Do Coeliacs Suffer Badly From Sepsis?
As everybody seems to be getting this these days, I just had to ask Google AI the question in the title of this post.
This is the reply I received.
Sepsis Outcome: While celiac patients are more likely to get sepsis, studies indicate that celiac disease does not significantly influence the survival or prognosis once a patient has developed sepsis.
Are There Some People Who Lose Their B12 Very Quickly?
Many years ago in Suffolk, I was sure, that my three-monthly B12-injection wasn’t done correctly.
It was by a trainee, so I told my GP and she may have repeated the injection. Perhaps the trainee missed the muscle or something?
I’m not sure, but I may have had a repeat injection.
I had another B12 injection about ten days ago and twice in the last two days, I have had symptoms that could be low B12 levels.
Yesterday at one point, I thought I was having a stroke, but a hot bath seemed to improve things.
I then found a Marks & Spencer Liver & Bacon meal-for-one and cooked it, but just eating the Liver & bacon.
I seemed to do the trick.
Today, coming home with shopping, my left leg was painful and so I asked Dr. Google AI for some advice.
I asked if “If low B12 is connected to red feet” and received this answer.
Low vitamin B12 is strongly connected to foot issues, primarily causing peripheral neuropathy that manifests as burning sensations, numbness, tingling (“pins and needles”), and sometimes, color changes like redness, purple, or white due to reduced blood flow or nerve damage. It causes nerve damage, which can lead to painful or “burning” feet.
Key Connections Between B12 Deficiency and Foot Symptoms:
Peripheral Neuropathy: A, the lack of B12 damages the myelin sheath covering nerves, resulting in burning, numbness, or tingling in the feet.
Reduced Blood Flow/Color Changes: Deficiency can lead to, significantly colder feet that may appear red, white, or purple due to impaired circulation.
Painful Sensations: Often described as a burning feeling, which can make feet feel hot or tender.
Muscle Issues: Weakness, cramping, and poor coordination can affect mobility.
Note:
- I certainly had pins and needles in my hands, yesterday.
It certainly, looked to me that I might have had low B12.
Trump May Have Alzheimer’s, Says Niece
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Mary Trump said the president appeared to have developed a ‘deer-in-the-headlights look’ that reminded her of his late father, Fred Trump.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
President Trump’s niece has suggested her uncle could be suffering from Alzheimer’s based on a “deer-in-the-headlights” expression that reminds her of the president’s father.
Mary Trump, a longtime critic of her uncle, said she saw flashes in him of Fred Trump, her grandfather, who she witnessed struggle with the degenerative disease before his death aged 93 in 1999.
“Sometimes it does not seem like he’s oriented to time and place,” Mary Trump, 60, told New York Magazine of her uncle. “And on occasion, I do see that deer-in-the-headlights look.”
Fifteen years ago, my consultant at Addenbrooke’s said I should go on Warfarin (rat poison) to thin my blood. But my GP said I should stick to a small aspirin every day.
The result was that I had a serious stroke on holiday in Hong Kong.
Luckily, I made a remarkable recovery and I am now testing a Warfarin replacement drug, which is two pills a day and no testing, except by the doctors every three months.
My current cardiologist has even used the GP’s actions in a lecture to students on how not to behave.
Trump is playing with fire!
Surely he should at least be taking Warfarin and being tested frequently.
If any cardiologists are reading this, they should note, that I am coeliac and for the last twenty-eight years, I have been having regular B12 injections.
As B12 injections are used in Trumpland to help stroke patients recover, but not in the UK, from observations of my own recovery, by several doctors, I am tempted to believe that B12 injections may help stroke recovery.
Any sensible offer to help in research will be considered.
From my own experience, an affordable drug, like B12 injections could have a place in stroke recovery.
To get a second opinion, I asked Google AI, this question. – “Do Vitamin B12 Injections Help With Stroke Recovery?”
I received this answer.
