Well this is my latest news and problem...
I have been suffering from symptoms of B12 deficiency for many years..
I have a family history of Penicious Anaemia showing in females..
Elderly Cousin and only living relative has the B12 injections.
It includes our grandmother who died from it age 62 in 1932 (pre NHS installation)
I have been a vegetarian for over 40 years with a careful diet heavy with leafy
greens.
I have every listed symptom Ive read about apart from mood swings and sleeplessness.
Five weeks ago I blacked out in the street, got up and then blacked out again damaging
my head and face quite badly. Got away with just a few other minor injuries.
Ambulance took me to hospital where over a 13 hour period I was checked, glued up,
and tested.. Blood tests, ECG's, Urine tests, eyes tests, squeeze test, and due to the
visual condition of my head, a head scan. I had to wait for the all clear on the head scan
before they let me go home.
Four days before I was asked over the phone to take a blood test for anemia...I presumed
it was a Practice incentive and they were asking everyone over a certain age and etc.
It had come back as a low reading but not badly low. I was awaiting the process of having
the chemist pick this prescription for me etc.. I had not started taking the Iron Ferris 220 mg.
The GP was not available in the afternoon of the week after that... I did check to see if
any of the GP's had been trying to contact me about the hospital results which I presumed
would be sent on to my GP..especially if anything wrong had been found on the hospital tests.
Because of the difficult system and many patients now, I finally got an appointment with the GP
who requested the anaemia test. Because of the packed appointments now I was only able to get a blood
test 4 days after I saw this GP.
At my appointment he said he had no idea why I blacked out but would like to send me off for a head scan incase it was to do with my brain somehow. I said, "Another one?" Turns out he had no idea that
I had undergone the scan..
I moved on to a list of my symptoms and family history he agreed to test me for B12.
Ferris and Follate...(I had been avidly reading up on this site for a few days)..
I told him my B12 could have been made redundant as I had been on Lansoprazole for
13 years. He shook his said saying it was not true that it would harm my B12 intake..
I convinced him it was not true by asking him to Google it.
I phoned a very busy and sharp Practice receptionist today for my B12 result and was told
it was normal...783..so not even the low end of the scale.... I did not dare
ask for the Blood Count/Ferritin/Folate as she was obviously really busy.
After I took the blood test 3 days ago I immediately started using a B12 patch system and also lingual
delivery B12 tablets (this is my 3rd day using them) I was so certain I had a B12 shortage.
What next... How do I deal with my GP...
Questions...although my reading is that high can I get away with saying, "Yes its there
in my system but obviously I am unable to utilise it for some reason"..
Does anyone else know of another condition that replicates 95% of B12 deficiency?
Can I still be within my rights to ask nicely for my symptoms to be acknowledged and
treated with B12 instead of my reading as stated in the NHS guidelines?
I have an idea he will be negative about this due to the high reading.
Can one black out due to not being able to utilize B12?
All tips, knowledge and help gratefully received.
I'm going to try and get a telephone appointment with him tomorrow morning.