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Posted: **Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:34 pm**

Over the past year I have had a few falls. The last 'major' one was when I fell off a bike and landed on my face and shoulder, smashing my specs.
At first I blamed my arthritic knees but then realised that I'd been feeling very 'spaced out' or disorientated, made even worse by taking codeine painkillers. I mentioned my problem to my doc, knowing that this was not connected to my diabetes, ie hypos which I recognise.
I was referred to a neurologist who ordered blood tests and a brain scan, which I had a couple of weeks ago. Now waiting for the results.

He did say that the cause could be as simple as a Vit B12 deficiency but was interested when I told him that I used to suffer migraines, now wake most mornings with a headache and my left hand sometimes goes numb (not carpal tunnel numbness).

The trouble is that now I'm quite scared to go out alone in case I fall.

I failed the sobriety tests, I can't stand with feet together without swaying and I cannot walk heel to toe in a straight line - the police would declare me drunk.

Has anyone suffered any of these 'symptoms', was yours a Vit B12 deficiency?

Posted: **Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:14 pm**

My wife has a B12 injection about every 3 months. She was feeling perpetually tired until this regime was suggested and she is now back to normal.

Posted: **Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:31 pm**

Sorry to read that June, you could have a form of vertigo, my hubby has suffered with it terribly since the end of 2009 (came on after an op). Of course, vertigo is usually where you are disorientated and have spinning sensations or awful bouts of dizziness which is what he's suffered with, but my sis-in-law had it too and she endured all kinds of tests prior because hers came about with her falling several times. The hospital found she had vertigo and once on the right medication she was fine. Vit B12 deficiency is normally associated with anaemia I believe.

Posted: **Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:50 am**

Hope you get your scan results soon June.

Posted: **Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:49 pm**

Scan results came this morning, I have a brain and it's normal. :rolleye11:

:-)

Posted: **Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:17 pm**

Thank Goodness for that June. Let us hope they soon come up with an answer to what is making you like that.
I have been waiting for an MRI scan to find out what is causing my blackouts but I think they are reluctant to do it because I have a loop recorder inserted in my chest similar to a pace maker.
As the MRI scanners have magnets in them it could be dangerous while I still have it inserted. I have to have it there for two years. :roll:

Meanwhile they have put me on Epileptic tablets and I have still had a blackout since I have been on them.
NEVER had Epilepsy in my life and its a devil if its started now in my 80s. :dunno: