21 year old ate THIS DIET and it caused BRAIN DAMAGE: Medical Case Report 

This is the classic case of doctors never asking "what are you eating/how is your diet" and I don't understand why. Food is so huge part of wellbeing

I wasn't shocked, my son had a B12 deficiency when he was 10 years old because he had undiagnosed celiac disease. He got to the point where he could barely walk. He was admitted to children's hospital. The doctors thought he was depressed. They ran all kinds of tests and discharged him. I became an Internet sleuth, this is 1999 when there wasn't that much on the Internet. Luckily, my pediatrician listen to me, she drew the blood test She gave him an injection of B12 immediately, she didn't even wait for the results. The change was nearly miraculous, the next day he was out of bed and over the few days was nearly back to normal. He continued to get B12 injections monthly until his celiac disease is properly treated.

As an RN, I took care of a 40 yr old male patient who was admitted to the hospital with debilitating numbness in his legs and feet. Upon admission he couldn't even stand by himself. He was found to be severely B12 deficient and started on B12 injections. A few days later he walked out of the hospital unassisted.

I had a relatively mild B12 deficiency 2 years ago and I couldn’t believe how terrible I felt with just a mild deficiency! I can’t imagine a severe B12 deficiency.

I was treated for a seizure disorder for 2 years before a new neurologist asked what my B12 level was. She was insistent that 28 year old women didn’t suddenly start having a seizure disorder without a cause. Turns out it was never a seizure disorder. My B12 level was just so low that I was having seizures - which had been diagnosed with an EEG. Within about 9 months of B12 injections, I was seizure free. That was 15 years ago, and I’m still seizure free!! I still have to take supplement injections, and have my levels checked about every 6 months. For me, it was the result of multiple surgeries involving my stomach and intestines - I simply don’t absorb it adequately.

i love that being a doctor is basically mystery solving and and so much teamwork. that’s what i wanna do in life

As a clinical RD I immediately knew his issue (same with your other videos that revolved around nutrient deficiencies) , this is why dietitians need to be consulted more often than they currently are.

Never doubt a doctor with freckles. In other words: I like your videos. Medical videos can be scary or depressing, but yours are refreshing!

This reminds me of another case where a 10-month old had learned to crawl, but then stopped crawling and would just lay there. Dr's found that his arms and legs hurt, so they ran tests and suspected bone cancer (even told his parents that). A doctor from India took one look and correctly diagnosed it as scurvy. Turns out the patient only ate goldfish crackers. Doctors in developed countries just don't see malnutrition that often.

Let's expand the B12 awareness a bit more: The body utilizes up to about 5mcg (five micrograms) B12 per day. The liver stores up to 5,000mcg, so if the B12 income is suddenly stopped, it could take as long as several years before the B12 symptoms show up. Other than specific cobalamin blood tests, the usual screening test that raises suspicion of B12 deficiency is megaloblastic anemia--the big red blood cells she talked about. A big concern is that taking large amounts of another B vitamin, folic acid, can mask or hide the enlargement. It is for this reason that folic acid is prescription only in doses above 0.8mg. Just to make things more complicated, dietary B12 is absorbed only in the last 20cm (12 inches) of the small intestine, a section called the ilium. If a person has digestive difficulties, a problem that increases with age, there may not be enough B12 absorbed to replenish the stockpile. This is why you often hear of older people taking monthly B12 shots. But wait--there's more! While B12 is, as mentioned, primarily from animal sources, there are actually a few non-animal sources including tempeh, certain fermented foods, and chlorella, but these are usually considered inadequate for maintaining optimal levels. But that's too easy--in order for the ilium to efficiently absorb it, another protein called "intrinsic factor" must be present; it is produced in the stomach, and again may have lower levels in aging populations. Oral supplements are a very realistic option; there are even vegan forms of active B12 available. (Some forms are less active than others.) Because of the potential uncertainty of amounts absorbed by digestion, two newer forms of supplements have become available: nasal (yes, into the nose!), and sublingual (under the tongue). The nasal form is somewhat uncomfortable and rather expensive (you have to pay through the nose!); the sublingual helps ensure a more direct absorption into the blood stream. There is no evidence of any B12 toxicity, as the body is extremely efficient at eliminating any excess; sublingual forms are available in from 100 to 5000mcg sizes. A personal note: in light of the evidence that up to 5mcg can be utilized per day and the fact that there's no known toxicity, I think it is incorrect for the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) to be set at 2.4mcg instead of a more generous 10mcg per day. If this hasn't already overburdened your awareness of B12, check out the Wikipedia article. It includes valid references that can keep you entertained for hours! :) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12

