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Living with fibromyalgia is a delicate task of balancing energy– spending it wisely, and increasing it in any way possible.  In addition to taking extra vitamins like vitamin B12 for boosting stamina, you should also include fibromyalgia-approved exercises in your chronic pain relief regimen.  Here are some energy-boosting workouts that won’t wear you out…

Fibromyalgia exercises- are you kidding me?

The last thing you probably want to do during a fibromyalgia flare-up is exercise, and you’re right; During the “bad days,” you should take it easy, pace yourself, and keep physical activity to a minimum.

However, the term “use it or lose it” applies here; complete sedentariness not only results in muscle atrophy, it will also increase your pain symptoms!

15 Chronic Pain Causes and 15 Treatments (Vitamin B12 is one)

Here’s what you’ll get back

Even 20 minutes of low-impact aerobics or gentle strength training will benefit the fibromyalgia sufferer in the following ways:

• Improved range of motion
• Increased feelings of wellbeing
• Positive outlook on life
• Increased independence
• More restful sleep
• Less stress
• Increased endorphins
• Better weight management
• Improved aerobic endurance
• More energy
• Heart health
• Healthier bones
• Stronger muscles
• Pain relief
• Decreased anxiety and depression
• Increased growth hormones

The top 10 fibromyalgia exercises

Remember; always consult your doctor before starting any new fitness regimen, especially if you suffer from heart disease.  While these exercises are safe for fibromyalgia, you should still seek medical advice from your current doctor.

#1 Take a dive!

Water sports are one of the gentlest, most therapeutic activities for people with chronic pain such as fibromyalgia.  Aqua aerobics and other pool exercises provide natural resistance while allowing full range of movement.  Check your local gym for water-based classes like underwater jogging, water polo, or Watsu.

#2 Walk it off!

Waling is an inexpensive and practical sport that you can do almost anywhere! Still, proceed with caution: always wear good walking shoes with proper insoles, avoid walking on concrete, and use controlled steps to avoid shock injuries.

#3 Get moves like Fonda!

Jane Fonda made “aerobics” a household name in the 80s with her famed workout videos.  Today, cardio CDs are still popular, and available in a wide range of fitness levels.  For fibromyalgia, choose low-impact aerobics that are more controlled and less stressful on the muscles than high-impact routines.

Chronic Pain and Acute Pain- What’s the Difference, anyways?

#4 Go for a spin!

Stationary exercise machines like the exercise bike, elliptical stepper, or treadmill are practical for people who just want to get their workout done quickly and privately.  Modern fitness machines allow you to track your heart rate, distance, and calories burned.

#5 Firm up!

Toning your muscles actually alleviates pain, provided you don’t overdo it. Ignore the phrase, “No pain, go gain.”  It’s not true, even for people who don’t have fibromyalgia. In addition to boosting energy, strength-training will also improve your resting heart rate, allowing you to burn more calories even while resting!

#6 Now stretch!

Keeping your muscles flexible is instrumental in managing fibromyalgia pain.  Before any exercise, always do some light arm, leg, neck, and shoulder stretches, for increased flexibility, less muscular stiffness, and better range of motion.

#7 Find your chi

A popular form of Chi-Gong (Qigong), Tai Chi uses controlled movements, breathing, and mental focus for better health, more energy, and less pain symptoms.

#8 Yoga

Many fibromyalgia patients favor yoga, as it incorporates relaxation, toning, breathing, and light aerobics all into one class.  Yoga is excellent for relieving stress, reducing pain, and boosting energy.

Brain Fog: 20 Causes and Symptoms

#9 Pilates

Pilates, once a well-guarded practice of the elite ballet class, is now part of mainstream culture.  Pilate’s classes that focus on correct breathing while strengthening the torso are available in most gyms.

#10 Get physical!

Physical therapy, that is.  If you’re not comfortable with following a fitness plan on your own, then seek a licensed physical therapist trained to work with fibromyalgia patients.  More than just a fitness coach, a physical therapist will assist you in improving flexibility, preventing muscle loss, and boosting energy through various exercises without causing any damage to your muscles or joints.

