B6 Toxicity- My Story

H! My name is Susan and I would like to share with you my B6 story.
My symptoms began in Nov 2005. At first, I noticed that my top and bottom front teeth felt
a little senstive. By February 2006, the sensitivity turned to pain (chronic pain) and then my tongue started to burn. I saw my dentist and and ENT. They couldn't find anything to explain my oral issues. I later went to see a neurologist who believed I was suffering from trigiminal neuralgia......even though I didn't fit the profile. Seizure meds were prescribed and gave me no relief. I began to take a closer look at what I was taking (prescription meds). I was only taking a sleep aid called ambien. I researched ambien and found that it did indeed cause nerve pain for some people. I was sure I knew now the source of my pain. I stopped the ambien, but continued to suffer more. About a year later, my hands and feet started to feel numb, burn and sting. Walking was difficult and I also was suffering from heart palipatations and fatigue as well as muscle aches. Long story, short, frustrated with drs and could not get a firm diagnosis, I decided I would go to the Mayo Clinic. Finally a diagnosis was made. My levels were 139. I have stopped the B6, it has been a year now, but I continue to suffer horrific pain, especially orally. I was only taking a multivitamin with only 2mg of B6......even though one dr put me on a B complex vitamin, unaware I was further poisoning myself. I long for the day I can get my life back. I am limited to what I can do and tire easily. My pain is chronic and severe. I was told that the body will heal itself. I pray for relief everyday. This is a dangerous vitamin, even though it is water soluable. Be careful with it. So, that is my story. Blessings to you all..........Susan4AU

Food Choice Ideas

 I wanted to give an idea of some of the food choices that worked or did not work for me.  It may at least stimulate some ideas for anyone investigating food options.  The foods that don't seem to exasperate by B6 toxicity symptoms are:

• Baby carrots 
• Celery and almond butter
• Sugar Beets with balsamic vinegar
• Assorted steamed frozen veggies (asparagus, veggie medleys, green beans).  After steamed I add butter and pepper, before eating.  This has been a staple for me, since I dislike cooking. 
• Oranges, Clementines, Tangerines
• Apples
• Plain goat yogurt (I add in organic frozen blueberries-after they've thawed a bit)
• Smoothies using organic frozen berries, water, a bit of agave nectar, whey isolate (for protein)
• Fried eggs, with salt and pepper
• Nitrate-free organic hot dogs, I just eat them plain
• Goat meat (from a local meat specialty store)
• Almonds
• Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds
• Cheese
• Chocolate bars (before I gave up sugar).  Ones containing 70% cocoa and without soy lecithin.  Found these at a health food store
• Organic red wine
• Cod Liver Oil
• Stir fry that primarily included celery, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, almonds, onions, and soy sauce
• Bryers chocolate ice cream (ingredients vary widely with flavors.  I made sure it didn't contain soy lecithin or nuts.)

Listed below are things I added to my diet later.  Although they didn't seem problematic, my toxicity symptoms had improved by then.  Still they may have been fine, even at the beginning (I'll never know).  They are: 

• Homemade squash soup (essentially kabocha squash and onions)
• Boiled russet potatoes (removed the skins and ate with butter and/or goat yogurt)
• Homemade pumpkin soup
• Turkey breast (nitrate-free)
• Raw Revolution energy bars (found at the health food store.  Primarily contains cashews, flax seeds, spirulina, almonds).
• Aloe vera juice and green veggie powder with the smoothies
• Chicken thighs (I tried the dark meat, since white meat has more B6)
• Popcorn

Symptoms worsened when I tried gluten-free pancakes, rice pasta, butter pecan ice cream, and gluten-free bread.  I also don't think plain pecans work well for me either.  

I always stuck with organic, which I'd recommend.  I figured my liver was probably already overwhelmed, so I didn't need to add to the load.  I also just grazed throughout the day, rather than eating large meals all at once.  And eating earlier in the day seemed to lessen my night neuropathy symptoms as well. 

--Annette  

     

Progress??

For over 40 days, I've been logging my food intake, supplements, symptoms, and how I'm feeling emotionally.  Since I'm not working, and have very few demands on my time, I've been able to monitor this closely.  Or rather more closely than someone with a full-time job and family could.

