Help

[Dunc01226]

Hi there my name is Dun c l am 53 and have had pernicious anemia for around 15 years now. I have b12 injections every 12 weeks but they don't make me feel any better. The worst problems that I have are with my digestive system, can't eat anything with a lot of saturated fat anymore and I suffer a lot from gas, indigestion and getting full very easily, do any of you have similar problems and what to do to tackle it, digestive enzymes don't seem to work anymore.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Dunc01226 were you taking Creon and if so what "strength" and how often?

I've had P.A. for 46 years following a partial gastrectomy in 1959 and I've also recently been found to have a "moderate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency" for which I was prescribed Creon for every meal or snack.

I am not a medically trained person.

[Dunc01226 in reply to clivealive]

I just take digestive enzymes, they worked for a few years but don't seem to do anything any more

[Hidden in reply to Dunc01226]

Sync I had similar problems to you. I got a digestive stool analysis done privately which showed significant pathogenic bacterial overgrowth in my colon. This is caused by a lack of stomach acid. In my case I was put on a special eating plan and given herbal antimicrobials to take. The next stage is 4 weeks of gut restoration which is essentially probiotics and one or two other things then I have my profile retested. Already though my symptoms are much improved. Like you I take a digestive enzyme with eac meal but I also take Betaine HCl with each meal too. They are acid tablets with pepsin and dice taking them my symptoms have improved in line with the treatment above.

That’s just my story and perhaps will help you in some way.

[wedgewood in reply to Hidden]

I am curious to know where you got your advice and treatment for your Achlorhydria.You don’t need to name names ( in fact you shouldn’t on this forum . ) Just what sort of practicioner advised and treated you ? Thank you .

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

Hi Wedgewood. It was a functional medicine practitioner. She runs her own business in London and uses top quality labs for the analysis. She is one of the UK’s leading practitioners and my gastro refers to her as non medically qualified so you’ll appreciate she is good.

Happy to let you have her details in private.

[wedgewood in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much .Yes “, not medically qualified” is now a recommendation, after my experience with PA . The members who have been such a help to me are also not medically qualified .

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Dunc01226]

I add a drop of lime juice to water before meals to help raise acid levels

[Hidden]

Has your GP sent you to a gastroenterologist?. I have only recently been diagnosed and because it’s the small bowel that has trouble absorbing the b12 it would be wise for you to be investigated. Especially if you have gastro symptoms.

[wedgewood]

As you have P.A. you will have low/ no stomach acid - Hypochlorhydria/Achlorhydria . This leads to the stomach flora being upset -upshot - gut problems . Probiotics helped me , also the Betaine HCL with pepsin and bitters capsules . I’ve taken to them recently , and they really do help., especially with meat. Have been thinking about giving up meat because it’s the most difficult food to digest . We who have to have B12 injections don’t need to worry about having meat . A nutritionist or a doctor/ specialist who understands about Achlorhydria would be ideal for advice -but hen’s teeth spring to mind .

Also you could try to get more regular injections , but that might be difficult . GPs don’t like doing that . You may have to resort to self-injection like so many in the PAS . I have to , and it’s easy and cheap . Get back to us if you feel that you need more B12 injections.

Best wishes .

[dunc01977]

I don't think I could bring myself to self inject, I can't stand to watch the nurse now.