Read more about fibromyalgia and vitamin B12

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

How Vitamin B12 Deficiency affects your Nervous System, Part 1: Physical Pain

Please tell us…

Will you try any of the exercises suggested?  Do you know of any other great workouts for fibromyalgia patients?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Sources:

The Benefits of Exercise for Fibromyalgia

Images:

Ambro, Michal Marcol, Phiseksit

 
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of many causes of vitamin B12 deficiency.  In addition to taking extra vitamin B12- especially crucial if you’re using protein pump inhibitors (PPIs) to battle acid reflux, it’s also important to know which foods are best digestive health with GERD.

GERD symptoms

The symptoms of GERD- chronic heartburn, stomach upset, vomiting- are more than just a nuisance; they can be severely detrimental to your health.

Long-term acid reflux may cause ulcers in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, lungs, and throat.

Untreated, they can lead to scarring and narrowing of the esophagus.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Upper Endoscopy Testing- What to Expect

GERD, a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency

GERD patients are a high risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency for two reasons:

• Protein pump inhibitors (PPIs), a common medication for GERD, interfere with your ability to digest vitamin B12 naturally from food.  Long-term inhibition of stomach acids may result in severe depletion of vitamin B12 levels.  For that reason, GERD patients use non-dietary vitamin B12 supplements, such as a routine vitamin B12 shot.
• Additionally, damage to the digestive system often interferes with intrinsic factor, a digestive enzyme that is crucial for vitamin B12 absorption.

Over time, vitamin B12 deficiency impedes your neurological health, metabolism, DNA synthesis, cognitive functioning, and red blood cell distribution.

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Eating with GERD

In addition to eating the right foods, you will also need to develop good eating habits like chewing slowly, eating small meals, avoiding late-night snacks, and stopping when you’re satisfied, not stuffed.

Always consult your doctor before adopting any new food regimen for GERD.

Here are some foods that typically relieve GERD symptoms:

1. Oatmeal
2. Ginger
3. Aloe Vera
4. Fennel and celery
5. Root vegetables
6. Salad greens
7. Parsley
8. Bananas
9. Melon
10. Skinless chicken or turkey
11. Seafood
12. Whole grains

Please tell us…

If you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, have you also tested for vitamin B12 deficiency?  Please tell us how you relieve heartburn and acid reflux.

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about GERD and B12 deficiency

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) – B12 Deficiency and 5 other Health Risks

Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey

Sources:

Acid Reflux: 13 Foods To Soothe The Burn

Heartburn-GERD Symptoms & Types

Images:

Stoonn, Grant Cochrane, kongsky, Master isolated images, Nick Saltmarsh

There are many myths surrounding chronic pain like vitamin B12 deficiency neuropathy, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue; in coping with pain symptoms, it’s important to be able to separate fact from fiction.  Here are some common myths you might have heard recently, and the facts.

Myth #1: Vitamin B12 is useless in coping with chronic pain.

While most healthy people don’t require extra vitamin supplements, people with chronic illnesses require vitamin supplements like vitamin B12, in addition to many other essential vitamins and minerals.

That’s because chronic pain creates an environment that inhibits vitamin B12 absorption.  Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, and gastritis make it difficult or impossible for you to digest vitamin B12 naturally from foods.  As a result, people who suffer from pernicious anemia, fibromyalgia, or Crohn’s disease get vitamin B12 from non-dietary sources.

Additionally, vitamin B12 deficiency may be difficult to diagnose with chronic pain disorders, as many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis mask important clues that indicate low vitamin B12 levels.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

• Painful tingling in the hands and feet
• Frequent numbness
• Partial paralysis
• Sore tongue and mouth, including burning sensation
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Difficulty walking
• Decreased motor skills
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Acid reflux

Myth #2: If your doctor can’t find anything medically wrong, you must be a hypochondriac.

Chronic pain does not always result from a specific cause or visible injury. With fibromyalgia and migraines, for example, chronic pain occurs in the brain as part of a neurological disorder.  Similarly, neuropathy from vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by damaged nerve cells and reduced red blood cell distribution.

Myth #3: Only drug addicts use narcotic painkillers.

If your doctor prescribes narcotics for chronic pain relief, then use them as directed. There is no harm or shame in using painkillers, as long as you follow your doctor’s orders. That doesn’t mean they are without side effects, so it’s important to educate yourself about the use of prescription painkillers.

Myth #4: Painkillers are addicting.