Vitamin B12 injections may aid stroke recovery, particularly for individuals with a deficiency, by supporting nerve function, reducing homocysteine levels, and enhancing neurological rehabilitation. Research indicates that adequate B12 levels are crucial for protecting the brain after an ischemic stroke.Key findings regarding Vitamin B12 and stroke recovery:
- Neuroprotection: Vitamin B12 aids in maintaining myelin sheaths, which are essential for nerve repair and protecting the central nervous system after a stroke.
- Reduced Damage: Studies suggest that B12 can help reduce cerebral injury and improve long-term neurobehavioral function.
- Correcting Deficiency: People with B12 deficiencies often have worse stroke outcomes, making correction via injections crucial.
- Homocysteine Control: B12 helps lower homocysteine, a risk factor for vascular damage and recurrent stroke.
- Efficiency of Injection: For those with absorption issues (e.g., older adults or those with GI issues), injections bypass the digestive system to ensure maximum absorption.
The NHS will face a lot of resistance, if they want to take away my B12 injections.
Does Miserable Weather Deplete Your B12?
I have been feeling down this winter and especially in the last few weeks.
My three-monthly B12 injection is now due, but I can’t get one until the second of February.
But on miserable days like this, I do feel bad. So I have asked for the injection to be moved forward?
In answer to my question, Google AI gave this answer.
Yes, cold, dark, and “miserable” winter weather can contribute to lower Vitamin B12 levels, or at least worsen an existing deficiency.
While miserable weather does not directly “burn” B12 out of your body, the associated lifestyle changes and reduced sunlight can cause levels to drop.
Here is how winter weather affects B12:
Reduced Sun Exposure: While Vitamin D is directly linked to sunlight, the general reduction in sunlight during winter can affect energy levels and mood. Low Vitamin B12 can also cause similar symptoms, making it harder to distinguish between a vitamin deficiency and “winter blues”.
Dietary Changes: In winter, people may consume less of the fresh, nutrient-dense foods (like animal products) that are high in B12, or they may feel less motivated to maintain a balanced diet, leading to lower intake.
Increased Stress and Fatigue: Cold, dark weather can induce stress. Chronic stress and fatigue are known to deplete B vitamin reserves, including B12.
Increased Sensitivity to Cold: Ironically, if you are already slightly deficient in B12, you may feel much colder, more tired, and more lethargic than others, exacerbating the feeling of “miserable” weather.
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Check Levels: If you experience extreme fatigue, low mood, or numbness in your hands and feet during winter, it might be worth checking your B12 levels.
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Supplementation: In many cases, people, especially vegetarians or vegans, find that B12 supplements or injections help manage symptoms of low energy and poor mood during colder months.
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Diet: Ensure you are getting enough B12-rich foods like meat, fish, dairy, and fortified foods.
If you are feeling significantly lower energy or mood during winter, it is always best to consult a healthcare professional.
Do B12 Injections Help Stroke Recovery?
A friend, who thinks I’ve made a good recovery from a stroke, asked me if there is anything I could recommend, for another of his friends, who has just had a stroke.
As a coeliac, am I in a group with a higher risk of a stroke?
So, I asked Google AI, the question, if this were true and received this answer.
- Initial Higher Risk: Some studies suggest a slightly increased risk of stroke (roughly a 10-15% increased likelihood). This risk is highest in the first year after diagnosis.
- Effect of Gluten-Free Diet: After 5 years on a strict, gluten-free diet, the risk of stroke for people with coeliac disease is virtually the same as that of the general population.
- Overall Risk: While some studies have suggested a link, others, including a 2023 UK Biobank study, found no clear evidence of an association between coeliac disease and stroke, although they did find an overall increased risk of cardiovascular disease (27% higher).
- Mechanism: The potential for a higher risk is likely due to the chronic inflammation associated with untreated coeliac disease, rather than traditional risk factors like high blood pressure or smoking.
- Children: A 2023 study found that coeliac disease plays a minimal role in the risk of stroke in children, but recommended that doctors consider it a potential factor in cases of stroke with unknown causes.
Conclusion:
While untreated coeliac disease may slightly increase the risk of stroke due to chronic inflammation, adhering to a gluten-free diet helps manage this risk.
This study by coeliacUK and Oxford University, was the source of the findings by Google AI.
