Question:
Has anyone experienced problems with Thiamin or B1 deficencies?

Last weekend my feet and hands started going numb therefore from all of the posts I thought it probably was a B-12 deficency as well as my pcp thought that too, so he gave me a shot and I was taking 1000 mcg every day until my blood work came back with a reading of 1700 which is high. Therefore he talked to a neurologist and he thought my problem may be thiamin, so I had to have another blood draw of which I haven't received the results. But my feet are numb and tingly and hurt really bad at night. It kind of scares me that something neurological is happening and it could be long term. Does anyone have these symptoms that have been related to a thiamin deficency?    — Kimberly H. (posted on December 13, 2002)

December 13, 2002
Kimberly- Although it wasn't painful for me, I had severe tingling and numbness in all my extremities..even my face for awhile. It started about 4-5 weeks postop and continued for a few months. They also thought I was low on Thiamin or B1 and so I started taking extra supplements, but it did not help. My pcp finally ordered a MRI to rule out any thing seroius like Multiple Sclerosis. It came back normal. I was still really worried though, because the tingling was so constant. They finally reffered me to a neourologist whom I will see soon. However, it seems that in the past few weeks, the tingling has really decreased and I haven't noticed it that much. I am currently almost 5 months postop now. I am wondering if it was just a phase my body went though or something more serious. Hopefully I will find out. I am not sure what to say, but to be careful and just have everything really checked out good. Good Luck. (open RNY 7/23/02 -93 lbs)
   — Shawnie S.

December 13, 2002
You might want to ask your doctor about neuropathy. My grandmother ended up with tingling and a kind of cold numbness in her feet after a heart procedure. I believe it is treatable. Best of luck to you.
   — LM O.

December 13, 2002
There are a few post in the history that talks about siatic nerve damage that could be causing the tingling and numbness. I have the same thing but it was in my right hip and at night I would wake up screaming beause if felt like someone was stabbing me with a knife in my hip. Anyway some believe this was due to being on the operating table for long periods of time in the same position. Mine started 2-3 wks after surgery and it is NOT as painful as it was. Hopefully as I loose weight it will eventually go away.
   — Mary H.

December 13, 2002
First, immediately start taking both B complex capsule (Twinlab or Solaray) AND an extra thiamine cap. If it's not the prob, they won't hurt you. I was brain-injured 10 years ago after losing 60 lbs on starvation diet, then being hospitalized, and pumped full of glucose/saline. The injury causes neuropathies, you basically have symptoms like multiple sclerosis, and is very hard to diagnose. Have you been taking a good multi-vite? If not, start now! And add the extra Bs. Vitamin deficiencies are not something to mess around with - they can kill you, or worse . . . This one won't kill you, BTW - if you take care of yourself, it won't get any worse that what it is now - IF THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE. Might be something else. Don't freak out, take your vites, visit the neurologist, and see, OK? Good luck!
   — RWH G.

December 30, 2002
Thanks everyone for your input. I finally got my labs back on Thiamin and it was .08 and it is suppose to be 1.2 - 4.0. My doctor said it wasn't that low, but to start taking a B1 supplement. So yesterday I started taking 100 mg of Thiamin. I go back to the neurologist on Jan 7th. He said after the last tests of shocks and needles that I don't have nerve damage but I have nerve irritation. They don't have any clue what is wrong with me. My pcp said that he doesn't think its MS because I don't have the correct symptoms. The pain seems to have moved mostly to my toes. It hurts when the blankets or socks or anything touchs my toes. If you squeeze them they don't hurt, just when they are gently touched. It almost feels like someone ran sandpaper over them and they are sore. I guess that I will have to keep searching for the answer.
   — Kimberly H.

March 16, 2006
did the b-1 help? Alberto
   — nyczooman

June 22, 2006
I have a history of restless leg syndrome. Since surgery, I have had a significant increase in symptoms. I felt sure the increased symptoms were connected to the surgery in some way. I checked the web for articles on peripheral neuopathy-gastric bypass and found that a significant number(as much as 16%) of bypass pts. get it. The cause seems to be a thiamin(B1) defiency. I am getting B1 in my multivitimin, but I bought more B1 anyway. I have been placing a quarter or half tab under my tounge twice a day and letting it dissolve there. My symptoms seem to be better and so I will continue this until I can see my GB surgeon. Don't ignore the symptoms(like you could!) complications can be severe and permanent !
   — Annette K.