Used as directed, and under the guidance of your physician, there is no reason why you will become addicted to opioids, nor should you need to increase the dose in order to sustain the same amount of pain relief.

Myth #5: If over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers help, then the pain can’t be that bad.

Popping OTC painkillers can be dangerous to your liver, kidneys, and digestive system.  Don’t ignore a serious medical condition by self-treating with pain relievers- always consult your doctor when chronic pain occurs.

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Myth #6: Alternative treatments for chronic pain are a waste of time and money.

Chronic pain management requires a multi-pronged approach including medications, stress reduction, and physical therapy.  Today, integrated medicine incorporates alternative approaches like acupuncture, vitamin B12, herbs, yoga, and meditation in coping with chronic pain.

Myth #7: If you can’t cope with the pain, then you must be weak or lazy.

This is a particularly hurtful myth that affects many chronic pain sufferers, and it sometimes prevents people from seeking help.  Trying to ignore chronic pain doesn’t make you brave or strong- it increases your chances of suffering from depression and anxiety down the line.

Myth #8: Your chronic pain is just like my pain.

Different people feel pain differently, just like one person may cope with pain differently from you.  That doesn’t mean that your pain symptoms are worse or stronger than others’ are.  Common terms used to describe pain vary from dull aching and throbbing to burning or electric-like pain symptoms.

Myth #9: You shouldn’t let pain slow you down.

So you’re feeling well today? That’s no reason to run the marathon. Trying to “do it all” creates stress and decreases the number of good days you enjoy between chronic pain flare-ups. Pace yourself, even if you think you don’t have to.

Myth #10: Exercising is one of the worst things you can do during a fibromyalgia flare-up.

Current research indicates that moderate exercise is perfectly safe for people with fibromyalgia or other chronic pain, and actually relieves pain by producing endorphins.  The trick is to choose something that doesn’t wear you out or cause sore muscles.  Good low impact exercises for chronic pain sufferers are swimming, walking, tai chi, and yoga.

Myth #11: No pain, no gain.

Exercise doesn’t have to be painful in order to strengthen your muscles, nor should it cause burning sensations.  On the contrary, pain is a sign that you’re doing it wrong and need to modify your workout.

Myth #12: For chronic pain, bed rest is mandatory.

Actually, lying around in bed all day only worsens conditions like chronic backaches.  While it’s important to rest after suffering an injury, too much inactivity exacerbates muscular pain.  As a rule, always try to get up and stretch your muscles, with your doctor’s permission.

Myth #13: Chronic pain is just a part of growing older.

Chronic pain should not be tolerated as a necessary side effect of aging, and it’s important that your doctor understands that.  Many ailments like arthritis, vitamin B12 deficiency neuropathy, and fatigue are easily treatable, regardless of age.

How to Tell if Chronic Pain is Fibromyalgia: 18 Pressure Points

Myth #14: Only old people suffer from chronic pain.

Many young adults and adolescents suffer from chronic pain resulting from celiac disease, fibromyalgia, migraines, and vitamin B12 deficiency neuropathy.

Myth #15: You can usually tell somebody who’s in chronic pain just by looking at him.

Chronic pain is an invisible illness- people with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue may put on a brave face, but that doesn’t mean they’re not suffering inside. Don’t gauge somebody else’s pain on a scale of one to ten just by observing them- ask them, instead.

Please tell us…

Can you think of any more chronic myths that you would like to add?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about chronic pain

10 Celebrities with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia- Is there a Difference?

How Vitamin B12 Deficiency affects your Nervous System, Part 1: Physical Pain

Sources:

Chronic Pain Myths

10 Facts About Fibromyalgia- Prevention.com

Myths About Treating Chronic Pain

Image: Marco Bellucci

Would you know if you had vitamin B12 deficiency? Sometimes, vitamin B12 malabsorption results from a vegan diet, or as part of the aging process.  Often, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs with autoimmune and gastrointestinal disorders like pernicious anemia, Crohn’s disease, and fibromyalgia, making vitamin B12 deficiency one of the most widespread nutritional problems in the US.  Do you have one of the 13 illnesses associated with low vitamin B12 absorption?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is essential for promoting neurological health, boosting stamina, enhancing metabolic functioning, supporting cognitive skills, and sustaining heart health.

