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Chronic fatigue syndrome is not yuppie flu, nor is it an imaginary disease- chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes debilitating chronic pain, perpetual exhaustion, dizziness, and low immunity for no apparent reason.  Some chronic fatigue sufferers, such as author Laura Hillenbrand, were first diagnosed with CFS at a young age, and continue to use vitamin B12, acupuncture, and massage in an effort to minimize pain triggers.

Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms

It’s not just tiredness; CFS feels like your whole body is falling apart.  Comorbid with fibromyalgia, many scientists are toying with the idea of combining both chronic pain disorders into one disease- fibromyalgia-chronic fatigue syndrome.

Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include:

• Intense muscular pain
• Severe exhaustion, despite getting enough sleep and not overexerting oneself
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Environmental hypersensitivity,
• Fevers
• Vertigo

Also read: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- What is it, exactly?

Ten celebrities with chronic fatigue syndrome

Please note: Vita Sciences has no affiliation with any of the celebrities mentioned.

1) Laura Hillenbrand– author of Seabiscuit, which was made into an Oscar-nominated motion picture, Laura Hillenbrand was first diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome at the age of 19.  A former jock, she was struck with a sudden fever while traveling back to college after spring break.

Pain symptoms escalated; she started suffering swollen glands, stomach cramps, and extreme vertigo. Once the picture of youth, she was suddenly unable to walk around her college campus.

Laura visited many doctors who were unable to diagnose her phantom pain symptoms, and she was told multiple times that it was all in her head, that the only thing wrong with her was her “attitude problem.”

As she told Elle magazine, “Well-meaning people would say, ‘You need psychiatric care.’  ” Eventually, she lost her circle of friends, and even her family failed to understand her crisis.

Laura’s chronic pain management includes getting vitamin B12 shots, herbal supplements, restrictive dieting, steroid hormones, and acupuncture.

Also read: Tired of being Tired all the Time…It’s Tiring!

2) Suzanne Shaw– Dancing on Ice champ was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome after complaining to her doctor about swollen limbs, joint stiffness, night sweats, and severe tiredness.

3) Cher- In 1992, singer-actress Cher had to take a few years off from her hectic schedule to recuperate from sudden CFS.

4) Stevie Nicks– In 1987, chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms drove legendary pop singer Stevie Nicks into pain pill addiction.

5) Flea– Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in 1993.

6) Michelle Akers- Former Olympic soccer player Michelle Akers documented her struggle with CFS in one of her biographies.

7) Blake Edwards– Film producer-director-screenwriter Blake Edwards is noted for his work in the Pink Panther movie series, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Days of Wine and Roses.  In his bio Remember Me, he mentioned his battle with chronic fatigue syndrome.

8) Michael Crawford– Best known for his Broadway performance in The Phantom of the Opera, singer Michael Crawford is currently recuperating from severe chronic fatigue syndrome.

9) Keith Jarrett– Celebrated jazz pianist Keith Jarrett had to take a break from his music career in 1995 to recover from CFS.

10) David Puttnam– The British film producer of Chariots of Fire and The Killing Fields also suffers from myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), another term for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Please tell us…

Can you name any other famous people with chronic fatigue syndrome?  What about celebrities who raise CFS awareness?  We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions!

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.

Read more about CFS and vitamin B12 deficiency:

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

Brain Fog: 20 Causes and Symptoms

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Sources:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Celebrated Author’s Untold Tale

List of people with chronic fatigue syndrome

Images:

califrayray, mmarchin, skiddlez_freak09_2006, Coco Mault

What’s the difference between chronic pain and acute pain?  That’ a question many pain patients have when relating pain symptoms like muscular pain, joint stiffness, or migraine headaches to their physicians.  Some fundamental differences between acute pain and chronic pain involve causes, patterns, and pain treatment.

“Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but
for the heart to conquer it.” -Rabindranath Tagore

Pain is a healthy response, usually

The pain response is a necessary function of your nervous system.  When you burn your finger on the stove, your nerve cells send out urgent pain-inducing messages throughout your central nervous system.  The painful sensation is a warning for you to tend to your injury before it becomes infected.

Sometimes, pain symptoms like backaches, headaches, and stomach cramps occur without any injuries.  When that happens, it signifies a pain disorder of the nervous system, and finding treatment to alleviate the pain can be complex.

Acute pain causes

Acute pain usually occurs from an injury. In describing their pain symptoms, acute pain sufferers tend to describe physical sensations like sharp pain, dull throbbing, or general achiness.  Acute pain symptoms start abruptly and taper off as the injury heals, generally after a few weeks or months, but not much longer.

