Could I have pernicious anaemia? - Pernicious Anaemi...

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Could I have pernicious anaemia?

wowserclo profile image
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Hi folks,

So I'm wondering if I fit the bill. I will ask to be tested but in the meantime....

My vitamin b 12 levels are 285

And ferritin is 43

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Diagnosed this year in Feb

Chronic mental problems. Dissociation disorder. Can't concentrate. Dizziness. Vertigo. Brain fog. And now which is really distressing confusion and anxiety.

I've had many other symptoms but the mental ones are distressing me most.

Any advice so very appreciated

Chloë x

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Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator

Is your thyroid under control?

do you know what your folate levels are?

what were the units and ranges associated with the blood?

have you had a full blood count?

Serum B12 isn't a gold standard test and will miss 25% of people who are deficient, but also pick up 5% who aren't, so evaluating symptoms is important - this could include a particular form of anaemia called macrocytosis (larger rounder red blood cells).

ferritin is generally a good marker for iron but doesn't tell the whole story and your ferritin result looks like its' probably in range, just, so unlikely you have an iron deficiency - but again a full blood count might show signs of anaemia (microcytosis in which the red blood cells are smaller than normal).

Evaluating just on the basis of symptoms isn't straightforward if there are other conditions present that have overlapping symptoms - which would include iron and thyroid.

Hashimotos does make you more susceptible to absorption problems

Basically, B12 could be part of the problem so may be worth pursuing but if your thyroid isn't in control at the moment I'd be inclined to get that under control first ... or look at some further tests, such as full blood count and possibly MMA (waste product that builds up if your cells don't have enough B12) before concluding that it is definitely in the mix.

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