The following symptoms correlate with low vitamin B12 levels:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Aggressive behavior
• Hallucinations
• Irritability
• Paranoia
• Forgetfulness
• Brain fog (confusion)
• Decreased attention span
• Vision problems
• Painful tingling, numbness, and burning in the hands, feet, and mouth
• Gait disorder (difficulty walking)
• Decreased motor skills
• Muscular twitches
• Sore muscles and joints
• Tinnitus (ear ringing)
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Acid reflux
• Heart palpitations
• Poor tolerance for aerobic exercise
• Increased risk for heart attack and stroke
• Osteoporosis

8 Ailments Linked with Gastritis, including B12 Deficiency

Diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency

Certain illnesses mask the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, contributing to mass under-diagnoses.  Many patients of chronic illness who already experience symptoms like fatigue, muscular pain, or mental sluggishness may not realize an underlying problem absorbing vitamin B12, and may never receive a blood screening for low vitamin B12 levels.

If you suffer from one of the following illness correlated with or causing vitamin B12 deficiency, please request a simple blood test immediately.

1. Pernicious anemia (intrinsic factor anemia)
2. Crohn’s disease
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Postsurgical malabsorption (gastric bypass)
5. Atrophic gastritis
6. Cystic fibrosis
7. Celiac disease
8. Tropical sprue
9. Tuberculosis
10. Helicobacter pylori infection
11. Whipple’s disease
12. Pancreatitis
13. AIDS

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Please tell us…

Do you have one of the conditions associated with low vitamin B12 levels?  Have you been diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, as well? Has supplementation with vitamin B12 reduced any of your symptoms?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency

Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency an Autoimmune Disorder? Yup.

Is an Allergy also an Autoimmune Disease? When the Immune System goes awry

Celiac and B12- Celiac Disease and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Sources:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency- Lifescript.com

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12

Image:

Vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed with a simple blood test.  Determining the cause of B12 deficiency is another matter.  One test used to find out why your vitamin B12 levels are low is an upper endoscopy, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Here’s what you should expect when visiting your gastroenterologist for this simple procedure.

What’s causing vitamin B12 deficiency?

Some of the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency are easy enough to figure out without undergoing invasive testing.  If you follow a strict vegan diet, have had a gastric bypass, or take medications like metformin or PPI’s, then you are at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency.

But what if you don’t fall into any of those categories? If you’ve been taking your vitamin B12 supplements and still experience symptoms of fatigue, loss of appetite, or acid reflux, then your physician may suggest an endoscopy to determine if there has been any damage to your esophagus, stomach, or duodenum.

What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a procedure that involves inserting a long flexible tube in your mouth that extends through your throat, past your esophagus and stomach, and all the way to the uppermost part of your small intestines, the duodenum.  At the end of the tube is a small camera that enables your doctor to view your stomach and esophageal linings.

Although the entire procedure takes minutes, it requires light sedation, so plan to have somebody else drive you home afterwards.

Pre-endoscopy

• Prior to your visit, you will be instructed to fast for eight hours.  That means no eating or drinking, so that your doctor will get a clear view of your stomach.
• You will be given a mild sedative and painkillers.
• Next, your doctor will spray a local anesthetic in your throat in order to suppress gagging or coughing.
• You will be asked to bite down on a mouth guard, in order to protect your teeth during the procedure.

During the endoscopy

• Once you are sufficiently sedated, the gastroenterologist will begin the test.
• You will be asked to swallow a few times while the tube is gently inserted into your throat.
• You should be able to breathe comfortably throughout the procedure.
• During the endoscopy, your doctor will need to blow air into the probing unit, in order to see the inside of your stomach and detect any abnormalities.  You may experience a feeling of bloating or fullness.
• Sometimes, a biopsy is taken, but you will experience no pain.

Post-endoscopy

• After the test is completed, you will not be allowed to leave until you are sufficiently awake.
• Your throat may feel sore for a day or two following the testing.
• Follow your doctor’s advice regarding eating after the endoscopy.
• Any unusual symptoms like severe stomach cramps or bleeding should be reported immediately.

Results

If your doctor finds any abnormalities while reviewing your endoscopy, it could signify one of several conditions, including:

• Celiac disease, which correlates with vitamin B12 deficiency
• Gastritis, which also causes vitamin B12 deficiency
• GERD, another illness that occurs with vitamin B12 deficiency
• Ulcer

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency? If so, do you know what is causing your low vitamin B12 levels?
Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency

Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency an Autoimmune Disorder? Yup.