Examples of acute pain causes are:

• Burns
• Labor pains
• Cuts and bruises
• Surgery
• Broken bones
• Twisted ligaments

Also read: Why your Back Hurts- 7 Back Pain Causes Everybody Overlooks

Chronic pain causes

If acute pain is not treated, it may escalate into chronic pain.  Symptoms may include severe headaches, limited movement, fatigue, and debilitating muscular aches.

Unlike acute pain, chronic pain symptoms can last for many months or years.  In the case of fibromyalgia, pain is more intense and magnified by certain triggers.  Since there is no apparent injury, treating chronic pain is a matter of experimenting with various pain relievers, supplements, and physical therapies.

Chronic pain sufferers describe their pain in more emotional terms than acute pain patients do, wrestling with feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, and despair.  Many describe their pain disorder as a dark entity, or an invader that has permeated their lives.

Examples of chronic pain causes are:

• Migraine headaches
• Back pain
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Celiac disease
• Neuropathy, such as vitamin B12 deficiency and diabetic nerve pain

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

Treating chronic pain

Determining the appropriate chronic pain treatment is a process of elimination.  Your doctor may ask you to experiment with a variety of pain relievers in treating the pain symptoms, in addition to incorporating natural alternative medications for well-rounded pain management.

A strong correlation exists between vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, celiac disease, and diabetes, so it is highly recommended to take vitamin B12 supplements for optimum health with chronic pain .

Popular treatments and tactics for chronic pain management include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Acetaminophen
• Narcotics (morphine or codeine)
• Localized anesthetic and nerve blocks
• Vitamin supplements, including vitamin B12
• Acupuncture or acupressure
• Physical therapy, including chiropractic care
• Psychological counseling
• Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga
• Biofeedback
• Behavior modification
• In some cases, surgery may be recommended

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

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from a type of chronic pain that isn’t listed above?  Which  pain treatments have you tried, and which have been the most helpful? 

If you currently use prescription painkillers or narcotics, have you considered supplementing with natural ingredients that do not cause side effects?

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about chronic pain and vitamin B12 deficiency:

When Vitamin B12 Deficiency has you under its Spell…of Depression

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia- Is there a Difference?

Sources:

Acute vs. Chronic Pain

The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pain

Images:

Maggie Smith, Ambro, stevendepolo

Is it possible to get too much of a good thing, like too much vitamin B12, or too much of any vitamin, for that matter?  Experts say yes- overdoing it on certain vitamins can cause vitamin toxicity, and the damage can range from annoying to severe.  So before you down a bottle of vitamin C for immune system health, have a look at what health experts have to say about vitamin B12 and others.

Vitamin B12- How much do you need?

Vitamin B12- What is it?

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin that occurs naturally in animal-based foods like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk.  Vitamin B12 supports many vital bodily functions, like shielding your nerve cells through myelin production, maintaining healthy red blood cells, aiding in DNA synthesis, enhancing cognitive functioning, and increasing stamina.

If you don’t have enough vitamin B12 in your blood, then you may get vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes symptoms like

• fatigue
• depression
• frequent forgetfulness
• brain fog
• low attention span
• painful “pins and needles” and numbness in the hands and feet
• stomach problems
• decreased motor control
• muscular weakness
• impaired walking

Vitamin toxicity

According to the Institute of Medicine’s list of Tolerable Upper Intake Levels, certain vitamins like vitamin B12 are safe to take in mega doses, while other vitamins must be used in moderation.  Taking too much of a certain vitamin may result in stomach discomfort, birth defects, or organ damage, according to many published studies.

Below is a list of vitamins, including recommended daily amount and risks of vitamin toxicity:

Vitamin B12

There is no upper limit for taking vitamin B12, according to the Institute of Medicine.  That means that you can experiment with as much vitamin B12 as you like without causing any damage.  Any amount that your body doesn’t use is excreted with your urine.

How much vitamin B12 do you need? Scientific evidence suggests that even people who don’t have vitamin B12 deficiency gain enormous health benefits- increased energy and mental alertness- by taking generous doses of vitamin B12.

• One clinical study focusing on high-dose vitamin B12 found that taking 2,500-5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 every few days led to a 50%-80% increase in stamina, mental focus, and overall wellbeing after only a few weeks.
• In a double-blind crossover study on vitamin B12 for treating tiredness, people who suffered daily fatigue but didn’t have vitamin B12 deficiency or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experienced a boost of stamina, enhanced concentration skills, and improved mood after taking 5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 twice daily for two weeks.
• Another study on people who didn’t have low vitamin  B12 levels resulted in similar findings with varied doses of vitamin B12, from 3,000 mcg four times per week to 9,000 mcg daily.

