them on the other items on your chart. Hopefully you can get them to change. I would add - hey doc how is this helping me with my daily goal - learn one new thing each day?

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@johnbishop Thank you John. I am not scheduled for any follow-ups until the 6 month check-up. I see the pain specialist in February. I can ask him for input if he has the time. Always the feeling of "get them in, get them out" or like patients are being herded like cattle. Pay no mind unless one hits the ground and cannot get up. I won't try that technique. Just very discouraged with a low quality of life. Thing is I am retired (not by choice) and they have other patients that there is hope for in some way. Sounds like the depression talking and it is. Thing is I do not have a history of pain until 2009. Seems since I have mental health issues I am not being listened to and any of the structural problems cannot be fixed, Fibromyalgia meds do nothing but mess with my psyche. If a doctor cannot prescribe a pill to help I feel like my seeing one is pointless. I am not drug seeking, attention seeking or any of the other things that I have had hurled at me. I am whining and not my thing either. Discouragement sums it up. Yup, the 2 "D" words.
I also get asked when I see the therapist again. In short, tell the therapist. What is a therapist supposed to do for physical problems. Even the therapist says, "what am I supposed to do?". Suck it up old person your life is over and you are a waste of my time and skin.

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@parus

@johnbishop Thank you for the site referral. I am easily within the safety zone unless there are underlying symptoms causing neuropathy. Because of Depression/anxiety along with fibromyalgia I no longer mention any new symptoms. I see a specialist and it seems the only thing they see in my chart is depression. Think maybe it is there in red?

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I get why they would give it some attention, but if you have had depression for a long period of time, without the new symptom, it would seem to me that it is unlikely that the new symptom is directly related to your depression. I know I feel worse generally when I am in a low cycle with my depression, but is typically things I already have a problem with physically being a bit worse, but not new symptoms.

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@parus, I am right there with you. My current psych does not want to discuss new meds, blames my anxiety and depression on my chronic illness and the opiates I take. I am attempting to see a new one, but all of the good ones in my area are scheduled 5-6 months out. The person I most trust with a referral gave me one and they are scheduled thru March with a waiting list of 162 now that I am on it. It is hard to not be discouraged when the thing you have some hope for will not happen for at least six months. I'm not getting any younger and the longer I stay uninspired to exercise or anything else, the longer the road back.

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@gmanoo7 So true. It took me 6 months to get into a qualified therapist and I can say it was worth the wait. I am not getting any younger either and the older we get the longer the road back. I did an 8 minute exercise with Don Fiore on youtube this morning. It is a start-again. A mess up with a new PCP and thyroid dosage was a set back and now I am endeavoring to try getting some muscle tone back as well as shedding the weight from the incorrect dosage. continuing to be angry because the PCP would not listen gets me nowhere and I am only harming myself by hanging onto something I had no control over. Setbacks caused by the ignorance of others doth keep me rankled. Working on it by painting and keeping busy. Plan to meet with Don Fiore again in the morning. I do Tai Chi and Qigong as it is low impact. Always was an active person and now I feel rather as a sloth.
So discouraging being on a waiting list. Maybe we both need to try and tap into that tiny bit of motivation and see if it can increase. Need to start some place.
Nothing to do with the topic again...Can recommend drinking cranberry juice-cold-pressed w/ no sugar added. I buy Lakewood brand and I definitely need to dilute it. A quart will last me 2 wks. Runs around $10/qt.

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@parus

@johnbishop Thank you John. I am not scheduled for any follow-ups until the 6 month check-up. I see the pain specialist in February. I can ask him for input if he has the time. Always the feeling of "get them in, get them out" or like patients are being herded like cattle. Pay no mind unless one hits the ground and cannot get up. I won't try that technique. Just very discouraged with a low quality of life. Thing is I am retired (not by choice) and they have other patients that there is hope for in some way. Sounds like the depression talking and it is. Thing is I do not have a history of pain until 2009. Seems since I have mental health issues I am not being listened to and any of the structural problems cannot be fixed, Fibromyalgia meds do nothing but mess with my psyche. If a doctor cannot prescribe a pill to help I feel like my seeing one is pointless. I am not drug seeking, attention seeking or any of the other things that I have had hurled at me. I am whining and not my thing either. Discouragement sums it up. Yup, the 2 "D" words.
I also get asked when I see the therapist again. In short, tell the therapist. What is a therapist supposed to do for physical problems. Even the therapist says, "what am I supposed to do?". Suck it up old person your life is over and you are a waste of my time and skin.

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OMG i so hear and feel your pain. It is exactly how I feel. I am holding on by a thread still working but off thank goodness due to the weather. I spent two hours this morning on the phone trying to get an appointment with a specialist in Boston only to be told first available is 2019 a year out...But from experience I can tell you the meds suck. I had spinal surgery last year didnt work I'm worse. The surgeon said "It's a crap shoot" Well you werent saying that BEFORE you got paid. Todays' Physicians should be ashamed of them selves. Depressed? You have good reason to be. Today's Dr's are nothing but drug pushers that's all they know. Wanna kill yourself? "Call the hotline they will help..yeah bullshit

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I keep OJ around to deal with hypoglycemic events, but don't have them regularly so fortunate that my wife keeps it from spoiling. Fruit juice even with no sugar added are all very high in carbs and are not on a diabetics typical diet. I do eat quite a bit of fruit as I can handle the carbs in most fruits. I will have to check out the youtube videos you reference.

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