Sources:

Find your inner Spoonie…What’s the theory behind the “Spoon Theory,” and how can it help you manage pernicious anemia?

Disclaimer: The B12 Patch is in no way affiliated with Christina Miserandino or her blog “But You Don’t Look Sick.”

“Spoonies are people that live with chronic illness; theoretically measuring personal daily abilities much as one would measure the proper amount of spoons needed for an event or occasion… sometimes having an abundance, other times coming up short.”  –Taken from the Urban Dictionary

The Spoon Theory, in a nutshell

The Spoon Theory is the baby of Christine Miserandino, moderator and owner of the popular chronic illness blog, But You Don’t Look Sick.com.  It began when she was having lunch with an ex- college roomie, when her friend turned to her and asked what it’s like living with chronic illness (Christina suffers from Lupus).  

The question astonished her.  What’s not to understand?   Especially after personally witnessing her agony these past years… the constant fatigue, excruciating pain, and disability…symptoms that are common with pernicious anemia and dozens of other disorder…

Pernicious Anemia: Your 13 Most Frequently Asked Questions, Answered!

Health is wealth

She hit upon the idea of comparing her daily energy level to a “spoon” bank.  Healthy people are the billionaires of the spoon theory; with a never-ending supply of spoons in their savings accounts, they have limitless energy. They can get up at the crack of dawn, work overtime, meet friends for dinner later, pop on over to the gym, and still have energy to watch the late night news.

Sorry, that’s too exspoonsive

Chronically ill people, however, are the scrimpers and savers of the spoon bank.  With Lupus, Christina starts each day with 12 spoons, and has to spend them frugally, lest she become fatigued before the day is through.  She cannot have it all, and she accepts that. By slowing down and avoiding energy-draining activities like driving through rush-hour traffic or shopping at the mall, people with pernicious anemia, as well, can learn how to make their spoons last the whole day, or most of it.

What are the symptoms of chronic illness?

The symptoms are specific to the type of illness you have, but many overlap.  Also, people who suffer from autoimmune disorders like pernicious anemia and fibromyalgia may experience comorbid conditions, as well.

Symptoms of chronic illness may include:

• Daily fatigue, despite sleeping the entire night and avoiding physical exertion
• Throbbing or dull pain in the muscles and joints
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• “Brain fog”
• Forgetfulness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Movement disorders
• Vision problems
• Trouble sleeping

Pernicious Anemia and B12 Deficiency- Historically Fatal, Still Formidable

Spoonies R us

Since its inception, the Spoon Theory has gained massive appeal.  Not only has it enabled many chronically fatigued patients (like pernicious anemia sufferers) to cope with their ailments, but it has also broadened awareness for the many illnesses that fall under the category of “invisible diseases,” including:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue
• Lupus
• Celiac disease
• Migraines
• Crohn’s disease (IBD)
• Thyroid disorder
• Multiple sclerosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes
• And yes, pernicious anemia

Are you a Spoonie?

Please tell us how you have applied the Spoon Theory to your daily life…

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about pernicious anemia

Pernicious Anemia- Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Nerve Rattling- Peripheral Neuropathy

Sources:

The Spoon Theory

Urban Dictionary

Images:

alex_smith1, AKZOphoto

Crohn’s disease is a chronic bowel disorder that causes damage to the intestinal tract, leading to vitamin deficiencies, severe stomach pains, diarrhea, and fever.  Doctors recommend following a restrictive diet for treating Crohn’s disease, in addition to adopting a strict vitamin regimen.  Here are the top 13 vitamins and minerals recommended for Crohn’s disease patients.

Vitamin B12

In order to digest vitamin B12 (cobalamin) from food sources, your body has to be able to make intrinsic factor, an enzyme produced in the stomach that aids in vitamin B12 absorption.  Because Crohn’s disease destroys stomach tissue, it’s common for Crohn’s patients to acquire vitamin B12 deficiency, in addition to other nutritional deficiencies.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include everyday fatigue, sluggishness, memory loss, painful tingling and numbness in your extremities (feet, hands, tongue), anxiety, and dizziness.

To find out if you have vitamin B12 deficiency, ask your doctor for a blood test to measure vitamin B12 levels.

