Shortness of breath and weak legs easily tired
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10 months back I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I was given nexito 10mg. After 2 months anxiety subsided. But depression remained. After tapering I completely left the nexito(SSRI) 20 days ago. During tapering and going off the nexito, i did feel light anxiety and low mood, but in 10 days it was ok. I decided to have my blood test to just check my cholesterol levels ( my previous blood tests showed up high triglycerides level, but anxiy and depression was major concern for me back then). My triglycerides level came out to be 550(should be <150) and my vitamin b12 145, vitamin D 15.1 ( both deficiency). Doctor gave me atocor 10, neurobion and sunbless( vitamin D tablets). I was having them as prescribed and was also following good diet and excercising to get better. But suddenly 3 days ago, i felt little anxiety and short of breath, as soon as i tried to sleep, i felt totally out of breath and wasnt able to sleep. In the morning, when I checked my BP and glucose levels, my BP was normal and glucose normal. But during checking my BP i blacked out for about 20-25 seconds( maybe because it blocked blood flow in hand ). Morning I was taken to doctor, still feeling short of breath, but my BP was still normal. Doctor saw my 10 days old report and without and further test concluded it is because of vitamin b12 deficiency and prescribed me neurobion injections 5 days consecutively then once a week for a month and once a month of 3 months. I have taken 2 injections till now I dont feel much better. But Iam not convinced, if it were vitamin b12 deficiency why did it suddenly showed by 3 days ago? What other tests I should have to diagnose what is happening to me? My legs are tired, my hands cannot grip properly after waking up, easily grtting tired, feeling slight dizziness in head. God, just after I thought the war is over with SSRI, This new thing came. I feel so frustrated !! Please help
1 like, 5 replies
clivealive prakhar76036
Posted
It is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better as the B12 starts repairing the damage done to your nervous system and your brain starts getting multiple messages from part of the body it had "forgotten about" or lost contact with.
I sometimes liken it to a badly tuned radio on which you have turned the volume up high trying to catch the programme you want when all of a sudden the signal comes in loud and clear and the blast nearly deafens you.
A lot will depend on the severity and longevity of your B12 deficiency as to how long before there is no further improvement or recovery.
Some symptoms will "disappear" quite quickly whereas others may take months or even years. There is no set timescale as we are all different.
Your initial "loading Doses" should continue on alternate days "until there is no further improvement"
It is also important that your Folate level is monitored as this is essential to process the B12.
There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.
Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:
symptoms related to anaemia
reduced sense of taste
diarrhoea
numbness and tingling in the feet and hands
muscle weakness
depression
Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body and your B12 levels were "bumping along the bottom" of the range.
Replacing B12 will lead to a huge increase in the production of blood cells and platelets (which occurs in the bone marrow) and can lead to rapid depletion of folate and iron stores; this can then limit the expected recovery of Hb. Both iron and folate may be needed.
I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.
I wish you well.
prakhar76036 clivealive
Posted
Thankyou so much for the quick reply.
Right now, B12 deficiency is the only probably cause I am aware of, so probably that I'll try to correct. I hope doctor is right about the diagnosis.
The world really falls apart and tears apart when one is struggling for so long.
I am thinking of CBC, to see if I have PA or not. Thankyou for the wishes. It really helps when someone understands you rather than taunting you with " Its all in your head" , " you are being lazy"
clivealive prakhar76036
Posted
It took 13 years between stomach surgery for a burst ulcer before I was diagnosed with P.A. by which time I was a walking Zombie.
Anyone at any age, can become B12 deficient. However, certain people are at an elevated risk. They include the following:
Vegetarians, vegans and people eating macrobiotic diets.
People aged sixty and over
People who’ve undergone any gastric and/or intestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery for weight loss purposes (Gastric bypass).
People who regularly use proton-pump- inhibitors. H2 blockers, antacids, Metformin, and related diabetes drugs, or other medications, or infections such as h-pylori that can interfere with B12 absorption.
People who undergo surgeries or dental procedures involving nitrous oxide, or who use the drug recreationally.
People with a history of eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia).
People with a history of alcoholism.
People with a family history of pernicious anaemia.
People diagnosed with anaemia (including iron deficiency anaemia, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia).
People with Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten enteropathy (celiac disease), or any other disease that cause malabsorption of nutrients.
People with autoimmune disorders (especially thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease) Type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, lupus, Addison’s disease, ulcerative colitis, infertility, acquired agammaglobulinemia, or a family history of these disorders.
Symptoms of B12 deficiency tend to develop slowly and may not be recognised immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include:
Weakness and fatigue
Light-headedness and dizziness
Palpitations and rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
A sore tongue that has a red, beefy appearance
Nausea or poor appetite
Weight loss
Diarrhoea
Yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes
If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the following symptoms:
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Difficulty walking
Muscle weakness
Irritability
Memory loss
Dementia
Depression
Psychosis
I assume you are not in the UK. Treatment protocols differ between countries.
Are you able to eat meat, fish, seafood, eggs and dairy produce for natural sources of B12?
And don't forget - plenty of leafy green vegetables for Folate.
prakhar76036 clivealive
Posted
Iam a vegetarian. So I understand why my B12 is low( Is 145 really that low?). I do eat eggs occasionally.
My main issue right now is I have trouble breathing. I am constantly gasping for more air.
Yes thankyou, I shall eat lot of folate sources. Seems to be my best bet
clivealive prakhar76036
Posted
Yes poor breathing is just one of the side effects of a B12 deficiency.
If as a vegetarian you cannot eat meat, fish, seafood or eggs can you manage to increase your consumption of Milk and cheese; yoghurt etc.
I'm guessing you are not in the U.K. but there are other food sources such as Marmite (or Vegemite) and some internationally well known branded breakfast cereals (for example Kelloggs "All Bran"
are fortified with Vitamin B12.
As long as you don't have an absorption problem with your digestion and your deficiency is due only to your meatless diet if you can manage to eat the above other sources you should be fine.
If the cause isn't dietary then it is an absorption problem so you need to find another way of replenishing B12 initially. Most absorption problems aren't treatable but a few are - notably h pylori infection - which would mean that once that has been dealt with you would be able to absorb B12 from your diet so wouldn't need maintenance shots for life.