Hidradenitis Suppurativa

[HiThere]

Apparently Humira (adalimumab) shows some promise in the treatment of this condititon:

_http://abbvie.mediaroom.com/2014-09-11-AbbVie-Announces-Pivotal-Phase-3-Data-Evaluating-Efficacy-of-HUMIRA-adalimumab-in-Patients-with-Hidradenitis-Suppurativa-HS-a-Chronic-Inflammatory-Skin-Disease

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23247938

 

[RedFox]

Found this on my travels and the following stood out:

_https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vw402nf#68

Hidradenitis suppurativa: A practical review of possible medical treatments based on over 350 hidradenitis patients
Noah Scheinfeld MD

[..]
Zinc, B12, Niacinamide

Weak data supports use of Zinc, B12, Niacinamide, and growth factors in HS.

Reports have assessed the use of zinc supplements to treat HS. In a pilot study by Brocard [38] 22 patients with stage 1 HS were prescribed zinc gluconate (90 mg/d). Brochard reported 8 complete remissions and 14 partial remissions; gastrointestinal symptoms were the most commonly reported adverse effect. Dréno [54] studied 12 patients (HS stage 1 or 2) in whom the disease had progressed for at least 6 months and who had a minimum of 2 closed nodules in typical sites. Two biopsies were performed at baseline: one in a closed inflammatory nodule and one in healthy adjoining skin. Patients were treated for 3 months with zinc gluconate at a dosage of 90 mg/d. A new biopsy was then performed in the same nodule.

The biochemical findings of the study are interesting. Innate immunity markers (toll-like receptors 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9, intercellular adhesion molecule 1. interleukin [IL] 6 and 10, tumor necrosis factor, α melanocyte stimulating hormone, transforming growth factor β, β-defensin 2 and 4, and insulin-like growth factor 1) were studied by immunohistochemical analysis. Dréno observed significantly decreased expression (P < .001) of all the innate immunity markers studied except IL-10 in non-lesional and lesional HS skin. The down-regulation of innate markers was significantly greater in lesional HS skin compared with normal skin except for tumor necrosis factor. Dréno noted that 3 months of zinc treatment induced a significant increase in the expression of all the markers involved in innate immunity. In over 20 patients in whom I added zinc to antibiotic regimens, I found little difference in their HS. Because high dose zinc used alone can cause copper deficiency and related skin pathology, it is always advisable to take copper along with zinc. On the other hand, zinc seems a low risk treatment for HS and zinc should be considered more seriously.

Vitamins may have a role in the treatment of HS. B12 [68] was used effectively in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and suppurative dermatoses; further study needs to be done is this regard. Nicotinamide (niacinamide) has been used to treat patients with acne (sometimes bullous pemphigoid with tetracycline) and might have use in HS. It is interesting to speculate that combinations of nicotinamide, zinc, and copper or nicotinamide, zinc, copper, and azelaic acid might be helpful in a limited fashion for HS because these minerals and vitamins are occasionally useful for the treatment of acne. I have, however, have not found short courses of these combinations to be effective for HS.

B12 is important for methylation, nicotinamide puts the breaks on parts of the methylation process and both help produce Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4).
Which led to an interesting thread to pull at.

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21122544?dopt=Abstract

A role for B₁₂ in inflammatory bowel disease patients with suppurative dermatoses? An experience with high dose vitamin B₁₂ therapy.
Mortimore M1, Florin TH.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Inflammatory dermatoses in conjunction with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprise a diverse range of disorders. Some but not all of these respond to conventional treatments for the underlying IBD, such as immunomodulating or antibiotic treatments. We describe our experience with high dose vitamin B₁₂, where conventional therapies have failed.
CASE REPORTS:
The first case had pouchitis complicated by perianal abscesses and a recto-vaginal fistula. The second case had biopsy proven hidradenitis suppurativa affecting the perianal, inguinal and pubic skin. High dose vitamin B₁₂ appeared to be the major factor in preventing the recurrence of suppuration in both patients. Neither patient had vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. Open label experience: high dose vitamin B₁₂ treatment of a further 10 consecutive IBD patients with dermatoses was thought to provide benefit to six of them, but did not appear useful in four patients with perianal Crohn's disease with fistulae as the only manifestation of cutaneous disease.
CONCLUSIONS:
There appears to be a subset of IBD patients with perianal and more distant inflammatory dermatoses, who benefit from high dose vitamin B₁₂ treatment. Clinical trials in IBD patients with biopsy-characterised suppurative dermatoses will be required in order to properly define the role of this safe and economical therapy.