Treatment requires non-dietary vitamin B12 supplements, usually from a vitamin B12 shot or alternative method.

Read Four Reasons to check your Vitamin B12 Levels with Crohn’s Disease

Folic acid

Folic acid is another essential B vitamin; it’s crucial for preventing birth defects in utero.  If you’re using the sulfa drug sulfasalazine for Crohn’s disease, then you are at high risk for developing folic acid deficiency.  Experts recommend taking 1 mg of folic acid per day.

Vitamin A

Because Crohn’s disease sufferers often have difficulty absorbing vitamin A from food, doctors highly recommend adding the A vitamin to your vitamin regimen.

Vitamin D

Experts have noted a high correlation of vitamin D deficiency among Crohn’s disease patients.  Vitamin D deficiency causes bone loss, muscular soreness, and weakness.  It’s also believed that vitamin D is essential for promoting immune system health.  Sun exposure increases vitamin D levels, but supplements are also available.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E deficiency is high among Crohn’s patients who have difficulty eating foods like dark leafy greens and nuts.  To avoid symptoms like muscular weakness, tingling, and numbness, experts recommend taking daily doses of vitamin E oil.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K occurs naturally in dark leafy veggies, and is essential for healthy blood clotting and bone strength.  If you have difficulty absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, then you should include vitamin K in your daily vitamin therapy.

Iron

Iron anemia is a risk factor with Crohn’s disease, due to intestinal bleeding.  Iron deficiency causes symptoms like extreme fatigue, paleness, and headaches.  A blood test can determine if you have iron deficiency.

Calcium

Crohn’s disease increases your risk for calcium deficiency, especially if you are using corticosteroids as part of your immune system therapy.  Additionally, vitamin B12 deficiency, common among Crohn’s patients, increases your risk for bone loss.  Health experts recommend taking 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium supplements each day.

Magnesium

Crohn’s disease causes severe bouts of diarrhea, during which time high doses of magnesium are expelled rapidly.  To prevent magnesium deficiency, experts recommend supplementing with extra magnesium, especially during flare-ups.

On the Run with Crohn’s? 6 Ways to Ease Public Restroom Anxiety

Zinc

Zinc supplies are also depleted with chronic diarrhea, making this another essential nutrient to take regularly if you have Crohn’s disease.

Probiotics

Probiotics contain “good” bacteria that are helpful for boosting digestive health and preventing pouchitis, a common side effect resulting from pouch surgery.  For best results, ask your gastroenterologist to recommend a specific bacterial strain.

Gut Bugs:Winning the Bacteria Battle

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, such as the kind found in fish oil, are helpful for fighting inflammation, a common side effect of Crohn’s disease.

Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid that promotes intestinal health.  Many doctors advise taking 400 mg of glutamine, 4 times per day, for preventing Crohn’s disease symptoms.

Please tell us…

Do you have Crohn’s disease?  If so, do you agree with these dietary recommendations?  Do you use any vitamins that are not included in this list?  Have you tested for vitamin deficiency, including vitamin B12 anemia?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about Crohn’s and vitamin B12:

Gastrointestinal Surgery for Crohn’s (IBD) and B12 Warnings

101 Helpful Sites for Kids ‘n Teens with Crohn’s (and their Parents)

Crohn’s- 9 Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) Myths to Ignore

Sources:

Crohn’s disease

10 Vitamins You May Need if You Have Crohn’s

10 Herbs and Vitamins That Are Good for Your Gut

Images: Lori Greig, cohdra, bradley j

We know that vitamin B12 deficiency wipes out red blood cells, but less is known about its impact on blood platelets. Many scientists attribute ITP to autoimmune disorders such as pernicious anemia.

What is ITP?

Thrombocytopenia is a blood platelet (thrombocytes) deficiency. When you get a cut on your finger, thrombocytes are the blood cells that stop the bleeding by forming a plug to heal the wound. 

Thrombocytopenia can be acquired from bone marrow disease, or it may have an unknown cause, as in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

How did I get ITP?

• Scientists believe that ITP is an autoimmune disorder, noting a correlation with autoimmune diseases, such as pernicious anemia-vitamin B12 deficiency and lupus.
• Sometimes, children get ITP after having a virus like the flu.
• Alcohol abuse is also thought to cause ITP.
• ITP may also be connected with an infection or tumor.

Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency an Autoimmune Disorder? Yup.

What are the symptoms of ITP?

Low blood platelet production results in many telltale symptoms, including:

• Excess bleeding that doesn’t heal
• Bleeding from gums or nose
• Internal bleeding resulting from injury
• Abnormally heavy bleeding following dentistry or surgery
• Heavy bruising not related to serious injuries
• Rash-like red dots on the lower legs caused by bleeding
• Bloody urine or stools
• Unusually heavy menstrual periods

Why do my Arms and Legs often Fall Asleep? B12 and Paresthesia

Treatments for ITP

Very often, ITP will cure itself.  Children who get ITP usually see an increase in blood platelets after several months.

With chronic ITP, your doctor may recommend:

• Splenectomy surgery
• Corticosteroids
• Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)
• Thrombopoietin receptor agonists
• Vitamin B12 supplementation (with pernicious anemia)
• Routine vitamin B12 blood tests along with platelet testing
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Avoiding blood thinners whenever possible
• Avoiding rigorous exercises like football, soccer, and sprinting
• Checking wounds frequently for possible infections

Please tell us…

Have you noticed symptoms like frequent bruising or cuts that don’t heal?  Have you tested for both iron deficiency anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Pernicious Anemia: Your 13 Most Frequently Asked Questions, Answered!

6 Food Cravings that Signal Vitamin Deficiency

Top Ten Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Sources:

The relationship between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and pernicious anaemia

Amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia of nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Images:

Victor Habbick, Ambro, luigi diamanti

If you’ve been diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, then you probably have many questions. How did I get vitamin B12 deficiency, and how soon will I start to feel better?  Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about vitamin B12 deficiency.

Q: Why do I need vitamin B12?

A: Vitamin B12 is a vital nutrient that controls many essential functions in your body.  People with vitamin B12 deficiency, who don’t have enough vitamin B12 in their blood supply, eventually start to suffer major disorders in parts of their bodies where vitamin B12 is most needed.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the following biological functions:

• Protecting your nerve cells by sustaining the myelin sheath
• Promoting healthy red blood cell production
• Supporting DNA synthesis
• Maintaining stamina
• Enhancing cognitive functioning
• Breaking down homocysteine, a hormone linked with heart attack and stroke
• Preventing psychosomatic symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, like depression, nervousness, paranoia, and anxiety
• Preventing osteoporosis

Q: Where can I get vitamin B12?

A: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble nutrient, one of the B-complex vitamins.  Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in all animal-based foods, including beef, poultry, fish, dairy, and eggs.  The richest sources of vitamin B12 are liver, clams, crabmeat, lean beef, and halibut.

Q: What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency?

A: If you suspect you have vitamin B12 deficiency, it’s important to get your blood checked immediately.  Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe nerve cell damage and many uncomfortable side effects.

Common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations
• Brain fog
• Sluggish thinking
• Low concentration
• Short-term memory loss
• Painful tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
• Partial paralysis
• Sore, red tongue
• Burning sensation in mouth, including lips, gums, and tongue
• Vision impairments
• Muscular weakness and pain
• Bone loss
• Restless leg syndrome
• Twitching
• Difficulty walking
• Poor motor skills
• Frequent clumsiness
• Diarrhea
• Acid reflux

Q: Who’s at risk for getting vitamin B12 deficiency?

A: Vitamin B12 deficiency remains one of the most widespread sources of malnutrition.  People who are most at risk include:

• Vegans
• Anybody suffering from primary or secondary gastrointestinal disorders(gastritis, Crohn’s disease, IBS, autism, migraines)
• People who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery (ex: gastric bypass, ileostomy)
• People susceptible to autoimmune disorders (fibromyalgia, celiac disease, diabetes)
• Diabetics using metformin
• GERD patients using protein pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• The elderly

Undetected Vitamin B12 Deficiency- Why is B12 off the Radar?

Q: What is pernicious anemia?

A: Pernicious anemia is a disorder that interferes with production of intrinsic factor, a digestive protein that is crucial for absorbing vitamin B12.  Pernicious anemia patients must supplement with non-dietary vitamin B12 throughout their lives, as they are unable to access B12 from food or pills.