Do B12 Injections Help Stroke Recovery?
For nearly thirty years, ever since I was diagnosed as coeliac, I have had regular three-monthly B12 injections. So ever since my stroke in 2011, I have had B12 injections.
So now AI is available, I felt I should ask Google AI to see if it says anything useful.
This is the answer I received.
- Nerve Repair & Axonal Growth: B12 aids in repairing damaged nerve fibers (axons) and regenerating nerve cells, vital for restoring lost function after a stroke.
- Reduces Inflammation: It helps calm the harmful inflammatory response (neuroinflammation) in the brain after an ischemic stroke, notes this ScienceDirect article.
- Improves Brain Communication: B12 supports neurotransmitter production, allowing brain cells to communicate more effectively and speeding up healing, according to this Flint Rehab article.
- Lowers Stroke Risk: By reducing homocysteine levels, an amino acid linked to stroke, B12 can help prevent recurrent strokes, reports this Flint Rehab article and this NIH article.
- Supports Microglia Function: It helps functionalize microglia (brain immune cells) to reduce injury and promote recovery, states this ScienceDirect article.
- To Boost Recovery: For those with moderate deficiencies, injections or supplementation can improve neurological function, notes this NIH article.
Conclusion
B12 injections seem to have done me no harm.
I also have them on the NHS, at no cost to myself.
If the NHS said I couldn’t have them, I’d pay for them.
What Are Gail’s Like For Gluten-Free Food
As a coeliac, I just had to ask this question of Google AI and I choose Gail’s as my first test.
This was the answer.
Gail’s offers a standout, award-winning Gluten-Free Sourdough, made in a separate facility for purity, but for other items, cross-contamination is a risk, as they use shared equipment and ingredients. While they have gluten-free salads, flourless cakes, and sometimes other specials, customer experiences vary widely, with some finding staff knowledgeable and careful, while others report poor communication and lack of safe options for severe allergies like Coeliac disease, so always check ingredients and ask staff about specific items.
I think I’ll stay clear.
Are There People, Who Have Very Leaky Skin And Consequently Lose A lot Of Fluids And Have To Drink A Lot. Do Some Become Alcoholics?
I’m actually asking this question for my paternal grandfather, who died on the 25 Jun 1929.
- I obviously never met him.
- My father told me he was a chronic alcoholic.
- My father was upset about his father’s drinking and did his utmost to ensure I didn’t follow his father’s example.
- At no time in my life, have I been drunk day after day, like my paternal grandfather.
- My father set me an excellent example on drinking and I tried to follow his lead.
The question in the title of this post, is based on a composite person of myself and my paternal grandfather.
- In My Strange Skin, I describe the unusual properties of my skin, which often causes medical staff to have a good laugh.
- My previous excellent GP would always take my blood and, never needed a plaster and always had a big smile on his face afterwards.
- I am coeliac and I am fairly certain my father was, but was my paternal grandfather?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this AI Overview.
While people generally lose some fluid through normal sweating, there are specific medical conditions that cause excessive fluid loss through the skin, primarily genetic disorders affecting the skin’s barrier function.
One prominent example is Netherton Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that results in a defective skin barrier . People with this condition experience:
- Excessive Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL): Their skin loses moisture much faster than a healthy person’s skin.
- Dehydration Risk: This requires them to constantly monitor hydration levels and drink plenty of fluids to compensate for the continuous loss.
- Another condition is epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a group of genetic diseases that make the skin very fragile and blister easily. The open wounds and blisters also lead to significant fluid loss, increasing the risk of dehydration and infection.
Note that my skin doesn’t have open wounds and blisters and generally heals well and quickly if I cut myself. My late wife would compliment me on my skin and say it was very much like that of our son, who died of pancreatic cancer.
The second part of the question—whether these individuals become alcoholics as a consequence of their condition—is more complex. There is no evidence in medical literature or research to suggest a direct causal link between having a “leaky skin” condition (which necessitates high fluid intake) and the development of alcoholism.