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19681876

Hidradenitis suppurativa and inflammatory bowel disease: are they associated? Results of a pilot study.
van der Zee HH1, van der Woude CJ, Florencia EF, Prens EP.
Author information
Abstract
Background The co-occurrence of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and Crohn disease (CD) published in a few case reports resulted in the wide acceptance of an association between these two diseases. However, the combined prevalence of these diseases is currently unknown; furthermore, it is unknown whether this co-occurrence also applies for ulcerative colitis (UC). Objectives To estimate the prevalence of HS in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) living in the Southwest of the Netherlands. Methods During an IBD patient information meeting, randomly, 158 patients with IBD were interviewed about recurrent painful boils in the axillae and/or groin and were shown illustrative clinical pictures of the appearance of HS. Results Of the 158 patients interviewed, 102 (65%) had CD and 56 (35%) had UC. Twenty-five people (16%) responded that they had had or still experienced painful boils in the axillae and/or groin, of whom 17 were patients with CD (17%) and eight had UC (14%). Conclusions This pilot study shows for the first time that HS occurs in patients with CD or UC. More prospective studies are warranted to establish the association between HS and IBD and its underlying pathogenesis.

_http://www.google.com/patents/US7863275

Restoring gut motility by administering sepiapterin, tetrahydrobiopterin, or sex steroid hormone that increases expression and/or activity of enzymes; determining risk for diabetic gastroparesis; gastrointestinal disorders; cancer, Crohn's disease; inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome
US 7863275 B2
ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses methods of treating diabetic gastroparesis by administering tetrahydrobiopterin or a derivative thereof. [..]

Several co-factors are known to be important for nNOS activity, including NADPH, calcium and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Tetrahydrobiopterin regulates the homodimeric conformation of all three isoforms of NOS [endothelial(e)NOS; inducible(i)NOS; neuronal(n)NOS] (Cosentino and Luscher, 1999). BH4 also serves as a cofactor for three aromatic amino acid hydroxylases:phenylalanine (PAH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). Additionally, BH4 is scavenger of oxygen-derived free radicals. BH4 has been clinically investigated as therapy for phenylketonuria (PKC), Parkinson's disease, dystonia, depression, Rett Syndrome, infantile autism, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis. Lack of BH4 biosynthetic genes causes several abnormalities in mice. Incubation with saturating concentrations of tetrahydrobiopterin induces substantial conformational changes in the homodimeric structure of nNOS, yielding a stabilized nNOS dimer with maximal NO-producing activity (Gorren et al., 1996; Klatt et al., 1995). In mice, the highest levels of tetrahydrobiopterin are found in the liver, adrenals and stomach (Kobayahi et al., 1991). Tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis occurs via two distinct pathways: a de novo synthetic pathway which uses GTP as a precursor and a salvage pathway for preexisting dihydropterins (Thony et al., 2000; Gross and Levi, 1992) (FIG. 1).

And as I've been neck deep in methylation/MTHFR mutation research - this link too.

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1727640/

Increased prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T variant in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and its clinical implications
N Mahmud, A Molloy, J McPartlin, R Corbally, A Whitehead, J Scott, and D Weir
Author information ► Copyright and License information ►
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND—Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased incidence of thromboembolic disease. Hyperhomocysteinaemia (hyper-tHcy), a condition associated with the C677T variant of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), is linked with an increased incidence of thromboembolic disease. Hyper-tHcy has been reported in patients with IBD.
AIMS—To assess the prevalence of the C677T MTHFR genotype and the contribution of this genotype to hyper-tHcy in patients with IBD.
METHODS—Patients with established IBD (n=174) and healthy controls (n=273) were studied. DNA samples were genotyped for the MTHFR (C677T) mutation. Subjects were categorised as homozygous for the thermolabile variant (TT), heterozygous for wild type and variant (CT), or homozygous for the wild type (CC).
RESULTS—Plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in patients with IBD than in healthy controls. A total of 17.5% of ulcerative colitis and 16.8% of Crohn's disease patients were homozygous for the C677T variant compared with 7.3% of controls. Homozygosity (TT) for the variant was associated with higher plasma tHcy levels in patients with IBD and in healthy controls. When all subjects who were TT for the variant were excluded, median plasma tHcy was still significantly higher in IBD than controls. Plasma vitamin B12 levels were lower in patients with IBD irrespective of MTHFR genotype.
CONCLUSIONS—There is an association between the thermolabile MTHFR C677T variant and IBD. This accounts in part for the raised plasma tHcy found in patients with IBD and may contribute to the increased incidence of thromboembolic complications. All patients with IBD should receive low dose folic acid and vitamin B12 therapy to protect against the thromboembolic complications of raised tHcy.

