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Vitamin B12 deficiency and small fiber neuropathy
Neuropathy | Last Active: Sep 10, 2023 | Replies (73)Comment receiving replies
B12 and neuropathy & bloodwork
Hello. Looking for answers. Any advice would be appreciated. Events: July 26 2023 out of no where I began to get full body tingling, pin & needles, burning sensation with sporadic itch. My skin felt I was sunburned. Sleeping my back felt as if I was lying on sandpaper. Not real severe, but scary. July 27 my ankles were aching & my front of my calves. July 28 went to ER. At this time I was on antibiotic Cefpodoxime proxetil for UTI. Hospital ran labs. They said all looked good. No explanation why my skin was feeling this. It's now been over a month. Symptoms progressed. Went back to ER onn August 24, there ran many labs. The said I have PN and prescribed Gabapentin. I reviewed my labs on My Chart with a fine tooth comb. These are my concerns: My MCHC is above normal range at 37. The normal range is 32-36. My trends are as follows starting from August 24 to June 3: 37, 36, 37, 36, 36. I researched high MCHC (UWH) and it says: High MCH scores are commonly a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too big, which can be a result of not having enough vitamin B12 or folic acid in the body. Although they did a B12 test is was "Borderline", mine was 268. The normal range is 213-816. I am 55 digits to be considered B12 deficient. I have only 2 trends, August 24 at 268 and Sept. 13 2021 at 330. With the information I provided,could I be experiencing neuropathy symptoms from B12 deficiency.
Replies to "B12 and neuropathy & bloodwork Hello. Looking for answers. Any advice would be appreciated. Events: July..."
Hello @sallylynn. I noticed your topic and wanted to get you into an existing discussion with others, so you will see I have moved your post here:
- B12 and neuropathy & bloodwork: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/vitamin-b12-deficiency-and-small-fiber-neuropathy/
Out of curiosity, have you started taking B12 at the advise of your neurologist once you discovered the deficiency?
Did you start experiencing these symptoms after you started the antibiotics?
I have been experiencing the same symptoms since last November. Mine also came on suddenly. After numerous tests (MRI, nerve test, bloodwork, etc. ), the only thing found was low B-12 (312). The neurologist said that even though that is technically within the normal range, for neurology, they like to see the number over 400. My numbers have gone up since taking supplements, but I still have flare ups of symptoms. I can live with my symptoms without medication (I do take B-12, B-complex, vitamin D, and magnesium glycinate), but they are worrisome. My personal opinion is that hormones are also playing a role (age 52 and in perimenopause) and that 2 boosters and having covid in a 6-month period (April-October 2022) has put my immune system into overdrive. I have seen several doctors (GP, OBGYN, 2 neurologists, and a cardiologist) and they just do not know. Best wishes to you.
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I have concerns myself about B12. As a teen, I used to get weekly B12 shots that counteracted my extreme tiredness. Now docs refuse to give shots and I take a 1000 mcg B12 pill each day. I’m still exhausted everyday. Doctors should listen to us more because we’re in the body with the problems!