- Fluid management vs. alcohol consumption: Individuals with these conditions need to consume water, milk, or specific electrolyte-balancing fluids.Alcohol has a diuretic effect, meaning it would actually worsen dehydration and be counterproductive to their necessary fluid management.
- Risk factors for alcoholism: Alcoholism is a complex condition influenced by a combination of genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, not by the physiological need to consume large volumes of non-alcoholic fluids.
In summary, certain conditions do cause significant fluid loss through the skin requiring high fluid intake, but this physiological need is managed with appropriate hydration (water, electrolytes), and does not lead to alcoholism.
I will now use, what intelligence I have and my observations of my own body to build on these results.
I Have Very Dry Eyes
I had my first eye test in a shed in a friend’s back garden. But the guy who did it, had been the Senior Eye Surgeon in Ipswich Hospital, so he had practiced at a high level and had a lot of experience.
- During the tests, he remarked to me, that I had the driest eyes he’d ever encountered.
- Afterwards, I got bought the glasses from Boots in Ipswich.
- They were fine and served me well for a number of years.
- A few years later, I was involved in a research project at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where members of the public gave their opinion on new eye testing machines that the NHS might use.
- Moorfields said my eyes were indeed very dry.
- The last professional to comment on my eyes was an opthalmist in Vision Express, who suggested that I bathe my eyes in clean, hot water every morning.
- A couple of days later I saw my GP on another matter and he gave the same advice.
My eyes have been a lot more comfortable since.I also have not had to go to a hospital to have a wayward fly taken out of my eyes, which must have happened perhaps four or five times before.
Are Very Dry Eyes A Sign Of Netherton Syndrome?
I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.
Yes, very dry eyes can be an associated sign or complication of Netherton Syndrome (NS) and other forms of ichthyosis. The underlying skin barrier defect in NS can lead to various eye problems.
- Ectropion: In some cases, the chronic skin inflammation and tightness can cause ectropion, where the eyelids evert (turn outwards) and do not close properly. This prevents the eyelids from adequately covering and protecting the eyeballs, leading to severe exposure and dryness.
- Ichthyosis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Netherton syndrome is a type of ichthyosis, which is characterized by dry, scaly skin. Patients with ichthyosis often have meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), where the glands that produce the oily layer of the tear film don’t function correctly. This results in the tear film evaporating too quickly, causing evaporative dry eye.
- Corneal Complications: Chronic dry eye can lead to more severe issues like keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) or punctate epithelial erosions, which are painful and can affect eyesight.
It looks like Google AI is thinking in the right direction.
Are Very Dry Eyes A Sign Of Excessive Trans-Epidermal Water Loss?
I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.
Yes, very dry eyes are associated with increased trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) from the ocular surface. Studies have shown that individuals with dry eye disease (DED) have significantly higher ocular TEWL values compared to healthy individuals.
- Tear Evaporation: TEWL from the ocular area is used as a measure of tear evaporation. Excessive tear evaporation is one of the two main causes of DED and leads to a condition called evaporative dry eye (EDE).
- Compromised Barrier: The tear film has a protective lipid (oil) layer that acts as a barrier to prevent excessive evaporation of the aqueous (water) layer of the tear film. A compromised or deficient lipid layer, often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, results in increased tear evaporation/TEWL.
- Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye: Even in cases of aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE), where the primary problem is low tear production, patients can still experience increased tear evaporation and higher TEWL, indicating a complex overlap between the two main types of DED.
- Ocular Surface Inflammation: Excessive tear evaporation leads to tear hyperosmolarity (increased salt concentration), which is a key factor in causing inflammation and damage to the ocular surface, contributing to the symptoms of very dry eyes.
Are Very Dry Eyes A Sign Of Epidermolysis Bullosa
I didn’t ask Google AI, as it was obvious, when I looked at the pictures on the Internet, that I hadn’t got epidermolysis bullosa.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Looking at the pictures of the various causes of dry eye, I came to the conclusion meibomian gland dysfunction could be the cause of my very dry eyes.
Can Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Cause Very Dry Eyes?
I asked Google AI, this question and received this answer.