It should be noted from MTHFR research I've done, standard B12 (Cyanocobalamin) is not good. Standard folic acid is Really bad! In fact it makes things worse by depleting the body of B12.
It's likely from what I know of HS that the person is an over-methylator (they tend to be on the larger side generally speaking), and from the above probably have either a B12/folate cellular (not blood) deficiency and/or a MTHFR mutation.
Standard B supplements (especially containing folic acid) should probably be avoided, along with folate containing plants. Stick to liver. osit
It's possible that a modified MTHFR protocol may be of help too, but this is just an educated guess.

 

[Yas]

Very interesting RedFox. And I also think of the fact that both IBS and HS are very related to stress, so that gives us another clue, I suppose.

Concerning my HS, I'm feeling a bit more "scared" as my surgery approaches. I've been reading "The hidden plague" and her perspective about surgery makes me wonder if it isn't a waste of time, energy and money to be doing this. But since I've gotten so far already, I can only hope that it works and that I won't have more flare ups on the same place again. Then, it goes down to keeping a good eye on my diet and trying to lower the stress, of course... so that it doesn't appear in other areas later.

What discourages me the most is that I suppose the doctor will prescribe pain killers and antibiotics after the surgery to avoid infection and the last time I took antibiotics I had such a terrible time with colitis resulting from it, and also fever and another visit to the hospital because I was dehydrated... The effects of that lasted weeks and it took me months to restore balance... so that's what frightens me the most.

In that sense, I was wondering what are other alternatives or less harming antibiotics so that I won't have such a reaction. Do I really have to take antibiotics? If so, should I take probiotics with them in order to protect my gut? What type of probiotics? What do you recommend? I'm trying to read through the net in search of recommendations myself, but maybe some of you have had a similar experience and know how to deal with it better.

I know of the hyperbaric chamber procedure to accelerate healing, and I'll check if there's something like that nearby. But according to the doctor, the surgery won't be very big and profound so it will heal fast, I suppose... But... yeah, I developed a fear of antibiotics after that time, so I'm searching for options.

 

[Gaby]

Yas, if you must absolutely take antibiotics, make sure to take later a brand containing lactobacillus rhamnosus GG such as Culturelle. It is sold via the internet to most countries in the world. It doesn't necessarily have to be Culturelle, most good brands of probiotics contain that specific species among others.

Here is more info about it:

http://www.health-matrix.net/2013/04/16/lactobacillus-gg-and-its-potential-role-in-tolerance-development/

Most people report a marked difference when taking that probiotic: less bloating, better digestion, less constipation, etc.

 

[Yas]

Thanks a lot Gaby! I'll buy that if I have to take them.

He just mentioned a powder for the healing process and I hope it will be just that, but let's see... I guess the powder could be something like "sulfa" which is a topical antibiotic anyway.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Good luck and best wishes, Yas.

 

[birk]

Hi yas :) I am just wondering if you have ever tried kelp? I have been struggling with boils for years and I started taking kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum) about three weeks ago. I take 2-3 tsp(8-12g)powder every day. It is still early but already I feel great benefit to my skin. No new boils and scars that have persisted for years seem to speed up healing. My skin has gotten really soft in that short period.

I dont know if it will help with the more serious condition of HS but it might be worth a try.

Here is a nutritional data for kelp:

Nutritional Profile (per 100g): Energy: 161Kc; Carbohydrate: 5.79g; Dietary fibre: 49.75g; (insoluble: ~41g, soluble: ~8g); Fat: 1.64g (saturated fat: 0.4g, mono-unsaturated fat: 0.96g, poly-unsaturated fat: 0.21g); Protein: 5.88g; Moisture: 11.95g; Ash: 24.99g.

