Endoscopy today

[Pixielula]

Hey guys I've got my endoscopy today, (trying to find the cause of my megaloblastic anaemia) I'm hoping they will know it's the b12 deficiency that's causing the anaemia, so presumably they should be looking for the cause of the b12 def, any advice on what they should be doing or what I should be asking ....... Thank you lovely people

[fbirder]

I presume they'll be sticking the camera into your stomach (rather than the other way). They should be looking for signs of gastric atrophy. If it's present then they'll look for infection with Helicobacter pylori - a bacteria. If you're not infected then it's likely that your gastric atrophy is caused by an autoimmune response.

If they do decide it's autoimmune gastric atrophy then that would explain why you're B12 deficient as it destroys Gastric Parietal Cells (GPCs) that make Intrinsic Factor (IF). IF is a protein that 'escorts' B12 across the gut wall in the ileum (part of the small intestine). Without IF the B12 can't be absorbed efficiently from the gut.

GPCs also produce hydrochloric acid which does several good things like breaking down food to release B12. Without it (achlorhydria) you can suffer from symptoms quite similar to high stomach acid as well as IBS-like symptoms.

I would ask them to take some biopsy samples to look for neuroendocrine tumours. These are found in people with gastric atrophy but they're almost always harmless little things. If you are found to have them then it's likely that your only treatment will be to have a look at them once a year - so they're absolutely nothing to worry about.

Good luck and, if you're the type of person who isn't grossed-out by such things, try and watch it on the monitors.

[wedgewood]

All the very best for the endoscopy! I had one done about 6 months ago at the Winfield Hospital in Gloucester. I didn't have the anaesthetic, because I had to drive myself home and didn't want to wait 2 hours for it to wear off.  They just sprayed some banana-flavoured substance down my throat. Still made me retch when the tiny camera was inserted and taken out! But it honestly wasn't too bad.  Didn't find out if my stomach acid was low or non-existent . Said that was only done in research situations. I was told later by the gastroenterologist that I should assume as a PA patient that I had low or no stomach acid.  Was prescribed Metoclopramide for stomach problems(pain, bloating , burping, nauseous reflux .)  It was absolutely useless. Also it has bad side-effects and can only be prescribed for 3 months)  Only thing that helped was a probiotic, which I self-prescribed.  Ask your gastroenterologist if he can tell you about your stomach acid.  It is very important for your health that you have some otherwise you do not absorb the nutrients in your food properly. 

[Lisahelen in reply to wedgewood]

Hope it all went ok and you got some decent answers.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Lisahelen]

I'll second that. Good luck. 

[19191919 in reply to Foggyme]

me too x

[Pixielula]

Well  guys had the endoscopy, I've got a sinking heart as I type this, every one is fixated on the anaemia!!! Do I vomit blood? is there blood in my urine? Is there blood in my stools? How heavy are my periods? Are you a heavy drinker? Do I take loads of NSAIDs? 

"Mrs ##### do you understand why your having this procedure today"

"Hopefully to find the cause if my B12 deficiency "

"It's to look for a cause of your anaemia"

 "Dr could the anaemia be a symptom of my B12 deficiency"

"Um I don't think that has anything to do with it" but we are going to test you for Coaliac diseas. 

So all the visual checks "looked good" they took 2 biopsies one for Coaliac the other for ?????? The nurse pre procedure said they would check for H pylori, guess what they didn't !!! 

Now the Consultant wants me to have a colonoscopy to look for possible bleeds there.

BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL !!! 

The team were lovely but the questions I asked were not answered, the nurse who did my pre checks told me she knew all about b12 deficiency as she is a vegetarian and has to take iron tablets for her b12 deficiency!!  I think the consultant was disappointed to not find a huge blood sucking tumour or bleeding ulcer!! Oh well better luck next time eh!!! 

My head is starting to smart, from all this banging!!