Hello again. Just thought I would re-post this on a new thread. I would add only that today I discovered on the Wikipedia entry for PA that there is a link between the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and PA. I have just been diagnosed with having this bacterium, though it is now inactive. Has anyone else out there any experience of this ? Original post below.
About 7 months ago I started showing symptoms such as brain fog, loss of balance, fatigue, chest pains, minor speech problems. But none of the other physical problems I have read about on this site such as tingling hands/feet etc. Started taking sublingual drops of B12 in mid January only (SOLGAR, 2000mg a day). Within a couple of weeks I felt much better, and a week or so later I think all symptoms had gone. I then reduced daily B12 to 1000mg a day. About 2 weeks ago symptoms started to return so I went back on the the higher dose. Unfortunately I still have the fog, balance problems and now daily headaches. I have seen several doctors here in Moscow, including 2 gastroenterologists and a neurologist. None of them know anything about B12 deficiency and didn't want to hear my opinions, based largely on what I have read on this site. I have now arranged to have an Intrinsic Factor test at another clinic tomorrow. I asked for a stomach test - to check for low acid. They did a test but I then discovered it had nothing to do with acid - it checked for about 8 other common stomach problems. Only interesting finding was that my stomach contains a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori IgG, though it is now 'in remission' (not active). In the absence of any scientific test for low acid I conducted my own test at home: a quarter teaspoonful of baking soda in water, then waiting for burping - which should occur in a couple of minutes if acid level is normal. I waited for over 5 minutes but no burping at all.
My questions therefore are these:
I am now back on 2000mg a day of sublingual B12 but still symptoms of brain fog etc. Is it possible that the sublingual has just stopped working or is less effective? The one bit of really good news for me is that the chest pains went shortly after starting the B12 and have never come back. Is it possible that the sublingual B12 helps up to a point but is not the complete answer?
If low stomach acid is the problem - is this also considered PA?
Is it possible that my symptoms suggest some other problem, unrelated to PA?
Many thanks to all the knowledgeable people on this site for all your help!
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Frank77
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The role of environmental factors in triggering autoimmune gastritis has been more studied and a stronger link between H. pylori infection and CAG has been detected, despite not sufficient to establish a causative relationship between these two diseases
CAG = Chronic autoimmune atrophic gastritis.
The dose you are taking orally is quite high - on average people absorb about 1% of B12 passively (outside the ileum) so very high doses can be an effective way of treating an absorption problem but may not be very effective at correcting a deficiency.
It is possible that the lack of progress recently may be because things that heal quickly heal quickly but that then leaves all the stuff that is much slower to heal.
Hello Gambit62. Many thanks for your post. Yes I agree with you on stomach acid: I am taking Russian kefir each morning (a kind of probiotic) and a tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar each day before supper. Hope this will help. I had the intrinsic factor test carried out today but will have the result only in 12 days! Meanwhile I will take even bigger doses of sublingual B12 drops (now 3000mg a day) as for the past couple of days on these high doses I have finally started to feel better. I can only assume that I am absorbing very small amounts of this sublingual - perhaps 1% as you say - but it is certainly better than nothing! Thanks again. Frank77
H. Pylori is a naturally occurring bacteria in our guts, and we actually need it. The problem with nearly all bacteria in our gut is when one gets out of balance with the others.
I would suggest taking probiotics such as Water Kefir or Sauerkraut to help sort out your gut bacteria, and see how you feel then. Then is ample information about this on-line.
Hello Hypopotamus! Thanks for your help. I have read that this H.pylori can cause ulcers and even increase stomach cancer risk. But I have also read that it is naturally occurring... so I am afraid I don't know what to think any more... The Moscow doctor didn't like it and thought it warranted a full stomach scan... which I refused. I am taking kefir which I hope will help. Also apple cider vinegar. If the results of my intrinsic factor test suggest I don't have PA but only low stomach acid I will continue this regime (with high B12 sublingual) and hope that this helps...
You won't go wrong on Kefir and ACV. My blood test results didn't show anything wrong as regards B12 levels, but I benefited greatly from self-injecting.
Also check your other vitamins particularly vit D.
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