Have I got Pernicious Anaemia? - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

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Have I got Pernicious Anaemia?

millefleur40 profile image
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Hi, I am new to this group. I have struggled with Hashimotos Thyroiditis since 1994 and requested my B12 be tested last year. My results were at the bottom of the range. My GP said they were normal. I was experiencing Headaches all the time, pins and needles in hands, legs and feet, high anxiety, vision problems, feeling weak and too tired to do anything, forgetting things, painful tongue/ mouth, IBS symptoms. I printed out info to back up my plea that I required B12 injections. My GP finally agreed to a loading dose of 6 over two weeks. He did another B12 test after 10 weeks and said my levels were over range now so no further treatment. I was given folate tablets to take, but he said it would be a waste of money to give me more injections.

I am now on my knees with symptoms, headaches, memory, weakness, wobbly, anxiety, palpitations etc. I had to give up work and am going through the mental health pathway (not any help). I have now found out that the correct procedure for low B12 with my symptoms should have been injections every other day until I felt better, ignoring the raised level after loading dose. Cant even get an appointment to see a GP, let alone any treatment. Can I demand a proper test for precocious anaemia? Already having one auto immune disease can lead to others apparently.

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Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator

serum B12 being over range 10 weeks after loading shots doesn't really mean anything.

The really question is how did you respond to the loading shots - did any of your symptoms improve?

Unfortunately the test for PA as a specific cause of B12 absorption problems is problematic as it gives false negatices 40-60% of the time - so may not solve the problem.

Do you know if you had B12 tested at any point in the past and if the levels were higher then? that would be pretty clear evidence that you do have an absorption problem.

Would you be able to write to your GP and the practice administrator quoting the relevant sections of the standards and asking to be treated accordingly?

you could also try joining and contacting the PAS directly to see if they can provide support as they may be able to contact your GP on your behalf.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

pernicious-anaemia-society....

millefleur40 profile image
millefleur40 in reply to Gambit62

Thank you so much for your response. I dont think I have any copies of earlier years tests - if I even had any.

February '17 when I had the B12 test, my Red Blood Cell count (RBC) was flagged up high 5.23 (range 3.80-4.80).

After having the loading dose B12 my next bloods showed my Haemoglobin estimation was High 153 g/L (range 120-150). Haematocrit was High 0.479 (range 0.360-0.460). RBC High 5.41 (range 3.80-4.80). GP said no action.

Do you know what these high readings could indicate?

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply to millefleur40

Not a medic but getting a full view of iron status - and all the measures you are quoting relate more to iron than B12 - can be quite complex and means looking at a quite a wide range of indicators.

You may find the answers to your questions on this site/page

labtestsonline.org/tests/co...

millefleur40 profile image
millefleur40 in reply to Gambit62

Thank you Gambit62 😊

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