Amino Acids (per 100g): Alanine: 0.177g, Arginine: 0.115g, Aspartic acid: 0.327g, Cystein +Cystine: 0.073g, Glutamic acid: 0.400g, Glycine: 0.154g, Histidine: 0.040g, Isoleucine: 0.106g, Leucine: 0.194g, Lysine: 0.123g, Methionine: 0.074g, Phenylalanine: 0.114g, Proline: 0.178g, Serine: 0.126g, Threonine: 0.128g, Tryptophan: 0.0472g, Tyrosine: 0.0660g, Valine: 0.145g.

Fatty Acids (per 100g): Total omega-3: 169.1mg (alpha-linolenic acid: 49.5mg; eicosapentenoic acid: 78.31mg, docosapentaenoic acid: <0.6mg, docosahexaenoic acid: <0.6mg), Total omega-6 : 512.9mg.

Minerals (mg/Kg): Calcium: 13,500, Magnesium: 8,260, Nitrogen: 9,400, Phosphorus: 690, Potassium: 18,200, Sodium: 34,400, Sulphur: 53.

Trace Elements (mg/Kg): Antimony: 0.047, Boron: 98.19, Cobalt: 0.626, Copper: 0.561, Fluorine: 5.5, Germanium: 0.07, Gold: <0.01, Iodine: 712, Iridium: <0.001, Iron: 119, Lithium: 0.327, Manganese: 24.7, Molybdenum: 0.632, Platinum: <0.005, Rubidium: 6.21, Selenium: 0.03, Silicon: 59.71, Silver: 0.054, Tellerium: <0.05, Titanium: 2.07, Vanadium: 3.591, Zinc: 43.87.

Vitamins (per 100g): Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 2.70mg, Vitamin B1 (thiamin): 0.06mg, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 0.0100 mg, Niacin (Vitamin PP or B3): 11.8 mg, Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin): 0.0936 μg, Vitamin C: 9.92mg, Vitamin B9 (folate): 57.2 μg.

Antioxidants (per 100g): ORAC Value: 19300 TE.

 

[RedFox]

Very interesting RedFox. And I also think of the fact that both IBS and HS are very related to stress, so that gives us another clue, I suppose.

Yeah - seems to be a viscous cycle. B12 (and a whole bunch of minerals) are needed to cope with stress....prolonged stress depletes B12 stores, and without those stores you and your body doesn't handle stress!
You're tolerance to all kinds of stress just end up being so much lower than everyone else (which adds to the stress) - because of the way the body then flares up or crashes with attack of something. This then adds an emotionally learned component which makes you hyper-vigilant to stress/anything that cause it (the pain of social rejection being a common one, that one uses a LOT of energy).
So you end up with a body and mind that's stress tolerance has been set lower, and thus is more stressed! The physical symptoms reinforce the psychological aspect, the psychological aspect amplifies the physical symptoms.

_http://www.vega-licious.com/b-12-deficiency-a-road-to-recovery/

Reasons for my B12 Deficiency
The only suspicions I had as to what could cause B12 deficiencies in me would be: 1) stress, as I identified it above; and 2) using birth control and other medications, such as antibiotics.

My suspicions were quickly confirmed–indeed, high and prolonged stress can deplete B12 storage, not to mention other nutrients, vitamins and minerals, which I will address at a different time. My study further revealed that birth control medications and antibiotics, along with some immunization shots and other meds, also deplete B12 in our systems.

Once B12 vitamin has been depleted it has to be replenished aggressively. Although I was still an omnivore at the time when these issues began to happen, apparently no amount of animal B12 was sufficient to do so, or perhaps it could not longer be properly assimilated. (This, along with other factors that I will mention in my future posts, confirms that it is not only the vegan and vegetarian populations that could fall prey to B12 deficiencies.)

It was not until my vegan days that I even thought to supplement with B12. However, it was obvious that the amounts I did take, were insufficient to replenish what I had lost.

The Truth Shall Set Me Free!
Faced with this information, there was a temporary relief and hope. My next query was, could other remaining symptoms that I still carried from my old lifestyle, be contributed to B12 deficiency? If they could be connected to the same source, the likelihood of B12 deficiency in me would be more probable.

I don’t think I was surprised when 9 out of 10 remaining symptoms had checked off against B12 deficiencies list. With these numbers and facts it could hardly be a coincidence. If it were 1 or even 3 symptoms, maybe there could be a different underlying issue, but 9-out of-10… hardly.