Also read: Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!

Vitamin A

The upper limit for vitamin A supplementation is 3,000 IU for adult males and females.  Health experts strongly advise meeting your vitamin A requirement through dietary sources like eggs, fortified milk, and liver, as opposed to pill form.  Unless you have vitamin A deficiency, a risk factor for Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, there is no need to supplement with extra vitamin A.

Vitamin A toxicity may result in:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Muscular weakness
• Skin peeling
• Liver fibrosis
• Birth defects
• Damage to the central nervous system
• Osteoporosis
• 18% increased risk for lung damage.

Vitamin C

The upper limit for vitamin C is 2,000 mg per day for adult males and females.  Food source of vitamin C include citrus fruits, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers.  While vitamin C is essential for immune system health, there is inadequate scientific proof that taking extra amounts of vitamin C will help to ward off a cold or reduce cold symptoms.

Vitamin C toxicity may result in:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Flatulence
• Kidney stones

Vitamin D

The Institute of Medicine recommends taking no more than 100 IU of vitamin D per day, unless you have vitamin D deficiency.  While it is not possible to get too much vitamin D from sun exposure, taking excess vitamin D in pill form may cause vitamin toxicity.

Vitamin D toxicity may result in:

• Rapid uncontrolled weight loss
• Polyuria (excess urine secretion)
• Heart arrhythmias
• Heart and kidney damage from excess calcium levels in the blood
• Kidney stones

Vitamin E

The maximum daily dose of vitamin E is 1,000 IU for adult males and females.  Dieticians recommend getting your vitamin E from food sources like wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and broccoli, as opposed to taking vitamin E pills.

Vitamin E toxicity may result in:

• Increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke
• Osteoporosis

Please tell us…

Do you have vitamin deficiency, such as vitamin B12 deficiency or vitamin D deficiency? How has vitamin deficiency impacted your life, now that you have been diagnosed? Are you aware of any vitamin toxicity symptoms that are not included in this article?

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.

We love to hear from you…please feel free to leave comments, suggestions, or questions below!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Tired of being Tired all the Time…It’s Tiring!

Diagnosing Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Pernicious Anemia: Top 10 Tests

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

Sources:

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Tolerable Upper Intake Levels, Vitamins

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets

Vitamin B-12: placebo or neglected therapeutic tool?

A pilot study of vitamin B12 in the treatment of tiredness

Deficiencies You Can Deal With

Images:

YaiSirichai, winnond, Toa55, zirconicusso, healingdream

Chronic pain affects close to 50 million Americans with symptoms like severe headaches, nerve pain, muscular soreness, and back pain.  Chronic pain is a nervous system disorder, and does not usually result from any visible injury. Below are 15 common causes of chronic pain, including vitamin B12 deficiency, and 15 potential treatments, including vitamin B12 supplements.

What is chronic pain?

If you break your leg, and it hurts for months afterwards, is that chronic pain?  No.  When you sustain an injury, your nervous system responds by sending out pain signals; that is referred to as “acute pain,” and it is a normal reaction.

With chronic pain, your nervous system continues to fire pain signals, even in the absence of any previous bodily injury.  Chronic pain can last for many months or years, and make it difficult for the pain sufferer to handle everyday commitments.

Chronic pain causes

Below are the 15 most common causes of chronic pain:

1. Neuropathy, including vitamin B12 deficiency and diabetic neuropathy
2. Multiple sclerosis (MS)
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Headache, including migraines and cluster headaches
5. Lower back pain
6. Arthritis pain, including osteoarthritis
7. Psychogenic pain
8. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
9. Endometriosis
10. Visceral pain, including pancreatitis and active hepatitis
11. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
12. Interstitial cystitis
13. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
14. Shingles
15. Vulvodynia

Also read: I have Fibromyalgia…Which Supplements should I take?

Chronic pain treatments

Only about 58% of chronic pain sufferers find relief through prescribed painkillers.  The best way to treat chronic pain is with a multi-pronged approach that incorporates physician-approved medication, relaxation techniques, vitamins, and holistic treatments for pain.

