B12 results

[mistygrey]

Hi

My B12 result was 262 ranges (180-2000)

I am waiting for folate and Ferritin results.

Is this worth requesting to be tested for Pernicious Anaemia?

I also have Hashimotos/Hypothyroid

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi mistygrey your doctor will probably be saying your serum B12 level at 262 ranges (180-2000) is "Normal" but are you having neurological symptoms associated with P.A.?B12 deficiency?

1 Pernicious Anaemia - Symptoms

1.1 General Symptoms

The following general symptoms are common in those with PA:

 The Strange Tiredness

 Fog days, where you have difficulty in thinking clearly

 Weakness

 Fatigue

 Upset stomach

 Abnormally rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) and/or chest pains

 Abnormal yellow colouration of the skin (jaundice)

 Heightened sensitivity to hearing, smell, and taste

 Vision distortion, e.g. seeing stars, or double vision

 Breathlessness

 Headache

 Cankers (ulcers) in the mouth

 Sleep disorders

 Intolerance to loud sounds, flashing lights

 Intolerance to crowded malls (needing personal space)

 Tinnitus – ringing in ears

1.2 Neurological Symptoms

The neurological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

 Numbness and tingling of the arms and more commonly the legs

 Difficulty walking

 Loss of balance

 Hands feel gloved with loss of sensitivity

 Loss of vibration sense, having to look down to see where you are walking

 Unable to close your eyes and stand on one foot

 Night vision

 Memory loss

 Disorientation

 Dementia

 Extreme mood changes

 Short term memory loss

Some experience many of these symptoms and some none of them. It depends on how quickly the PA is treated and on how well managed it is.

1.3 Gastrointestinal Symptoms

The gastrointestinal symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

 A sore tongue

 Appetite loss

 Diarrhoea and/or constipation

 Stomach pain

The British Society for Haematology guidelines say on the Diagnosis of B12 and Folate Deficiency "In the presence of discordance between the test result and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment".

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

This is saying that despite you B12 levels being within range if you have neurological symptoms your doctor should treat you. There may be some "cross over" of symptoms between your thyroid problems and B12 deficiency.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.

I wish you well

.

[DaleFL in reply to clivealive]

What is the best test for PA?

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to DaleFL]

Hi DaleFL here in the U.K. it is called the "Intrinsic Factor Antibodies" (I.F.A) test.

Sadly the I.F.A test is unreliable in that it gives false negatives in people with PA half the time. So a negative result doesn't mean that you don't have PA. However, a positive result is a sure-fire, 95% certain indicator of PA.

[mistygrey in reply to clivealive]

Can the GP run this IFA test or does it have to be requested by a Specialist?

[mistygrey in reply to clivealive]

Hi Clive

Yes it is safe to say I suffer from many of the above symptoms - in particular - breathlessness occasionally, light headed spells, feeling faint, general muscle weakness, extreme fatigue that is awful, extreme mood changes, irritability, chest pains that niggle on and off, stomach upset, repeated bouts of diarrrea that is unexplained..brain fog.

I wonder is it worth asking to be tested for this or are my symptoms more Thyroid related I do have Hashimotos also but my iron - Ferritin and B12 is repeatedly low and nobody seems to be treating me.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to mistygrey]

Are you in the U.K?

I believe there are some similarities of symptoms and it is known that thyroid problems may put you at an increased risk of developing a B12 deficiency. Your first step may be best to ask for serum B12 and serum Folate tests to be carried out.

The "Intrinsic Factor Antibodies" (I.F.A) test can be requested via your doctor but he will probaby do the others first.

Remember I'm not medically trained.

[mistygrey in reply to clivealive]

Thanks Clive.

I am in the UK, my GP isn't very good they really don't like you asking for anything I will ask for these tests to be done and see what happens

[Wowo23 in reply to mistygrey]

Hi mistygrey. I was diagnosed with PA about 10 mos ago. My b12 was 93 and then was given the instrinic factor test. The range is 0.0-1.0. Mine was 97 off the charts. I had 99 of the 100 symptoms but didn't know it. I knew something was wrong tho. Docs seem to go by a one size fits all scale for patients reguarding bloodwork. I believe any b12 level under 300 is low, but everyone is different. For me it was the b12 level, instrinic factor, anemia and high MCV(when blood cells are larger than normal) that clinched the PA diagnoses. I would ask my doc to test for all related to PA. Plz post results and best of luck

[clivealive Forum Support]

Come back when you get the results - or treatment.

[mistygrey in reply to clivealive]

do you know if they routinely do the Serum B12 and Serum Folate or are they specialist tests?

[clivealive Forum Support]

They are both normal blood tests but need to be asked for as they are not always automatically included in an FBC.

There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:

symptoms related to anaemia

reduced sense of taste

diarrhoea

numbness and tingling in the feet and hands

muscle weakness

depression

Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body.