I am sure you are curious to know about all of my symptoms, and one day I will tell you about all, but for now I will run down through B12 deficiency symptoms, listed in alphabetical order for easier reference. I will also update this list with time.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms:
Abnormal reflexes
Anemia
Anisocytosis
Anovulation
Apathy
Ataxia [in children]
Bleeding gums
Bright red, smooth tongue
Brittle nails
Burning feeling in the feet
Chest pain
Chronic fatigue
Claminess
Confusion [mental]
Constipation
Coronary artery disease
Damage to optic nerve
Damaged nerves
Dandruff, as well as scalp scaliness
Dark under eye circles [possibility, especially combine with vitamin K and other vitamin B deficiencies]
Delusions
Dementia
Depression
Developmental delays
Developmental regression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Easy bruising
Enlargement of the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina, and stomach
Excessive/abnormal sweating
Exertional Dyspneal
Failure to thrive [in children]
Falls
Fatigue
Feeling tired, weak [chronically]
Fever
Forgetfulness
Frequent upper respiratory infections
Gastritis
Gastrointestinal problems
Geographic/sore tongue
Hair loss
Hallucinations
Headaches
Hepatomegaly
Hypothyroid [B12 can be low in hypothyroid patients due to low stomach acid]
Hypotonia
Impaired mental function
Importance
Increased bleeding
Increased susceptibility to infection
Incontinence [urinary/fecal]
Infertility
Intellectual disorders
Involuntary movements
Irrational anger
Irritability
Insomnia
Lack of energy
Language delay [in children]
Leukopenia
Lightheadedness
Loss of appetite/weight loss or anorexia
Low energy
Low platelets
Low sperm count
Low white blood cell count
Lower IQ [in children]
Macrocytic anemia
Mania
Memory loss
Mental fog
Mental retardation [in children]
Miscarriages
Misdiagnosed MS, ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer’s
Muscle fatigue
Nausea
Nerve damage
Numbness, tingling of extemeties
Obsessive-compulsive behavior
Orthostatic hypotension
Ovalocytes
Osteoporosis
Pallor
Palpitations
Pancytopenia
Paralysis
Paranoia
Pernicious anemia
Personality changes
Pins and needles sensation
Poikilocytosis
Poor head growth [in children]
Poor socialization [in children]
Poor motor skills [in children]
Poor weight gain [in children]
Poor wound healing
Post-partum depression
Premature graying of hair
Psychological conditions
Psychosis
Seizures
Sever muscular cramps
Shaking
Shortness of breath
Sleep disorders
Sleepiness
Sore tongue/Glossitis
Soreness of the mouth
Speech problems [in children]
Splenomegaly
Syncope
Tachycardia
Tingling, numbness in hands and feet
Tinnitus [ringing or roaring in the ears]
Tremor
Thrombocytopenia
Violent behavior
Vision changes
Weakness
Weight loss

 

[dugdeep]

Yas, if you must absolutely take antibiotics, make sure to take later a brand containing lactobacillus rhamnosus GG such as Culturelle. It is sold via the internet to most countries in the world. It doesn't necessarily have to be Culturelle, most good brands of probiotics contain that specific species among others.

Here is more info about it:

http://www.health-matrix.net/2013/04/16/lactobacillus-gg-and-its-potential-role-in-tolerance-development/

Most people report a marked difference when taking that probiotic: less bloating, better digestion, less constipation, etc.

Definitely good advice. I would also suggest, in conjunction with rhamnosus GG that you take a high-dose general probiotic as well. It's important that, as the antibiotic lays waste to your normal gut flora with every dose, that you replenish it by repeatedly laying down a layer of beneficial bacteria that will take hold and start reproducing. This is why it's important to take the probiotic as far away from the antibiotic as possible, otherwise it will just be killed by the antibiotic and neither one will be doing their job. If you take the antibiotic in the morning, take the probiotic in the evening, for example.

There is a company called Genestra that has a product called "Antibiotic Care", which is high dose (100 billion) and very effective. They're a very well-researched company. There's also a product called VSL #3, a 450 billion dose. Again, very effective.

Good luck, Yas!

 

[Yas]

Very interesting RedFox. And I also think of the fact that both IBS and HS are very related to stress, so that gives us another clue, I suppose.