- Tear Film Breakdown: When glands are blocked (MGD), they produce poor quality or insufficient oil, causing the tear film to break down rapidly.
- Evaporation: Without enough oil, tears evaporate too fast, leaving the eye’s surface exposed, dry, and irritated.
- Gritty, itchy, or burning sensation
- Redness and inflammation
- Watery eyes (paradoxically, due to instability)
- Sticky eyelids or discharge, especially in the morning
- Blurred vision, particularly at the end of the day
The BYD Buses On Route 141 Appear To Be Dehydrating Me
I took these pictures on one of the new BYD electric buses on route 141 these morning, as it ran between the Moorfields Hospital and the Balls Pond Road stops.
Note.
- There appears to be something wrong with the display, which says “Bus Terminates Here. Please Take Your Belongings With You”
- But it didn’t terminate.
- I’ve noticed these displays have got stuck like this before on BYD buses.
- The display didn’t move during the whole journey.
- Although, the clock seemed to keep almost accurate time.
- I just wonder if the bus is running out of electricity, so the driver or the computer has switched off things like the air-conditioning and the display.
And then after I’d been home for about ten-fifteen minutes, I started to get terrible pins and needles in my right arm.
It was so bad, that I called 111. Luckily it looked like it was nothing serious.
I do have a very leaky skin and I felt I might be dehydrated.
So I asked Google AI if “dehydration causes pins and needles” and received this answer.
Yes, dehydration can cause pins and needles (tingling sensations) because it disrupts the body’s electrolyte balance (like sodium, potassium, calcium), which are crucial for proper nerve and muscle function, leading to impaired nerve signals and tingling, often in hands and feet, especially after weating or intense activity.
As a precaution, I drunk three bottles of low-alcohol Ghost Ship beer and felt a lot better.
I am certain in future, I will only go in a Chinese electric bus, if I’m sure is been fully charged.
Are Sprouts Good For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and got this answer.
Yes, sprouts are considered beneficial for managing uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease as part of a high-fiber diet. They are a good source of dietary fiber, which is recommended to help prevent constipation and reduce pressure in the colon, thereby lowering the risk of symptom flare-ups.
That sounds that they are.
This lunchtime, I seemed to avoid the dreaded fartrigen, despite eating a lot of brussels sprouts.
Can Toddlers Get Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I am asking this question, as I do wonder, if I’ve had the disease for many years, as I don’t feel any different now, to how I felt at 18, 30 or 50.
In my first couple of years of life, I was also a bad bed-wetter.
My mother cured me of this, by putting me in a small bed next to her’s and then getting me out of bed every time I woke. In the end her persistence paid off.
Since I’ve been diagnosed with uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I am certainly drinking a lot of fluids and gooing to the toilet a lot.
Although thankfully, I am not wetting the bed.
But, I do always sleep close to a toilet.
So I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer in the form of this peer-reviewed paper, which was entitled Congenital Cecal Diverticulitis In A Pediatric Patient.
This is the abstract.
Diverticulitis in the pediatric population is a very rare cause of abdominal pain. When present in the cecum or ascending colon, it is often incorrectly diagnosed preoperatively as acute appendicitis. This is especially true in Western countries where right-sided diverticulitis is less common. Here we detail a case of a pediatric patient with complicated congenital cecal diverticulitis and review the literature on pertinent management. An extensive work up with imaging and endoscopy was completed and definitive surgical treatment with diverticulectomy an appendectomy was performed. As the incidence of diverticular disease in younger individuals increases, right sided diverticulitis is worthy of consideration on the differential diagnosis.
Note.
- I don’t remember being in any pain, but I was less than three, as this happened before my sister was born, when I was only 21 months old.
- I remember picking my sister up from hospital in my father’s Y-Type MG.
- My eldest son had appendicitis diagnosed at ten, but they didn’t operate. So was it diverticulitis?
- He wasn’t X-rayed or scanned.
- Doctors always believed I had a disease, they couldn’t identify.
- When I was identified as a coeliac at 50, I thought that was the problem.
But then as my now-retired GP said. “Whatever, I’ve got, doesn’t seem serious!”
The Anonymous Widower 