I'm new! Advice please.....

[berry88]

Hi, after years of going to my gp with sympoms ( I had never heard of pernicious anemia before) I was diagnosed after switching doctors surgerys and being offered a blood test. These blood test were only offered to me after two pregnancies where the fetus had a birth defect and was "incompatible with life", as this and my other symptoms is a sign of b12 deficiency I was tested. It's now been 8 months and I have been having my b12 injections every 12 weeks...... after my injections I feel great but break out in spots all over my face, chest and arms ( I'm never usually a spotty person) anyone else experienced this?

Also I am 16 weeks pregnant and Everything with the baby is fine! But feeling very fatigued and foggy headed, not sure of this is pregnancy symptoms or being due for my injection. Of anybody has any tips on coping with this whilst pregnant id appreciate it.

(Sorry for the long post)

Thanks!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

are you supplementing folic acid for the pregnancy - symptoms of folic acid are quite similar to those of B12 deficiency - also true that pregnancy will mean extra demands on your B12.

the spots are likely to be a reaction of the microbes on your skin to the additional B12 which causes them to excrete a toxin - its not common but it is a known reaction to B12. Your skin is reacting to the toxin - suggest that you talk to your GP/pharmacist about a suitable wash and hope that that eases thing.

can't really comment on dealing with the pregnancy - but I would suggest that you contact the PAs - they have a dedicated nurse that should be able to help

You may need to join

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Marybrown06]

Hey Berry88,

Yes unfortunately, spots are a side effect of supplementation.

I was not spotty at all either and I now have many spots :S

But my B12D symptoms are worse than spots so I carry on anyway

Same thing for my mum, she becomes spotty everytime she takes B12.

Concerning pregnancy, you should watch out, B12 needs are far more important.

My deficiencies appeared during pregnancies. I am a vegetarian and no deficiency at all until I got pregnant at 26 y.o. I supplemented but I stopped after the birth of my daughter 4 years ago, probably too early because I was breast feeding her.

A year ago, I was pregnant again and joint aches appeared only after 1 or 2 weeks of pregnancy. After 3 months of pregnancy, I had a miscarriage. Then 2 successive other miscarriages (after 2.5 weeks).

Now I think everything was due to low B12 because pregnancy consumes plenty of it, it took me a year and many symptoms to realize!

I wish you a great pregnancy!