Yeah - seems to be a viscous cycle. B12 (and a whole bunch of minerals) are needed to cope with stress....prolonged stress depletes B12 stores, and without those stores you and your body doesn't handle stress!
You're tolerance to all kinds of stress just end up being so much lower than everyone else (which adds to the stress) - because of the way the body then flares up or crashes with attack of something. This then adds an emotionally learned component which makes you hyper-vigilant to stress/anything that cause it (the pain of social rejection being a common one, that one uses a LOT of energy).
So you end up with a body and mind that's stress tolerance has been set lower, and thus is more stressed! The physical symptoms reinforce the psychological aspect, the psychological aspect amplifies the physical symptoms.

_http://www.vega-licious.com/b-12-deficiency-a-road-to-recovery/

Reasons for my B12 Deficiency
The only suspicions I had as to what could cause B12 deficiencies in me would be: 1) stress, as I identified it above; and 2) using birth control and other medications, such as antibiotics.

My suspicions were quickly confirmed–indeed, high and prolonged stress can deplete B12 storage, not to mention other nutrients, vitamins and minerals, which I will address at a different time. My study further revealed that birth control medications and antibiotics, along with some immunization shots and other meds, also deplete B12 in our systems.

Once B12 vitamin has been depleted it has to be replenished aggressively. Although I was still an omnivore at the time when these issues began to happen, apparently no amount of animal B12 was sufficient to do so, or perhaps it could not longer be properly assimilated. (This, along with other factors that I will mention in my future posts, confirms that it is not only the vegan and vegetarian populations that could fall prey to B12 deficiencies.)

It was not until my vegan days that I even thought to supplement with B12. However, it was obvious that the amounts I did take, were insufficient to replenish what I had lost.

The Truth Shall Set Me Free!
Faced with this information, there was a temporary relief and hope. My next query was, could other remaining symptoms that I still carried from my old lifestyle, be contributed to B12 deficiency? If they could be connected to the same source, the likelihood of B12 deficiency in me would be more probable.

I don’t think I was surprised when 9 out of 10 remaining symptoms had checked off against B12 deficiencies list. With these numbers and facts it could hardly be a coincidence. If it were 1 or even 3 symptoms, maybe there could be a different underlying issue, but 9-out of-10… hardly.

I am sure you are curious to know about all of my symptoms, and one day I will tell you about all, but for now I will run down through B12 deficiency symptoms, listed in alphabetical order for easier reference. I will also update this list with time.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms:
Abnormal reflexes
Anemia
Anisocytosis
Anovulation
Apathy
Ataxia [in children]
Bleeding gums
Bright red, smooth tongue
Brittle nails
Burning feeling in the feet
Chest pain
Chronic fatigue
Claminess
Confusion [mental]
Constipation
Coronary artery disease
Damage to optic nerve
Damaged nerves
Dandruff, as well as scalp scaliness
Dark under eye circles [possibility, especially combine with vitamin K and other vitamin B deficiencies]
Delusions
Dementia
Depression
Developmental delays
Developmental regression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Easy bruising
Enlargement of the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina, and stomach
Excessive/abnormal sweating
Exertional Dyspneal
Failure to thrive [in children]
Falls
Fatigue
Feeling tired, weak [chronically]
Fever
Forgetfulness
Frequent upper respiratory infections
Gastritis
Gastrointestinal problems
Geographic/sore tongue
Hair loss
Hallucinations
Headaches
Hepatomegaly
Hypothyroid [B12 can be low in hypothyroid patients due to low stomach acid]
Hypotonia
Impaired mental function
Importance
Increased bleeding
Increased susceptibility to infection
Incontinence [urinary/fecal]
Infertility
Intellectual disorders
Involuntary movements
Irrational anger
Irritability
Insomnia
Lack of energy
Language delay [in children]
Leukopenia
Lightheadedness
Loss of appetite/weight loss or anorexia
Low energy
Low platelets
Low sperm count
Low white blood cell count
Lower IQ [in children]
Macrocytic anemia
Mania
Memory loss
Mental fog
Mental retardation [in children]
Miscarriages
Misdiagnosed MS, ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer’s
Muscle fatigue
Nausea
Nerve damage
Numbness, tingling of extemeties
Obsessive-compulsive behavior
Orthostatic hypotension
Ovalocytes
Osteoporosis
Pallor
Palpitations
Pancytopenia
Paralysis
Paranoia
Pernicious anemia
Personality changes
Pins and needles sensation
Poikilocytosis
Poor head growth [in children]
Poor socialization [in children]
Poor motor skills [in children]
Poor weight gain [in children]
Poor wound healing
Post-partum depression
Premature graying of hair
Psychological conditions
Psychosis
Seizures
Sever muscular cramps
Shaking
Shortness of breath
Sleep disorders
Sleepiness
Sore tongue/Glossitis
Soreness of the mouth
Speech problems [in children]
Splenomegaly
Syncope
Tachycardia
Tingling, numbness in hands and feet
Tinnitus [ringing or roaring in the ears]
Tremor
Thrombocytopenia
Violent behavior
Vision changes
Weakness
Weight loss

