It had been a hectic day rushing around both at work and getting ready for a planned weekend away but despite having a good night’s sleep as usual, I was still exhausted and couldn’t figure out why. As a busy mam of two with a full time job and numerous hobbies, I was always on the move, but suddenly found it increasingly difficult to keep up with things but put it down to getting older and brished it to one side.
However, that day we were supposed to go for a weekend getaway, but my son came home from school obviously unwell, so we went to the pharmacy to check it out. The pharmacist quickly referred us to urgent care, suspecting something serious.
Within minutes of arriving at the urgent care centre in Hartlepool, we were rushed through, and Ben was diagnosed with Strep A and given a prescription. Amidst all this, I suddenly realised I couldn’t use my left hand – it simply stopped working, with no strength to hold anything and constant shooting pains.
Fortunately, since we were already at urgent care, I was seen immediately. The doctor advised me to rest it for a fortnight as I must have twisted it, reports Teesside Live.
But two weeks later, if anything, I was worse. The pain was still unbearable, and I could barely use it. By now, I was sleeping all day and night, and working was impossible. I was signed off work and lay on the sofa trying to regain some energy.
Weeks passed and the condition began to affect both hands, making work impossible. Despite numerous sick notes and advice to rest, there was no improvement.
Instead, the pain spread down both arms and into the fingers, with even the slightest touch causing excruciating pain. Vision problems and daily headaches also started to happen and my usually optimistic mood went downhill fast.
Blood tests didn’t reveal anything, leading to a referral to a physiotherapist. And as the weeks passed by fears of serious health conditions such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease began to creep in.
However, the physiotherapist suspected work-related nerve damage, although this didn’t explain the overwhelming fatigue. As this worsened, days were spent binge-watching shows from Masterchef to The Traitors.
Further blood tests were conducted and the physio prescribed exercises which I did but they provided little relief. The fear of what the future might hold was ever-present.
Finally, a breakthrough came. I got a phone call that changed my life. The physio had suspected vitamin deficiency and he had hit the nail on the head.
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Despite a relatively healthy diet, my vitamin B12 levels were ‘through the floor’. I was told symptoms like mine of pain and tingling in the hands could start at a level of 300, 180 was considered deficient and mine were 90.
It was so low it had likely caused nerve damage which should heal with B12 booster injections but could take up to 12 weeks for complete recovery. It was a slow process, but I finally got there, returning to work initially part-time and then finally fully back in the September – more than 5 months since going off on a half-day holiday for that weekend away.
Luckily tests showed there was no permanent damage but it still wasn’t the end of the story. A few months later I began feeling tired again and a new blood test showed my B12 was borderline once again despite taking daily supplements. I’m now taking a stronger supplement and fingers crossed it seems to be doing the job.
Who would have thought something as simple as a vitamin deficiency could leave me so broken. A pill you can buy over the counter for a few pence could have saved months of worry and pain if only I’d known what to look for.
When my 22-year-old daughter Eve started showing similar symptoms to me, she knew what to do long before her health declined to the level mine had. She found herself inexplicably exhausted and struggling with hobbies she loved, like regular surfing at Tynemouth beach.
Blood tests revealed that she too was deficient and needed the same booster as me. Now, I’m just relieved to have my life back and want everyone to be aware of what to look out for.
If you notice these symptoms, it’s worth getting them checked – it could change your life.
Symptoms of B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms, according to the NHS. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.
Most symptoms are the same whether they are caused by either folate deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia include:
- rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- headaches
- indigestion
- loss of appetite
- palpitations
- problems with your vision
- feeling weak or tired
- diarrhoea
- a sore or red tongue, sometimes with mouth ulcers
- problems with memory, understanding and judgment (cognitive changes)
Some of these symptoms can also happen in people who have a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency but have not developed anaemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms that affect your brain and nervous system (neurological symptoms), including:
- numbness
- muscle weakness
- psychological problems, which can range from mild depression or anxiety, to confusion and dementia
- problems with balance and coordination
- pins and needles
- incontinence
When to see a GP
The NHS advises you should see a GP if you’re experiencing symptoms of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia. These conditions can often be diagnosed based on your symptoms and the results of a blood test.
It’s important for vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Although many of the symptoms improve with treatment, some problems caused by the condition can be irreversible if left untreated. The longer the condition goes untreated, the higher the chance of permanent damage.