Below are 15 effective pain treatments:

1. Pain relievers, including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin
2. Opioids (narcotics), including codeine, morphine, and oxycodone
3. Antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil, Tofranil, Anafranil, Norpramin, Sinequan, and Pamelor) and some SNRIs (Effexor and Cymbalta)
4. Anticonvulsants Tegretol, Dilantin, Neurontin, Lyrica, and Lamictal, particularly with migraine headaches
5. When vitamin B12 deficiency occurs with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or diabetic neuropathy, then replenishing vitamin B12 levels through supplementation has been found to be extremely beneficial.
6. Herbal supplements
7. Massage
8. Relaxation
9. Acupuncture
10. Biofeedback
11. Chiropractor care
12. Low-impact exercise, including walking, stationary bicycling, swimming, yoga, and tai chi
13. Physical therapy
14. Nerve stimulation
15. Cognitive behavioral therapy, particularly helpful with psychogenic pain

Also read: Pernicious Anemia- Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Nerve Rattling- Peripheral Neuropathy

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from a type of chronic pain that isn’t listed above?  Which of the 15 pain treatments have you tried, and which have been the most helpful?  If you currently use prescription painkillers or narcotics, have you considered replacing them with natural supplements that do not cause side effects?

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about chronic pain and vitamin B12 deficiency:

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia- Is there a Difference?

If Vitamin B12 Deficiency Mimics Multiple Sclerosis, How do you tell the Difference?

Sources:

Top Causes of Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain

NINDS Chronic Pain Information Page

Images:

ZaldyImg, Ambro, Ribkov Dagim, lululemon athletica, Maggie Smith

Gastritis, the wearing down of your stomach lining, is sometimes caused by vitamin B12 deficiency from pernicious anemia.  Other illnesses or conditions related to chronic acid reflux, abdominal pain, bubbling indigestion, and stomach bloating from gastritis are listed below…

What is gastritis?

More than just a stomachache, gastritis is what happens when your stomach lining becomes severely damaged- worn away and inflamed.  Gastritis can be a chronic condition that worsens over time, or it can be sudden, because of a stomach infection.

What are the symptoms of gastritis?

The most common symptoms of gastritis include:

• Chronic acid reflux, including at nighttime
• Bloated stomach, even after light meals
• Stomach cramps
• Heartburn
• Hiccupping
• Nausea
• Frequent vomiting
• Vomiting blood or dark grainy substance
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Black feces

Leaky Gut Syndrome Symptoms and Causes

Eight ailments linked with gastritis

1) Pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your stomach is unable to produce intrinsic factor, a necessary protein for digesting vitamin B12. 

While some health sites claim that pernicious anemia causes gastritis, it is most likely the other way around.  Stomach damage from gastritis causes you to be unable to make intrinsic factor in the small intestine’s ileum.

Without intrinsic factor, you develop vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes symptoms like fatigue, depression, anxiety, painful tingling in your hands and feet, and many kinds of nerve damage.

2) Autoimmune disorders

Other autoimmune disorders that are linked with gastritis are Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, fibromyalgia, and lupus. (Also read Four Reasons to check your Vitamin B12 Levels with Crohn’s Disease)

3) Alcoholism

Excessive alcohol use can, over time, cause severe damage to your many body organs, including your stomach.  Gastritis and vitamin B12 deficiency are both caused by alcohol abuse.

4) Bile reflux

If bile from your liver rises into your stomach and esophagus, it can cause gastritis and esophageal damage.  Only surgery can reverse bile reflux and protect you from incurring damage to your stomach.

5) Stress

Anxiety, depression, and daily stress are harmful for both your body and mind.  Accumulated stress may cause gastritis from stomach ulcers.

6) Medications

Certain prescribed and OTC drugs can cause severe gastritis; these include sleeping pills and anti-inflammatory painkillers like aspirin.

7) Chronic vomiting

Gastritis may happen because of frequent vomiting from bulimia, migraines, or other chronic conditions that irritate the stomach.

8) Bacterial infection

Helicobacter pylorus (H. pylori) bacteria dwell in your stomach lining.  Unless it is treated with antibiotics, bacterial infection from H. pylori may cause gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Take action

Vitamin B12 shots

Get routine supplementation of vitamin B12, which are available by prescription in vitamin B12 shots.  In addition to the B12 injections, over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin B12 is beneficial to boost vitamin B12 levels and prevent relapse symptoms like fatigue, nerve pain, and stomach cramps.

Antacids

For chronic heartburn and gastritis, your doctor may prescribe strong antacids. 

Please note that protein pump inhibitors (PPI’s) are a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. 

If you choose to use PPI’s over an extended period, then you may need to supplement with vitamin B12 in order to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency.

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

Change your diet

In addition to taking medications for gastritis, a simple change in diet is also healthful when bloated stomach, acid reflux, heartburn, and abdominal pain occur.  Avoid eating very spicy foods, choose healthy cooking oils, and take probiotics that contain “good bacteria.”