Pernicious Anemia and B12 Deficiency- Historically Fatal, Still Formidable

Q: I have vitamin B12 deficiency. Do I also have pernicious anemia?

A:  Pernicious anemia is a specific form of vitamin B12 deficiency.  There exist only two ways of getting pernicious anemia:

1. Damage to the stomach lining is one possible cause of pernicious anemia
2. The existence of one of two intrinsic factor antibodies confirms pernicious anemia as an autoimmune disorder.

Q: If I eat plenty of meat, can I still get vitamin B12 deficiency?

A: YES.  If you are diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency and you’re not a vegan, then you probably fall into the category of people who are unable to digest vitamin B12 naturally from dietary sources, including food and vitamin B12 pills.

Some non-dietary vitamin B12 supplements  include vitamin B12 shots, b12 pills, and vitamin B12 sublingual tablets.

Q: What happens if I take too much vitamin B12?

A: There is no upper limit assigned to vitamin B12, so you can take as much as you like without suffering any side effects.  The same cannot be said about many other vitamins, so always consult in your doctor before starting any new vitamin regimen.

Can Too Much Vitamin B12 be Harmful? 5 Vitamins to Watch Out for

Q: Once I start taking vitamin B12 supplements, how soon will I start to feel better?

A: Once you begin your regimen of vitamin B12, deficiency symptoms will start to decrease immediately, although you might not notice it right away.  Some people notice decreased tingling in their hands and feet and increased stamina as early as hours after getting their first dose of vitamin B12, but for others, results occur more gradually, and may take several months before a noted increase in overall health is realized.

Timing is of utmost importance in treating vitamin B12 deficiency.  If caught early on, then your chances of complete replenishment are excellent.  In its latest stages, vitamin B12 deficiency can result in irreparable nerve damage.

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Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency

Can Vitamin B12 Repair Nerve Cells?

Not Getting your Vitamin B12- Mistakes Fibromyalgia Patients Sometimes Make

Sources:

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet:Vitamin B12

B12 deficiency: a silent epidemic with serious consequences

Images:

renjith krishnan, Michal Marcol

So, do you think you know all the symptoms of B12 deficiency?  Well, one overlooked sign is eye problems like double vision, blurry vision, and nystagmus.  Here are some common vision problems that accompany B12 deficiency.

Myelin and optic neuritis

Myelin is a fatty substance that sheathes and protects your nerve cells, including the ones that control your eyesight, sense of smell, taste perception, hearing, and touch.  Demyelinating diseases like pernicious anemia, multiple sclerosis (MS), and diabetes may result in permanent nerve cell damage.

Optic neuritis (demyelinating optic neuritis) is irritation of the optic nerves that occurs when myelin is damaged or completely lost.

Vision symptoms from optic neuritis can include blurring and blind spots. You also may notice distorted vision, reduced color vision and pain when you move your eyes. These types of symptoms may precede vision loss due to optic neuritis.

Symptoms of optic neuritis include:

• Temporary vision loss in one eye
• Altered sensitivity to light
• Partial color blindness
• Painful eye movements

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Movement Disorders- How They Relate

Vitamin B12 and myelin

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients for your nervous system, as it helps to maintain the myelin coating that protects your nerve cells.  Insufficient vitamin B12 causes a slow erosion of myelin, as evidenced by delayed or malfunctioning nervous impulses.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms often include:

• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Eye twitching
• Painful tingling or numbness (pins and needles) in your hands and feet
• Sore, red tongue
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Sore muscles
• Weakness
• Breathlessness
• Heart palpitations
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Memory problems
• Poor concentration
• Acid reflux
• Diarrhea

Eye problems with B12 deficiency

In addition to optic neuritis, other vision problems that may be related to vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Blurred vision
• Partial blindness
• Tunnel vision (peripheral vision loss)
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Oculomotor nerve palsy
• Nystagmus

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Please tell us…

Do you have vitamin B12 deficiency, including vision problems that you didn’t realize were related?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Read more about B12 deficiency symptoms:

Undetected Vitamin B12 Deficiency- Why is B12 off the Radar?

Painful Tingling in Hands and Feet- What’s Up with That?

Sources:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Vision

B12 Deficiency affects your vision and eyesight

Optic nerve atrophy

Vision problems

Images: amyelyse, sufur, Jeroen van Oostrom