Unexplained symptoms- Terrys nails?B12 deficiency or something else?
Posted , 20 users are following.
Hi, I'm 26 y.o male with no liver diease/kidney disease/ diabetes or other known conditions. In the last year I started to suffer from unexplained serious symtpoms. The first one was hair loss. Hundreds of hairs are falling each day from all over the head including eyelashes and eyebrows(diagnosed by my derm as Telogen Effluvium). Then, came muscle pains, stomach pains, GI weird sounds,unexplained weight loss, memory problems, concentration problems, weird white smooth coating on the tongue, white ridged nails with red tips that looks like Terry's nails(always been smooth and uniformly pink) ,fatigue,vision problems(it comes and goes. blurred vision), tingling in hands and feet,anxeity, tinnitus and really bad insomnia. Blood test are all good(thyroid hormones are optimal, no antibodies for TPO or Thyroglubulin, vitamin D, zinc,iron, ferritin,no liver issues or diabetes ). My B12 was 300(I was vegetarian for 10 years) and I have atrophic gastritis diagnosed by gastroscopy. I got 35 cyanocobalamin injections over two months by my dr and some of my symptoms improved but some still persists even after months of treatment. Before the shots I took B12 methylcobalamin sublingual but it didn't help at all. My B12 is now above 2000. My dr stopped the injections but I still have symptoms. My nails are still ridged and white. I still have hair loss, tingling in feet that comes and goes and memory problems. I'm adding a pic of my nails. Its not so clear but they are ridged and most of them white without lanula and there is a thin red strip at the top. My doctor doesn't know what is the cause for all of my symptoms. I have lately severe muscle pains and excruciating stab pain in my right leg. It feels like its coming from my nerves. P.S my father has some of my symptoms, he eats meat everyday and he has b12 of 210. I would really appreciate if someone have similar nails or symptoms and can shed a light on my situation. Thank you very much!.
2 likes, 24 replies
Springbok1988 El10
Edited
I will start off by saying I don't have any answers for you. I am, however, experiencing something very similar to you. Every blood test that I've had done has come back normal. It started gradually from the age of 26 (I'm now 31). It started with losing my hair, then fatigue set in, later GI problems (gastritis), red on the tips of my nails, concentration and memory problems, tingling in my hands, etc. I hope someone has some answers. I'm watching this thread closely.
May I ask what medications you are on?
El10 Springbok1988
Posted
wow 😦 sorry to hear you've got through this awful experience. I'm currently taking cipralex because my GP doesn't know the cause and said maybe its just anxiety. I took the pill for almost 5 months. Nothing has change with my symptoms although I'm less anxious. Maybe together we can figure it out. I have a few theories. the first one is that low ferritin is the culprit. how was your ferritin? the normal range is between 20-320 but every doctor that talk about it said that for ferritin, it needs to be above 100 . This is the optimal range. I've read on a few studies that people with male pattern baldness(which isn't what I have but still) all of them had ferritin less than 70 compared to those that didn't have it. Meaning high levels of ferritin prevent or slows down this process. GPs don't know these things and think that even if you in the low range of normal range its ok which isn't. I really would like to know how was/is your ferritin through the years. Mine was 30 and now after 4 months of supplementation is 60 which still isn't good. Low ferritin symptoms are overlapping with B12 deficiency. the second one is B12. Have you been diagnosed with prenicious anemia? Did you do the test fot antibodies for intrinsic factor? My father has more severe case with his B12 and iron lower than mine and his nails are ridged and super white with more pronounced red strip . There is a study done on those with Telogen Effluvium and after they took B12 for a few months is stops their shed in 90% of them. Even those with high levels of B12(above 1000) experienced this condition and after taking B12 it stopped their shed too. the conclusion was that maybe the transportation of the B12 to the cells isn't efficient and thus, those with higher B12 still suffers from hair loss. The problem is that many of us can't absorb B12 through the digestive tract or sublingual. And this is a problem. What is your levels of B12 ? Mine now above 2000 (with shots) but I still have symptoms. I went to a neurologist that advised me to keep doing the injections one per week. He doesn't think I have more serious illness but a case of someone with bad absorption of B12 through other routes. sorry if its too long. let me know what you're thinking 😃
Kevinplus Springbok1988
Posted
hi im having the same thing dis you ever find out what was wrong with you? i hope youre feeling well.
sarajo El10
Posted
Have you spoken to your GP
El10 sarajo
Edited
Yes I have but he doesn't know. I have many appointments to specialists and even full body CT scan which I think isn't necessary. The GP has a little knowledge. My neurologist advised me to keep with the B12 injections one per week against the GP recommendation to stop it.
john37749 El10
Posted
what was your vitamin d level? I know you say it was fine, but did the docs actually give you a value or just tell you it was fine? often their ranges are woefully low (as you said in one of your other replies. you need to be in the optimum range, not just normal). Vit d deficiency often goes hand in hand with b12 deficiency as well.