Thanks RedFox, this information is very valuable and it makes a lot of sense in my case. As I mentioned in other posts, I have been a vegetarian since I came to this world (and my mother before that), with no fat besides some occasional butter and rarely some fish... For 21 years, my diet consisted in sugar and cereals... so it makes sense that my body needs some time to recover and I'm sure I've had a B12 (and many other nutrients) deficiency for many years.

Besides that, it was a very stressful environment, so I must have depleted all the B12 I could get.

Your description of the cycle forming from that circumstance and how we may become less tolerant or more reactive to stress, makes me think of the psychological impact of it all and actually gives me some clues as to what I need to address in that sense. Thank you!

Yas, if you must absolutely take antibiotics, make sure to take later a brand containing lactobacillus rhamnosus GG such as Culturelle. It is sold via the internet to most countries in the world. It doesn't necessarily have to be Culturelle, most good brands of probiotics contain that specific species among others.

Here is more info about it:

http://www.health-matrix.net/2013/04/16/lactobacillus-gg-and-its-potential-role-in-tolerance-development/

Most people report a marked difference when taking that probiotic: less bloating, better digestion, less constipation, etc.

Definitely good advice. I would also suggest, in conjunction with rhamnosus GG that you take a high-dose general probiotic as well. It's important that, as the antibiotic lays waste to your normal gut flora with every dose, that you replenish it by repeatedly laying down a layer of beneficial bacteria that will take hold and start reproducing. This is why it's important to take the probiotic as far away from the antibiotic as possible, otherwise it will just be killed by the antibiotic and neither one will be doing their job. If you take the antibiotic in the morning, take the probiotic in the evening, for example.

There is a company called Genestra that has a product called "Antibiotic Care", which is high dose (100 billion) and very effective. They're a very well-researched company. There's also a product called VSL #3, a 450 billion dose. Again, very effective.

Good luck, Yas!

Thank you for this advice! It seems that it really makes the difference. I had a bad reaction to antibiotics once again after the first dose, but it's now controlled and I'm not having any problems... so I think the probiotics are helping a lot.

The surgery went very well. I didn't feel anything after the anesthesia and just some pain afterwards, but it's gone now. After 2 days of resting I am able to walk today without feeling pain at all. :)

I'd say to anyone who has or suspects that has HS, that it is good to have an early diagnosis and don't wait until too many fistulas are formed and the area that needs to be cut becomes too big, that makes a huge difference when having a surgery. Mines are small and they will heal fast, thanks to finding out about this disease here in the forum right after I had my very first mayor flare up. Now that these ones are gone, it doesn't mean that I'm "cured" but at least I won't have them now and I can certainly continue to take care of the other issues that may be triggering that type of inflammation, such as stress, food intolerances, iron levels and nutrient deficiency. In this case, as in others, it's good to be prepared for the worst but hoping for the best. ;)

I am still so sorry that many have to go through years of suffering before they find out what it is... and then the wounds are huge and (I imagine) very painful. I'm so thankful for having found the information here... thanks to networking once again!

 

[Nancy2feathers]

Glad it went well for you, Yas. Speedy recovery!

 

[Scottie]

Good to hear your surgery went well, and that you're already walking without pain!

 

[Voyageur]

Very glad you came out of surgery well, Yas, and that you are on your feet moving around and able to write about it - heal well!

 

[SeekinTruth]

Yeah, great to hear everything went well, Yas. Speediest recovery to you. :)

 

[RedFox]

Yeah, great to hear everything went well, Yas. Speediest recovery to you. :)

Ditto that, glad it all went well! :)