Heyyy! I was just in SC last weekend visiting my aunt in the ICU after she suffered a major stroke. One of the nurses actually brought his violin and went into each room and played a song for the patients and their families. I thought that was the sweetest thing! He said it was great because he was able to keep his talent brushed up and provide some comfort to the patients and their families during their stay. ❤❤❤

I had this issue. Most likely due to poor nutrition on my part. I never felt so horrible, depressed, sluggish, and quite frankly “dumb” in my life. It was affecting my work horribly for a long time before my diagnosis. I could never think straight. The brain fog caused short term memory loss (like forgetting something AS I was doing it. I even had trouble counting money when paying for things.) and I felt like I wasn’t really even “there”. And don’t even get me started on the pains and headaches that further agitated my already declining mental state. I’m usually a very “docile” and non confrontative person but the low B12 made me incredibly irritable and even snappy at times. I’m doing much better now after rounds of injections but I still worried about falling back into old habits that contributed to the deficiency in the first place.

I just gained 3 brain cells from this video. Thank you.

She's so excited about the story; she's so nerdy about her profession. It's so freaking cute. I love it.

I'm a functional medicine practitioner and the second you said he had an elevated MCV, I knew exactly what it was. See it a lot in picky eaters!

it took 18 doctors, spanning 6 specialties, 2.5 years of working together in order to diagnose my pernicious anemia. my initial presentation was congestive heart failure. Make These Videos For The Doctors, i knew what it was for over a decade and was ridiculed into silence. It's The DOCTORS Who Need To Hear All Of This. i'm i the U.S. and got dx at age 38. would have been great to have had it caught while the damage was reversible. and yes, i know, i seem coherent. but im also a literal genius- something else i cant talk about without ridicule from "danger-zone intelligence" doctors. EDUCATE THE DOCTORS, they think they know all about things they've never before encountered.

Hearing that diet alone makes me feel uncomfortable. I can't stress how unhealthy it is.

Good thing it didn’t happen to James in the United States because the medical bills would have killed him anyways 😂

U can just see her passion and excitement talking about this case 😆 she definitely chose the right profession-it’s refreshing to see someone chose the medical route out of interest rather than just for the success & $

As someone who had a hemorrhagic stroke at nineteen, I found this video fascinating. I was a naturally skinny kid and picky eater who stopped eating mammals in the ninth grade, subsisting almost exclusively on processed carbs and a bit of poultry, so there were several parallels between my and James’ stories. Your video makes me wonder whether I was, in fact, B12-deficient and whether this may have contributed to my brain bleed.

Why don’t Dr’s ask about diet on the 1st visit? I would think that would be an important question on a diagnosis.

I love your videos! I’m a 10 year old girl who wants to become a doctor. I really want to help people live there life! I’m already studying medicine, I basically spend my day reading about medicine. I’ve been diagnosed with OCD but I have gotten better. Your videos really help with my understanding!

It sounds like James likely has an eating disorder called ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder). There are different subtypes of it, but in simple terms, it is an aversion to various types of food, based on taste and texture. It can really limit your food intake and is often seen as a toddler diet. It’s not being picky. So many doctors have never heard of it and simply do not do their research. More people have it than are diagnosed.

The MCV was the clue. In third world countries where I'm from we don't have the privilege of doing some if not most tests, so we rely heavily on basic tests to detect medical conditions. Glad he was able to get help. Sometimes it's the basic things that are easy to overlook

So James was eating the diet that they feed most of the poor people in nursing homes, no wonder those people are walking around like the walking dead.🤔

If James keeps eating only bread french fries and Cheerios, regardless of what supplements he takes, he's going to develop serious health issues when he's older.

Welp, you've inspired me to finally take the steps to fix my B12 deficiency

I’m excited to see a resident who knows what she is doing. I work in medicine and “what do you eat on a regular basis?” should be the first question, but as I have discovered, is not even on the list of questions doctors, PAs, or NPs ask patients when they present initially for treatment. I’ll find myself doing a HIDA scan for someone with “digestive issues” and all they eat is pizza. I guess the industry can’t make money on sound advice… 🙄

Violinist, med student and RU-vidr/teacher. This person definitely deserve my sub.

Great story. I’m more amazed that you’re a Doctor who plays the violin and have a prospering RU-vid channel... I’m definitely not doing enough

Please make more videos like these with differential diagnoses and explanations! Very fascinating!

