Continuation from October 1, 2012 discussion of I have issues with balance

I have been retired since May 2013. I am living in Florida now. My dr. And neurologist were my age. Over 70. My issues with balance got  so bad that my mobility got reduced to 10 paces before I had to sit  and gather my strength to do another 10 paces. The dr. I chose here in Fl said I am fine and we will look again   In 6 mo.

I put myself to bed  for 8 months.

My son came over and said this is ridiculous and brought me to the shower. As I washed my hair and face I  became dizzy and thought I would faint. He called the ambulance. I had vomiting, diarrhea and weakness.  Off i went in an ambulance to the hospital.

After at least 20 dr.s examine me,   One young dr. Finally came Up with a diagnosis. He asked if I  was a vegetarian. I said no. I love my chicken, steak, fish. He told me the number on my B12 vitamin was 77 when normally it was as high as 500. He diagnosed me as not having the enzymes in my saliva or stomach acids to break down B12 to be processed into my blood stream. It is a heredity issue.

They gave me B12 shots every day  for 5 days and  then once a Week and now I takeB12 subliminally every day with follic, and thiamin support to process the B12.

The dr.s my age were not trained in B12 deficiency. The blood test for it has to be separate and will not show up otherwise.

So this is for drummerboy and Joanne and all the others that listened to me whine in 2012.

I finally in 2017 am on my road to recovery. Thank God for young doctors!

am so excited to hear the good news! 

There's a lot of work being done on B3, B6, B12 in specific for a range of ages; over age 40, both men and women should regularly be tested to see how they're processing everything. 

I keep saying, it doesn't matter what you eat if you can't metabolise it

So glad you have found a valid diagnosis and that the treatment is working for you.  Continue to feel well.

ootg, so happy to "hear" from you again!  Sorry for your trials, and very glad you at last have a resolution and some progress!!  An excellent son, in addition to the well-informed young doctor!

Thanks Joanne and Joan. Five years without a diagnosis. And I just kept getting weaker and weaker. I remember asking the Fl dr if I needed vitamins and he said, without looking at me, just take a multi vitamin. Needless to say I have changed dr.s and will see the new one at the end of the month to test me and confirm my B12 number is up to where it should be. When I left the hospital it was 496.

Excellent son is putting it mildly. He thought he killed me but in reality he saved my life. IFrom being bedridden, I had developed 2 blood clots in my right leg and part of one had traveled to my lung. They put me on blood thinners right away.

I was totally clueless to the damage I was doing to myself. No symptoms of pain in any way until that day I went to the hospital. I wa in rehab for a total of six weeks with 2 hours each day of physical and occupational therapy. The therapists were all amazed at how much I recovered. I could walk with a walker 200 feet without a sit down. It was wonderful! I am still getting stronger every day. My goal is to walk to my shops 1/2 mile from my home.

oneofthegirls said:

Excellent son is putting it mildly. He thought he killed me but in reality he saved my life. IFrom being bedridden, I had developed 2 blood clots in my right leg and part of one had traveled to my lung. They put me on blood thinners right away.

I was totally clueless to the damage I was doing to myself. No symptoms of pain in any way until that day I went to the hospital. I wa in rehab for a total of six weeks with 2 hours each day of physical and occupational therapy. The therapists were all amazed at how much I recovered. I could walk with a walker 200 feet without a sit down. It was wonderful! I am still getting stronger every day. My goal is to walk to my shops 1/2 mile from my home.

 Hah! I can walk 2 1/2 miles now and do my own grocery shopping.

i had a traumatic brain injury in 2002, i couldn't see straight and had limited control over my arms and legs.  I couldn't even sit unaided...and the JFK (edison) neuro center doc said I was fine and could drive.

about 6 years ago, my thyroid went...docs blew my off, I was in a stupor for 6 months until I figure it out myself......even Oprah with all her resources didn't get diagnosed until a fan noticed the symptoms..her docs missed it...even though 10% of women get hypothyroid.

it took Montel Williams 9 years to get diagnosed with MS....despite his access to the best docs...

the docs have been of various ages, american and foreign born....it seems like the only thing they need to know to graduate from medical school is to say "you're fine stay active" "I can't give you narcotics" (when you don't even ask for them---and they blow you off instead of treating an injury) and "the bill is in the mail"

It’s exciting to read how well you both are! *clapping hands at positive news* 

As I’m sure you know, a great part of the challenge is that the doctors and specialists who treat us only know medicine that’s been designed around male human responses. Up until quite recently, female medical information was mostly assumed to be similar to males’. And that even includes some gynae info! So most of our signs are missed...it’s not just ‘female heart attacks vs male attacks’. 
I’m sorry I’m a bit distracted just now, will check in later to catch up. This is, truly, good news.

oneofthegirls said:

 Hah! I can walk 2 1/2 miles now and do my own grocery shopping.

 Fantastic!  

Good to see your name, ootg, and hear your excellent news!

joan_crystal said:

 Fantastic!  

 Thanks Joan.New doctor is saying in 6 months he can get me back to 95%. I'll keep you posted!

Please do. Wonderful to hear from you again.

You should read up the the MTHFR gene mutation that many of us have.  We cannot process the synthetic forms of B vitamins.  Anyone with this gene mutation must get their B vitamins through foods and/or take the methylated forms of folate and B-12, not folic acid or cyanocobalamin.  I did not have the same symptoms as you, but I feel so much better taking the methylated Bs after learning that I had the MTHFR mutation.  Those of us who have it often refer to it as the Mothereffer gene.