Eat slower

Learn to eat like the Italians!  Sit down at every meal, practice mindful eating, and savor every bite slowly and deliberately.  Chewing slowly and efficiently is essential for preventing gastritis symptoms like indigestion and nausea.

Antibiotics

For gastritis caused by H. pylori infection, you will need to take a strong regimen of antibiotics and probiotics to prevent stomach irritation.

GI Surgery

If gastritis is occurring because of a life-threatening condition, your doctor might recommend surgery to correct the disorder.  Bile reflux patients and Crohn’s disease patients are candidates for gastrointestinal surgery.

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

Please tell us…

Do you have pernicious anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency?  Do you continue to suffer from gastritis symptoms, even though you take vitamin B12 shots regularly?

Do you feel that your doctor addresses all your illness symptoms- fatigue, brain fog, nausea, stomachaches, diarrhea, and frequent “pins and needles?”

Do you have any questions, comments, or suggestions?  Please feel free to use the comment box below.

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and gastritis:

Gut Bugs:Winning the Bacteria Battle

Sources:

Gastritis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More

Images:

smoking2much, delphaber, Simon Howden, Ambro

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that causes symptoms similar to vitamin B12 deficiency– pain, tingling, numbness, brain fog, and anxiety.  Once antibiotics have cured the infection, natural supplements such as vitamin B12 and other essential nutrients and herbs often benefit Lyme disease patients.

How is Lyme disease spread?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and it is spread by deer ticks.  Anybody who lives in densely wooded grassy areas is at risk of being bitten by a tick carrying this bacterium.  Once infected, antibiotics must be administered immediately in order to avoid lasting nerve damage.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

Symptoms of Lyme disease may occur several weeks after exposure to an infected tick.  Because symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to autoimmune disorders like pernicious anemia-vitamin B12 deficiency, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease is sometimes not diagnosed until after severe nerve damage has occurred.

Common symptoms and comorbid conditions of Lyme disease are:

• Red rash
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Nerve pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Tremors
• Stiff neck
• Balance problems
• Impaired concentration
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pains
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Photophobia
• Arthritis
• Bell’s palsy (facial paralysis)
• Bannwarth’s triad (lymphocytic meningitis, cranial nerve palsy and radiculoneuritis)

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Beneficial supplements

Chronic Lyme disease occurs when people are recurrently infected by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.  In addition to taking antibiotics to cure the infection, many chronic Lyme disease sufferers may use the following supplements to enhance the immune system and and alleviate minor pain, fatigue, and anxiety.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Here are some ways that vitamin B12 protects you from Lyme disease symptoms:

• Vitamin B12 is essential for maintaining the nervous system by aiding in the production of myelin, a fatty coating that shields each individual nerve cell.
• With vitamin B12 deficiency and Lyme disease, your myelin sheathe may become worn down, exposing you to harmful toxins that may kill or damage your nerve cells.
• By sustaining healthy levels of vitamin B12 through supplementation, you lower your risk for demyelinating disorders such as vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia, multiple sclerosis, and Lyme disease.
• Vitamin B12 also helps your body produce healthy red blood cells.  Without sufficient stores of vitamin B12, your red blood cell count goes down, resulting in decreased oxygen flow to the brain, causing symptoms of fatigue and brain fog.
• Because protein pump inhibitors (PPI’s) are often prescribed to treat Lyme disease, it is essential to include vitamin B12 as part of your treatment plan.  PPI’s interfere with your body’s ability to digest vitamin B12 in the stomach, and long-term usage of protein pump inhibitors is a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.
• To prevent nerve damage from Lyme disease, doctors recommend 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 each week.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Taking 50-100 mgs of vitamin B6 each day is healthy for the metabolism, energy production, and increased healing.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

In order to further boost your immune system and eliminate toxins from your body, doctors recommend taking large doses of vitamin C daily.

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)

Your body makes vitamin D3 whenever you are exposed to sunlight.  Taking extra doses of vitamin D3 is beneficial for strengthening your immunity.

GABA (Gama Amino Butyric Acid)

GABA is an amino acid that your body produces to relax the muscles.  Many Lyme disease patients find relief in taking GABA supplements to calm their nerves, treat anxiety, sleep peacefully, and prevent muscle spasms or seizures. The maximum recommended dose of GABA is 1500 mg, three times per day.

Probiotics

With regular antibiotic use, it is essential to take “friendly bacteria” in order to promote digestive health. Symptoms of indigestion include stomach pains, loose stools, and nausea.  Many yogurts and kefirs are infused with probiotics.  Additionally, probiotic supplements may be taken.  Doctors recommend 5 – 10 billion CFUs of lactobacillus acidophilus each day.

Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaf extract is a natural anti-inflammatory, in addition to having anti-fungal and anti-yeast properties.  Although alternative treatment is not recommended for Lyme disease, many people use olive leaf extract for enhances immune system functioning.

Oil of Oregano

Another natural anti-inflammatory, the oil of pressed oregano contains carvacrol, a chemical which researchers believe is also beneficial for maintaining the body’s natural defenses.

Raw Garlic

To support a healthy immune system, many Lyme disease patients swallow one or more cloves of raw garlic each day.

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa)

Followers of herbal medicine hold by 20 mg of Cat’s claw, three times per day, for optimal health with Lyme disease.

Please tell us…

Have you been contracted with Lyme disease?  If so, what treatments did you use besides antibiotics to cure nerve pain?

Do you currently take vitamin B12 shots for neuropathy?

Please feel free to comment, ask questions, or offer suggestions.  We would love to hear from you!

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Brain Fog: 20 Causes and Symptoms

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

Sources:

Lyme disease- Mayo Clinic.com

Lyme disease

Immune Boosting Vitamins and Lyme Disease

Images:

Wikimedia, RambergMediaImages

Do your legs keep going numb?  It could be vitamin B12 deficiency. Peripheral neuropathy -nerve damage from pernicious anemia-vitamin B12 deficiency- causes symptoms like pain, burning, and tingling sensations in your fingers and toes. Find out how vitamin B12 supplements can help…

They’re like Fed Ex for your nervous system

Your peripheral nerves operate outside your brain, shunting messages between your brain and your spinal cord.  They communicate signals about taste, touch, hearing, smell, and sight. 

The peripheral nerves also transmit messages influencing your motor skills, muscular coordination, and autonomic reflexes like breathing, heartbeat, bowel control, and blood pressure.

Damage to your peripheral nerves is called peripheral neuropathy.  Depending on which nerves are impaired, symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may include disorientation, “brain fog,” loss of muscle control, “pins and needles” sensations, and digestive disorders.

Pernicious anemia-vitamin B12 deficiency is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. (Read Do you have Franken-DNA from Pernicious Anemia?)

I think I’m having a nervous breakdown…

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy vary from patient to patient.  Nerve damage caused by pernicious anemia may differ from neuropathy resulting from alcoholism, for example.

• Burning and painful numbness in the toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, and legs
• Decreased ability to differentiate between hot and cold
• Loss of muscular control
• Muscular feebleness
• Tripping
• Muscular twitching, including eyelids
• Indigestion, heartburn, and bloating even after small meals
• Vomiting
• Acid reflux
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bladder problems
• Sexual dysfunctions
• Sensation of food getting stuck in your throat
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Excess sweating

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

What causes peripheral neuropathy?

At least 20 million US citizens suffer from one of many different types of peripheral neuropathy.

About 30% of the time, doctors are unable to find a cause or cure, and the diagnosis is “idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.” (Meaning, we don’t know why you’re having nerve pain.)

Another 30% of nerve pain is related to diabetes.  Diabetic neuropathy is one of the leading known causes of painful tingling, numbness, and soreness in the feet.

The remaining 30% is caused by an assortment of conditions and ailments:

• Autoimmune disorders like pernicious anemia  and rheumatoid arthritis
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Tumor
• Kidney disease
• Infection
• HIV
• Toxic reaction to alcohol, drugs, or chemotherapy
• Poor circulation
• Hypothyroidism
• Heredity

Type 2 Diabetes and Vitamin B12 Deficiency- Are you at Risk?

Treatments for peripheral neuropathy

Not all kinds of peripheral neuropathy can be cured.  However, understanding the cause, be it vitamin B12 deficiency or Crohn’s disease, can help your doctor prescribe proper coping mechanisms and lifestyle habits to avoid complications.

• If vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause, then you will need to take vitamin B12 supplements, possibly for life.
• If pernicious anemia or digestive disorder is the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, then you will have to use delivery methods that dispense vitamin B12 directly into your bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system.
• With diabetic peripheral neuropathy, you must check your feet often for blisters and cuts, in order to prevent infections.
• Daily exercise helps to improve circulation and relieve nerve pain.
• Get regular foot and hand massages to improve circulation.
• Don’t sit in the same position for a long time, and don’t put pressure on your arms and legs.
• If you suffer from Crohn’s disease or other GI disorders, then eat light meals that are low in fat, and avoid processed foods.
• Alternative treatments that are beneficial include herbal supplements, antioxidants, acupuncture, and biofeedback.

Please tell us…

Do you experience a combination of any of the symptoms described?