Hi, I love your videos! I am a 2nd year med students and watching you piece all these factors together to make a diagnosis is fascinating. Plus you are an amazing story teller 😊😊😊😊😊. Thank you!

Isn't he being treated for an eating disorder? Why was this not mentioned there is a difference between a picky eater and a case like this.

And no doctors ever asked him about his diet right?

I ❤️ how she explaines symtoms with a passion to help.

Although I am late to this video, I immediately assumed B-12 deficiency because of the diet that was listed at the beginning. It's shocking how little we can think about how changes in our diets affect our health. The crazier thing is that there wasn't intervention sooner by a primary care. Family medicine is the most underrated specialty because it can keep this type of problem from ever developing through strong patient-physician relationships in the cycle of care.

“Cheerios without the milk” *sacrilege*

Being from the US, the moment you said his diet consisted heavily of Cheerios I immediately ruled out B12 deficiency!!! I had no idea B12 fortification was isolated to the US and the UK. Fascinating case. Thanks Siobhan!

Another wonderful video. Thank you! And yes - I love this style of video where you tell the stories of interesting cases - great work.

Im So impressed with you young lady ! You will be an outstanding doctor 👩‍⚕️!

I worked at a medical practice and lots of people had b12 deficiency. They weren't vegan.

This is why I fell in love with medicine. It felt so great to guess his diagnosis before you mentioned it. Thank you for being such a great example of a good influencer.

Very interesting I really enjoyed this and looking forward to watching your others thank you so much

This is fascinating. I am completing a mental health and nutrition course. Diet is about obtaining micronutrients and minerals. Many case studies have noted improvements with mental health conditions while using a dietary approach. This video is great evidence of the need to have this proper diet for mental health. Excellent. Thank you for these and other terrific videos.

JM is a college student ☝🏾 PRESENTING to the emergency room.

Similarly I was B12 deficient and luckily my Dr., while recommending I see a neurologist, sent off bloodwork first, mentioning B12 deficiency can cause neurological issues. My symptoms were: head tremors (shaking from side to side), major memory issues, balancing issues and fatigue. I started on a B12 supplement and within 2 weeks had a complete 180, everything improved!

Not surprised as soon as I heard what he ate. Thanks for sharing this with us!

So clear and insightful! Thank you very much.

James also has an eating disorder. And if he wants stay healthy for longer, he's gonna have to get his eating disorder treated.

I did know it was B12 deficiency because I experienced it too at that age....different symptoms though. I was misadiagnosed for several months and was exhibiting the last symptoms of pernicious anemia, before death. Vegetarians need to know how important B12 is because deficiency is very dangerous. And no, the doctor I had gone to see several times never once asked about my diet.. he was so sure my back ache, intestinal pain, fatigue, loss of body position sense and difficulty walking was caused by stress. Thank god for the nurse who gave me a blood test or I would've died.

First video I've ever seen from you, but I love your style of presentation. Super energetic and informative! Subbed ☺️☺️

I put off becoming a vegan for 15 years, precisely because I lacked a source of information just like this. Thanks, Violin MD! You make the World better!

Who else is gonna take some B12 after watching this?

Dietetics student here! :) Yes, I was guessing macrocytic anemia as soon as you said his erythrocytes were enlarged. Thanks for sharing this video!

I had to warn an acquaintance about B12 deficiency a few months ago. He is 90% raw vegan, with a little cooked vegan foods in between, and he was experiencing memory problems, blurred vision, trembling hands, and tingling in his hand and feet. His mostly raw vegan diet did not even include any fermented foods. Sometimes we destroy our bodies by pursuing extreme diets. Face it, Eden is gone, we have to deal with the world as it is and if we want to divert from the beaten path, then we owe it to ourselves to become well informed about the challenges and dangers of the path we are about to take and how to deal with them, not only should we focus on the advantages. People were telling him that he should eat more green vegetables! At no time did he seek to consult a doctor or a nutritionist. His veganism is associated with his religion. He started B12 supplementation the same day after I sent him some articles on the subject.

This was soooo informative. Thank you!!!

It’s amazing how little nutrition info doctors get. Nutrition is my field of study and as soon as she mention mcv the first thing that came to my mind was b-12 deficiency.

I have no intention of becoming a doctor but I love your videos. They’re so interesting and fun to watch!!

Tbh, your few seconds violin performance was mind blowing 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

I had no idea B12 deficiency could be that devastating. Thank you very much. Another information added.

"A 21 year old ate this diet. This is what happened to his brain"

I just love your presentations. Makes sense. Learning a lot from you. God bless. Keep on please. We need to hear more. Elizabeth from South Africa.

What a great video to show my picky eater kids. I had no idea how bad it could get - recovery took years ?!?? Wow!

Shes like the female version of Chubbyemu. Not just the concept but also the editing (re-enacment) and narrative. I love these investigative medical stories.

I blame his parents. Most kids start out finicky eaters, but their tastes expand as they are introduced to new foods. Get your kids eating right at the start so they won’t have to overcome immature and unhealthy eating habits as adults.

I love how you explained! You really like what you do! You really are passionate about it!

Your story telling is enjoyable, and the invite to guess us playful. The medical stuff is a bonus. You make learning fun

Sounds like he already had brain damage if he was eating like this....

There's a 14 year old kid that just recently that was in the news who just went blind from a very similar diet and he's also loosing his hearing as well which is crazy

Great content! I love ur communications skills. I love real clinical cases

The fact that they ignored B12 deficiency when he showed an elevated MCV is stunning. He should have sought a naturopathic doctor.

Having this doctor attend to my loved ones or my own medical emergency would be a blessing. So compassionate, dedicated and upbeat.

Oh my god I was so relieved when she said B12 is in cereals in the uk... Greetings from England everyone

Omg, I love this channel! You are so smart & positive! 👏👏👏👏👍

You are amazing. How well spoken you are. Thank you, Dr!

Fascinating, I had no idea that diet could affect your brain like that. Thanks for this greatly informational video! 💕

He’s an adult and can’t eat anything besides bread, cereal, and fries? He’s not two.

Your videos are just the thing to watch in between violin practice sessions.

Fascinating, thank you for this amazing video.

Me: a picky eater watching to see if my diet is as bad as his and to see if I'm dying

If this were in the U.S. the doctors would have been like "aha you good bro!" and then billed him $3,000.

Just discovered your channel, great so far. I love your enthusiasm toward your subject matter. Living in the USA my endocrinologist has me on B12 and vit D, and so far so good. I’m also 70 yrs old. I’ll be following you now for more great content

Surprised ! Good informational video!

The only thing that I cant figure out is why the very first blood test wouldn't have diagnosed the B12 deficiency

It's amazing to me how the body reacts to dietary changes. Another great video, Doctor.

Suprised. Very informative. Thank you for this video.

Really loved this !

What a doctor! I wish my doctor is happy and heathy like her and recommend vitamins before prescribed drugs

I’ve got factor V Leiden and ended up with a massive clot in my left leg during pregnancy. These are life threatening! Great that you are helping to educate people!

Yeah, when you started talking about brain fog I figured it would probably be that. I was on plant based diet for 2 years and 2 months before doing that I've researched what my body needs in order to be healthy. So B12 was the first thing I ordered before starting that diet. After taking it I've realised I must have had B12 deficiency prior that as it felt literally like someone gave me a battery to function normally (I've had many B12 deficiency symptoms but I never researched it and since those symptoms can be of many other reasons I've tried other different things to help myself). Also,doctors rarely think of B12 deficiency if it isn't as severe as it was in the case you've presented. So much that a friend of my mom's had those symptoms and her husband was a doctor and my mom (who was a nurse) asked me if I think her symptoms could be B12 deficiency and I said yes, but her friend's husband (the doctor) said it was impossible. Well, she got checked her B12 levels and, go figure, she had B12 deficiency 😊 After recieving B12 shots she soon got all better. I also know of one case (a friend's friend) who got to the point of such B12 deficiency that he ended up in a wheelchair (and, yes, when it gets to that point there's no going back unfortunately).

This video is amazing ❤️.

I’m a cardiac nurse and honestly learned so much from this kind of videos! Thanks! much appreciated!

My diet used to be legitimately crazy because of my gastroparesis. For months I ate almost only boiled broccoli and zucchini 😬. Luckily, it’s so much better now!! Love your videos!!

Awesome study

WoW!! Thank you so much for information & education💞🙏

A doctor AND a violinist....? Your momma must be so proud. You're awesome. Thanks for the informative videos. You can ALSO add TEACHER to your resumé.

PLEASE collab with Dr. Mike!! I love both of your energies! It would make my day!

Thanks. Came here for my "House MD" fix and went away satisfied.

I like thesw videos ☺️ it's helpful that you make us think what the cause might be and explain all the different terms in the process

You know she’s a good explainer when a business student who stopped taking bio in junior year like me can follow along