Anesthesia used for endoscopy

[Casey6017]

I was diagnosed with PA when I was 19 yrs old. My hemoglobin was 6 and nearly died. All tests, Schilling, bone marrow etc. verified this. I am 63 years old now. I have carcinoid syndrome and have had biopsies done every 3-4 months. My Dr is sending me to a neurologist now to test for possible dementia. I've wondered if all the anesthesia I've had over ALL these years may have anything to do with my neurological deficits.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Casey6017 if it was nitrous oxide it probably did have an affect.

nitrous oxide is a super-oxidiser when it comes to B12 and converts it to a form that the body cannot use, so if you had an absorption problem and couldn't replace your the oxidised B12 with new B12 then it would be a permanent problem.

However you were presumably having B12 injections afterwards to replace it?

I too had the "Schilling" test - one in 1968 and the second in 1972 - which confirmed P.A due to gastric surgery 13 years before in 1959 so although I'm now coming up to 77 we are quite contemporaries.

I am not a medically trained person and I wish you well

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

UK link about nitrous oxide

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/n...

Other links about B12 deficiency and nitrous oxide

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/825...

There may be more info about B12 deficiency and anaesthesia in next links/books.

B12 books I found useful

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). Book is up to date with UK b12 guidelines.

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive with lots of case studies.

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK but has members from around the world.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS tel no [phone] answerphone

B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/

B12 awareness (USA website)

b12awareness.org/

More b12 info in pinned posts on this forum.

I am not medically trained.