Most doctors don’t request vitamin B12 blood tests in routine checkups.

When was the last time you had your B12 levels checked?

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information? 
Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link. 
As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and nerve pain:

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

Pernicious Anemia and B12 Deficiency- Historically Fatal, Still Formidable

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Cause Brain Lesions?

Sources:

About Peripheral Neuropathy: Facts

Peripheral neuropathy- PubMed Health

Peripheral Neuropathy- Mayo Clinic.com

Images:

Nina Matthews Photography

What do vitamin B12 deficiency, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis have in common?  More than you realize.  For one, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs often with fibromyalgia, MS, and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Another clue is homocysteine, an excitotoxin that rattles your nervous system, sometimes with debilitating results.

Part I introduced you to excitotoxins…now in Part II, find out how to keep neurotoxins from disrupting your life.

Born with it: Clumsiness and Two Left Feet from Dyspraxia

What illnesses are linked with excitotoxicity?

Many neurodegenerative illnesses and other conditions are linked with elevated levels of excitotoxins such as homocysteine:

• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pernicious anemia (Vitamin B12 deficiency)
• Hypoglycemia
• Seizures
• Stroke
• AIDS dementia
• Huntington’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Infections
• Lyme borreliosis

“Glutamate and aspartate are doubled in viral meningitis, acute multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelopathy compared with control subjects and patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy.”

What causes elevated homocysteine levels?

When your body produces homocysteine, it is immediately broken down by vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxal phosphate).  Vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 keep your homocysteine levels down to a healthy minimum where already healthy homocysteine levels occur.

However, if you have vitamin B12 deficiency, including pernicious anemia, then you don’t have enough vitamin B12 to break down homocysteine. 

As a result, homocysteine levels spike, permeating your neurons, causing irreparable damage to your nerve cells and increasing your risk for stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and memory problems.

“…increased homocysteine levels in the central nervous system characterize patients fulfilling the criteria for both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.”

Here’s Your Brain on B12 Deficiency- Memory Loss and Aging

If you have pernicious anemia, then you may not be able to digest dietary forms of vitamin B12 (food, pills), due to a digestive system disorder.

In order to maintain healthy homocysteine levels (and thus gain the neurological health benefits of B12), you need to insert vitamin B12 directly into your bloodstream through vitamin B12 shots.

For maximum vitamin B12 benefits, experts recommend supplementing with extra over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin B12, as well.  Many patients experience improved neurological health in as little as a few days following vitamin B12 supplementation.

Please tell us…

• Do you have one or more of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency as described?
• Do you suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency and other comorbid illnesses such as fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis?
• How likely are you to change your diet and increase your vitamin B12, now that you know about the risk factors involved?
• Please share your comments!

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Excitotoxic, Part I

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Cause Brain Lesions?

Sources:

Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins

Neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid reflect pathological activity-PubMed, NCBI

Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome- PubMed, NCBI

Cytochemical detection of homocysteine in pernicious anemia and in chronic erythremic myelosis- PubMed, NCBI

Excitotoxins

Images:

What do vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis have in common?  More than you realize.  For one, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs often with fibromyalgia, MS, and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Another clue is homocysteine, an excitotoxin that rattles your nervous system, sometimes with debilitating results.

What are excitotoxins?

Dr. Russell Blaylock, author of Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills defines excitotoxins as amino acids “that react with specialized receptors in the brain in such a way as to lead to destruction of certain types of brain cells.” Because they damage your nerve cells, excitotoxins are also referred to as neurotoxins.

Damaged nerve cells are one of the many side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia.

Homocysteine, for example, is an excitotoxin.  Too much homocysteine causes your brain’s nerve cells to malfunction, breaking down the myelin sheathe and the blood-brain barrier (BBB), letting in free radicals, and potentially killing brain cells that can never be replicated.

Elevated homocysteine levels are also one of many side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia.

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Cause Brain Lesions?

Common excitotoxins

The following amino acids are classified as excitotoxins (neurotoxins):

• Homocysteine (L-cysteine)
• Glutamate (found in MSG and hydrolyzed vegetable protein)
• Aspartate (found in aspartame)
• Beta amyloid

Symptoms of excitotoxicity

The following symptoms may indicate nerve damage caused by excitotoxins:

• Chronic headaches (migraines)
• Painful tingling and numbness in your hands and feet (vitamin B12 deficiency)
• Muscular pain in specific sensitive spots (fibromyalgia)
• Unexplained constant tiredness, despite sleeping well and not overexerting oneself physically (chronic fatigue syndrome)
• Loss of muscular control (multiple sclerosis)

Coming in Part II, find out which illnesses are linked with excitotoxins, and what you can do to prevent nerve damage…

Please tell us…

• Do you have one or more of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency as described?
• Do you suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency and other comorbid illnesses such as fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis?
• How likely are you to change your diet and increase your vitamin B12, now that you know about the risk factors involved?
• Please share your comments!