Here are some things I've noticed:

• At 3 weeks I started feeling pulsing in my feet.  This did differ from the previous tingling/burning sensations.  It's a sign of healing I've been told.  I only felt the pulsing for a day or so, but felt lessening tingling sensations after that.
• At ~4 weeks I could stop taking 1/2 of a Benedryl at night to sleep.
• My neuropathy symptoms (for me tingling/burning in feet and hands) worsened dramatically upon eating a gluten-free pancake.  I did this at 3 1/2 weeks.  Since I was feeling better, I wanted to see if I could eat food containing more B6.  It felt like I re-injured myself upon doing this.  Like the level became toxic at that point, killed some new nerves, that will take another 3 weeks to heal.  I don't know whether this is true or not....there is so little readily-available information out there on B6 toxicity.  
• I read that alcohol inhibits the absorption of B6.  Although wine itself does contain some B6 (what doesn't!), I drink some if I'm feeling increased neuropathy symptoms, after ingesting something.  I use 1/2 glass, maybe, of organic red wine.  I believe it helps.  Wish I'd taken some after I'd eaten that pancake!  I don't believe that some alcohols, like vodka, contain any B6.  I'm not, however, much of a shot drinker.  Note:  I've also personal accounts by others, with B6 toxicity, suggesting that alcohol may be helpful.
• Emotionally I've been down down down since this began.  It makes sense, given the role of B6 in the body.  I'm losing weight and my hair has noticeably been turning more gray.  I feel I'm walking a on a tightrope.  Damned if I eat food and dammed if I don't.  Since this blog entry is titled "progress?", I'll say that I checked out several vegetarian cookbooks from the library the other day.  And am currently trying out some of the recipes.  Very mediocre results thus far-but then I've always hated cooking. 
• "Saw" an intuitive healer.  I've now started on a recommended protocol.  Have no idea if it has anything to do directly with B6 toxicity...

So that's it!    

Tried using Estrogen - there's a mistake

I'd heard somewhere that B6 absorption may be reduced by the estrogen in foods.  I'd also read some personal accounts where the neuropathy symptoms were impacted, depending on where the woman was in her cycle.  In fact, while on my period last month, my symptoms dramatically improved.

• Question:  Will using estriol improve my symptoms or have any impact?  
• Experiment:  On day #10 of my cycle, I tried some micronized natural estriol on my arm.
• Results:  Neuropathy symptoms *very* noticeably worsened.  Tingling/burning on my hands and feet dramatically increased.  Also interesting was that there was a lot of tingling on the arm itself, where I'd put on the cream.

Bottom Line:  I'm not going to be doing this again any time soon!  Interesting though that estrogen did seem to have an affect, albeit not the one to which I'd hoped.
    
General Notes:  I'd used the estriol before any toxicity problems - so I trust the brand and my usual reactions to it.  I put it on before going to bed.  To measure days of the cycle - 1st day of period = day #1 of the cycle.  I'm in my late 40s, but still have regular cycles. 

My Vitamin B6 (P5P) Story

I developed B6 toxicity while using the co-enzymated form of B6 (P5P).  Thus far I've not seen anything on the internet that suggests this can occur-which is why I wanted especially to post this.

For me, I began to experience neuropathy symptoms 2 days after starting the P5P.  I was using the enteric coated tablet form of P5P, and taking 33mg Coenzymated Vitamin B-6 (from 50mg P5P), twice a day.  After symptoms developed, I immediately shifted to less and also later tried a different form, a sublingual, that had 1/2 the mg.  I couldn't find the suggested enteric coated tablets in lower doses.  Anyway I completely stopped everything after 11 days, due to worsening neuropathy symptoms.  

It's been almost a month now - since I stopped all supplements containing B6 and drastically reduced the B6 in my diet.  I still have neuropathy symptoms.  And it's still surprising how the symptoms lessen or increase, depending on the foods I eat.

The damage, resulting from 11 days use, is still shocking to me.  And I'm probably one of the lucky ones.  Those that develop B6 toxicity with lower doses of B6, and are unable to pin down the problem, for perhaps years, are usually in worse shape.

That being said...I'm still dealing with it...and will just have to see how it goes.

--Annette

Trying Goat Meat Today

I've heard somewhere that goat meat is lower in B6, than beef.  I checked out a few sites on goat meat, http://www.naturalark.com/chevon.html and http://www.calorie-counter.net/meat-calories/goats-meat.htm and that looked to be the case.

I went to Herbs Meats (a local specialty store) yesterday, pleaded ignorance, and the butcher suggested I try cooking a goat shoulder cut, in a crock-pot, with some water, on the low setting, for 10 or so hours.  Ate it a half hour ago...it tasted surprisingly good!  I had cooked it overnite, as suggested, with zero spices.  Added celtic salt as I ate it though.

The verdic is still out on whether goat will work for me.  I've read that some people, with B6 toxicity, have to not just watch their B6, but also their B1 and B3.   I haven't looked at that angle yet.

It's day #26, and I'm so tired of starving!