Can you help diagnose light-headedness, blackouts, muscle fl Posted: 05-06-06 07:24am
I’m a 20 y/o male with no past medical
Hx. Approximately 5 years ago I went to
see my local GP because I was experiencing
light-headedness and blackouts (with nil
LOC) quite frequently, particularly during
exercise. After several examinations from
different specialists I was told that the
most likely cause of my symptoms were due
to postural changes in my BP during
exertion. It was noted however that my
vitamin B12 levels where low-borderline
(but I was not told this had nothing to do
with it). The 5 years to follow saw me
have an increase in the number of symptoms
I had albeit the blackouts seemed to have
just ‘grown out’ of me. The symptoms
were, in order of how I remember they
progressed: Muscle fluctuations, rapid
muscle fatigue and weakness during
exercise, tiredness, paresthesia
(particularly numbness in my legs), SOB
during mild activities, memory loss and
tension headaches. After returning to me
GP, a blood test found that I had allowed
my vitamin B12 levels to drop to 62 over
the last 5 years. To reverse the
deficiency I was given the relevant
injections over several weeks until my
levels came back into the norm (now 500).
For some reason however, and beyond the
knowledge of my doctors, my symptoms have
remained even after treatment
(particularly my muscle twitches, memory
loss and headaches). I have also noticed
that I have been getting quite depressed
and emotional lately.
Before you ask, I am not a vegetarian. In
fact I love my meats, and all the sources
of vitamin B12, so I can assure you it is
not a diet induced deficiency. Saying
that, I am not overweight, I’m 6’4”
and weigh 95 kgs, and I don’t believe my
SOB is caused by a lack of fitness. In
addition we have ruled out SOB secondary
to anaemia as my haemoglobin counts have
always been normal. My doctor says that I
might have been born with the inability to
absorb the vitamin… however I wonder why
I have been fine for at least 15 years of
my life. And while I understand that my
symptoms could mimic several underlying
pathologies, I was just hoping someone
could read my story and think outside the
square. Perhaps the first thing that jumps
into their head. And by the way, I would
like to say that my symptoms (all of them)
are not chronic. I can live with them just
fine. I would just like someone to help
explain why my legs go numb after not
moving them for 10 seconds and why I
can’t remember locking my car
immediately after I’ve locked it.
thank you,
zneh2
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 16777211
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Vitamins Answer A982 Posted: 05-26-06 06:29am
Lack of Vit B12 causes anemia and
neurological disorders. It seems that you
don’t have anemia (normal hemoglobin)
but you ARE EXPERIENCING neurological
disorders. I recommend you to visit a
neurologist for an examination and to
identify if your neurological symptoms are
real, or not. An electro myo-graphy (EMG)
must be performed to search for possible
nerve damage. Inefficient absorption of
the vitamin B12 can be caused by chronic
stomach inflammation, so you can also
request a gastroscopy with a biopsy to
conform or exclude chronic inflammation.
Finally, you can ask doctors to check
blood levels for folic acid.
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