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!

9 Conditions that Mimic Fibromyalgia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Sources:

Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins

Neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid reflect pathological activity-PubMed, NCBI

Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome- PubMed, NCBI

Cytochemical detection of homocysteine in pernicious anemia and in chronic erythremic myelosis- PubMed, NCBI

Excitotoxins

Images:

Wikimedia

Memory loss happens, and not just to the elderly.  The most common causes of severe memory loss are dementia (Alzheimer’s disease), drug abuse, brain damage, and neurological illness.  Even minor memory loss can be debilitating, if it goes on for years.  Reduced cognitive skills- brain fog, mental fatigue, irritability, lack of focus, and yes- memory loss are usually symptoms of an underlying condition that require medical attention.

Here are 6 unusual causes of memory loss that you haven’t considered:

Not getting your vitamin B12

One of the many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency is cognitive impairment.  Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is necessary for red blood cell distribution.  If you have low levels of vitamin B12, then your brain is not receiving enough oxygen, and the results are symptoms like memory loss, decreased mental focus, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty understanding new concepts.

Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• “Pins and needles” in hands and feet
• Painful numbness in the extremities
• Lack of muscular coordination
• Muscular pains
• Frequently dropping things and stumbling
• Diarrhea
• Skin itching
• Eye twitches

Also read Here’s Your Brain on B12 Deficiency- Memory Loss and Aging

Overeating

A recent study published by the Mayo Clinic reveals that elderly individuals who eat between 2,100 and 6,000 calories each day are twice as likely to suffer mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than people who don’t overeat.

• Survey information collected from 1,233 elderly residents of Olmstead County, Minnesota found a direct link between high caloric intake and memory loss.
• Study participants were asked to submit a questionnaire regarding their eating habits, including calorie intake.
• While none of the participants suffered from dementia, 163 did experience symptoms of cognitive impairment such as memory loss.
• After reviewing survey results, scientists noted that most of the people who had MCI overate, making them twice as likely to suffer from short-term memory loss.

Being a male

In a recent report by the Mayo Clinic on aging, researchers found that elderly men are more likely to suffer from memory loss than women of the same age.  In a study of 1,450 test subjects, 296 showed signs of mild cognitive impairment, with an incidence rate of 7.2% for males and 5.7% for females.

Being stressed out

When you’re stressed, anxious, or depressed, you become fatigued.  Your brain becomes overstimulated, and unless you give it a break, you’ll suffer signs of cognitive impairment, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and disorientation.  There exists a high correlation between many types of mental illness (bi-polar disorder, severe depression, and anxiety disorder) and attention deficit disorders.

Autoimmune disorder

“Brain fog” is a common complaint among people who suffer from autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and celiac disease.  If you also suffer symptoms like severe stomach pain, diarrhea, constant muscular soreness, or daily headaches, then consult your doctor immediately.  

(Also read: 6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease)

Not getting your Omega-3’s

A recent study published by Neurology indicated that people who are low in omega-3 fatty acids have significantly less brain mass and more symptoms of cognitive impairment than people who eat healthy amounts of omega-3’s.

• Using MRI testing and blood samples, researchers observed 1,500 elderly individuals who had no prior history for dementia.
• Participants who had the lowest levels of DHA omega-3 fatty acids had the least brain mass, putting them in the bottom 25% range.
• Also, subjects with the lowest omega-3 intake performed poorly on cognitive skill testing, including visual memory, abstract thinking skills, and executive function.
• Overall, low omega-3 levels accounted for accelerated brain aging and atrophy by two years.

Please tell us…

• Do you have trouble remembering words that used to roll off your tongue?
• Do you find yourself forgetting to do things unless you write yourself a memo?
• Have you been tested for vitamin B12 deficiency?
• Please let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about memory loss and vitamin B12:

5 Ways to Ruin your Memory without getting Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Brain Fog: 20 Ways to Deal

How to keep Vitamin B12 Deficiency from Shrinking your Brain

Sources:

Overeating May Double The Risk Of Memory Loss

Mayo Clinic Finds Mild Cognitive Impairment is Common, Affects Men Most

Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acid levels and markers of accelerated brain aging

Memory loss: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Images:

DerrickT, TheAlieness GiselaGiardino², David Castillo Dominici, stockvault