Exactly one year ago today (October 26, 2015), I made my first blog post. One year ago, I came down with B6 toxicity.
Since then, I've experienced some recovery. My symptoms are no longer as bad as they were. The slight neuropathy in my arms is intermittent and easy to ignore. The neurological problems have mostly gone away, although I still feel that my balance isn't as good as it used to be. Still, I feel pretty good.
Looking back, I would say that the first month was the hardest. The symptoms were all but debilitating. Even after the neuropathy began to fade, I still struggled with adjusting to a new diet. And there was the anxiety, which was almost as bad as the neuropathy. Some of it was caused by the toxicity, but some of it was just a natural result of being sick. It's not easy wrestling with the thought that you might never be well again.
After that, things got better. In fact, the past six months have been pretty uneventful. I still watch my diet, and I still pay the price when I fall off the wagon, but the consequences are less severe. A few weeks ago, for example, I ate a high-B6 meal and my arms burned all night, but I was surprised to feel no lingering effects the next morning. When I woke up, my arms felt fine. I took that as a sign of healing. It's as though my body is getting better at handling B6 and getting over high dosages when I make the mistake of eating them.
Speaking of food, I've added a few medium-high B6 foods back into my diet, and I no longer worry about over-indulging on tomatoes or broccoli. They don't seem to affect me. However, I won't touch potatoes, bananas, corn, or brown rice. They're just too high in B6. Maybe after the two-year mark, I'll start re-incorporating them. For now, I'm content with what I have to eat.
Anyways, I just wanted to update everyone on my condition. I know some people follow this blog and use it to gauge their own recovery. If I were to sum up my current situation in one sentence, it would be: I've come a long way, but there's still a long way to go.
I think I have at least another year of recovery ahead of me. We'll just have to wait and see.
Hi Thomas I really hope and pray that all of us that suffer from this kind of disease will get well someday.Mine is like I am used of the numbness and tingling already so I still go to work because if I stay home all the time I am so upset about it for the reason that I can't eat delicious foods anymore.If ever I eat chicken or potatoes I suffer from severe tingling on my both legs..But what I do everyday is So drink a lot of water as per advice of my Doctor in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your update. I am in month 9 of recovery. My hardest issue is my burning forearms, upper back, mouth and my legs on off. All my other issues appear to have healed or are healing. I do think anxiety and depression are killing me at this point. My feet are pretty scorched and peroneals were hit hard too. I was taking a b complex per my doctor's orders for many years. All specialists failed the poisoning.
ReplyDeleteI to took b6 for many years told by a doctor to.now im in a terrible mess i dont know what to eat or drink cant sleep etc .
DeleteHi Thomas. You said in an old blog post that you often tested for b6 levels. May I ask how you did this?
ReplyDeleteHi KP! I don't remember saying that. I've never had my B6 levels tested (in fact, I've heard that B6 testing is unreliable, because B6 is stored not just in the blood, but in the muscles as well). Maybe you're thinking of the nutrient trackers I recommend. Those can tell you how much B6 you are consuming based on the foods you eat. I also rely on the USDA website to determine the B6 content of food.
DeleteHi Tom.
ReplyDeleteIs the burning in your arms hot to the touch? I have to put ice packs on my arms because they burn so bad. Did any supplements help you? I read that taking vitamin B1 can drive down B6 levels. Have you tried that? I'm thinking about it.
Hi JoAnne! I don't remember my burning being hot to the touch, nor did I feel the need for an ice-pack. If I remember correctly, hot showers were, if anything, relieving.
DeleteHi Tom
ReplyDeletei have recently dignosed with B6 toxicity
thanks for the all info you shared
this will help me to recovery
i have 7 times more b6 in my blood test
suffering from all symtoms
CBD oil from hemp works wonders. I have to take high dosages at this point because you do develop a tolerance. You can buy it at some health food stores.
ReplyDelete