Did they test active B12 as well or just Serum b12?
there are some good Facebook groups for b12 like "b12 wake up". the members there should be able to give you better advice.
t35547 El10
Edited
I'm 24 and have been dealing with something very similar recently. Back in January I developed Mee's lines in my fingernails that eventually grew out. Late January I started losing my hair like crazy for absolutely no reason. Initial visit with GP had urine test, and multiple blood panels. All normal. Went to see dermatologist who basically brushed my problems off and tested for Vit. D/Thyroid/Iron. Low Vit. D, normal iron/Thyroid.
Around the time all of this was happening, I started noticing a darker band at the edge of each of my toenails, most noticeable on the big toes. This has progressed now to full blown Terry's nails. Opaque white with a darker red band covering 20% of the nails. My fingernails have yet to develop this condition, however I'm sure they will soon enough. Going back to see dermatologist soon to see if we can track anything down.
To recap:
Mee's lines
Hair loss
Terry's Nails
Normal kidney/liver function, no other symptoms.
I will stop back in with an update if I find anything new out!
(Small 2 week) update: just as i suspected, Terry's nails are now beginning to appear on my fingernails. Both pinky nails are now uniformly white with a small red band across the distal tip. Other fingernails are gradually getting whiter. Toenails still as evident as ever. Seeing dermatologist in less than a week.
(Small 2 week) update: unfortunately no new findings from dermatologist. Had some bloodwork done again and it looks like kidneys and liver are fine. I am definitely not diabetic. The only thing left that this seems to be associated with is a pulmonary issue. I have set up an appointment with my PCP to hopefully get an x-ray/ECG done. Will keep all of you future readers updated!
Kevinplus t35547
Posted
hi , i hope you are feeling well. dis you ever find answers?
sarajo El10
Posted
Hi
Unfortunately Ive never heard of Terrys Nails so like one of my fellow members i too have no answers for you my apologies
Hope your situation gets sorted out soon
DerekV El10
Posted
I am a 38 yo male experiencing something very similar to you. I started to notice it when i was around your age, but it started to get worse 3 years ago and even worse this year. Thyroid and parathyroid are fine. I have ITP and low phosphorus and sometimes low b12 and vitamin D levels, but other than that and my unexplained symptoms (near identical to yours plus a few like heat/cold intolerance and tremors). I am relatively healthy and they haven't been able to nail down a cause. Because of the ITP i had to have an IVIG infusion. It is often used to keep MS relapses at bay as well. I responded extremely well to it and felt pretty good for a few months after. Currently working with doctors on the tedious process of diagnosing or ruling it out. Has your neurologist looked that direction yet?
raj05172 El10
Posted
Hello brotheri too suufer from same symptoms but all my blood results are normal. I just purchased infrared sauna suspecting some toxicant in body is causing it
ryan87761 El10
Edited
my nails look just like yours and i am 26. i am experiencing the same thing and its so frustrating. my blood test just said low creatinine. i also have been dieting a lot so maybe it is nutrition related. i also have been under a lot of stress from work, maybe this triggered nerve issues. my mom has progressive ms. i hope we get an answer, i tried going to the doctors they did nothing. i shoulve tried a primary instead of the hospital and pain management but now my insurance ran out.
j34214 El10
Posted
Hi, I also have most of these same symptoms, with all lab results normal as well. Most recently my muscles have began twitching a lot which is annoying... Anyways, has anyone had any luck in finding out what's going on??
Hope everyone is doing well...
j34214
Posted
Question for everyone with Terry's Nails: is the skin directly below your nails shiny or waxy-like in appearance and soft, when compared to the skin on the rest of the finger? I googled (big mistake lol) and it says it could be an early sign of clubbing/lung cancer?? Hoping this is just a normal benign feature of these nails lol
clair2119 El10
Posted
Hi,
I old enough to be your parent lol. Suddenly 5 days ago, my nails went like Terry's nails, the white bit is around the outside and the red is brighter than the normal nail. Went on the medical websites and they said it indicated every type of serious medical condition imaginable from heart disease to Raynauds.....frightening!!.....Doctor listened to my heart and chest, did blood pressure, and blood Ox level, they were all fine. Just had the blood work done. Then I came to my senses and began checking for vit deficiency and Terry's nails. Many say B12, Vit D, ferratin, C and E. I've been into vits etc since the 1970s (seriously). I'm vegan and always take my vitamins.
At times my vit D level has been really low and at those times I've had hair loss. I've been under a lot of stress for the last 5 years, ie need more nutrients and could have poor absorption. So right now I'm thinking poss. liver stress. I'm going to increase all the vits above and get my B12, vitD, and ferratin levels checked. I'll get the blood work results in a few days and go from there.
I'm really interested in everyone's experiences with this situation.