My doctor phoned me yesterday to give me an overview of my test results. I'm still B12 deficient even though levels improved slightly. B6 levels dropped, I guess because it wasn't treated when I had my initial B12 shots months back. Something even nastier popped up as well. My iron levels dropped by 9 points below the normal level. She said I am not anemic yet. Although she does think I have coeliac disease so wants a blood test done as soon as possible.
I'm expected to be on B6 and Iron tablets for the next 4 months as well. I don't know much about coeliac disease but a brief look tells me the symptoms are similar to B12 deficiency (and other defieciencies)
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loomis
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notice that you are on B12 injections. After the injection your B12 levels will have been astronomic but they will gradually fall over time as your kidneys remove excess and it then passes out of your body in your urine. If your serum B12 levels are now showing that you are back to being deficient that means that your kidneys are removing the B12 quite quickly and you need maintenance doses to be more frequent than once every 100 days.
Actually using serum B12 after loading shots can be misleading as many people need to keep levels much higher after loading shots so the thing that really counts is symptoms and monitoring those is the best way of deciding when you need a maintenance shot.
Are you in UK? I'm asking because B12 treatment can vary from country to country. Some info below is UK specific.
What does GP think is causing your low B12?
Have you had an Intrinsic Factor Antibody test?
IFA test can help to diagnose PA (Pernicious Anaemia) but test is not always reliable and it is still possible to have PA even if IFA test result is negative/normal range.
Flowchart from BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines
"she does think I have coeliac disease so wants a blood test done"
In UK, two first line tests for Coeliac disease are recommended
1) tTG Iga (tissue transglutaminase IgA )
2) total IgA
My experience is that total IgA test is not always ordered for people with suspected Coeliac disease. People with IgA deficiency may need alternative tests for Coeliac disease.
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Blood test results - advice pls
Blood test results...low ferritin
