I am thoroughly confused about H.pylori and it's connection/or lack of to B12 deficiency/PA. Some medical sites I've seen say that it causes atrophic gastrophy and is therefore a cause of b12 deficiency and that if treated you should be able to absorb b12 without injections however other sites including NHS make no mention of H.pylori causing b12 defiency/PA. If it's the case it's a cause should I have been tested for it? I was thinking of self injecting as it's been 2 weeks since loading doses and I am already getting symtpoms back but now I am thoroughly confused about the cause. I'm going to see a gastroenterologist privately so i am going to ask for that/Parietal Antibody test/Gastrin etc. I have low ferritin, vit d deficiency and some bad upper digestive symptoms related to low stomach acid but not the typical H.pylori symptoms like nausea, vomiting, pain etc. I also had a fecal calprotectin done by my GP (i don't know if she was testing for crohn's though I've previously had one done for that before the came back normal) and it came back perfectly normal. I don't know if that counts towards anything but I have also read that h.pylori/bacterial overgrowth can cause raised calprotectin levels? Does anyone have any insight on this? I'm not sure whether to hold off on the self injecting? Thank you!
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I have a private, functional practitioner, and she told me that a prolonged overgrowth of H. Pylori can cause atrophic gastrophy that can lead to B12d. If treated in a timely manner and permanent damage hasn't been done to the lining of the gut, then normal absorption can possibly be restored provided there aren't other factors contributing to poor B12 utilization. Low stomach acid from any cause can lead to B12d which is why anything that lowers stomach acid can cause B12 absorption issues (antacids, PPIs. etc.) Unfortunately, most GPs are not aware of the numerous connections between various GI issues, medications and B12d.
For myself, if I don't inject daily, symptoms start increasing. However, I've only been injecting for just over a month and am hoping that I will be able to cut back at some point in time but will do whatever I have to in the long run to regain health.
You are wise to get further testing and I hope that you get solid answers to your health concerns!
Than you for the help! If I may ask did you ever have testing/treatment for h.pylori? I may be entirely wrong but from what I can gather from links from Sleepy and researching elsewhere h.pylori usually only develops into the type of atrophic gastritis that causes b12 deficiency if you are genetically inclined towards PA? I am definitely getting a gastro to test for it anyway but must admit if it's easier to treat than autoimmune gastritis I am thoroughly confused as to why doctors don't test b12 deficient patients for it?!
I had a comprehensive stool test, negative for h. pylori. It was part of the process of finding out what was causing my functional B12d and some other health issues. Turns out I have PA, positive for parietal cell antibodies, but not due to h. pylori. Hope you find the answers to your concerns and that they are easily remedied!
Thank you for the links Sleepy! Am I correct in gathering from the info that h.pylori usually only causes atrophic gastritis and that it may only be linked with pernicious anemia if you are already genetically inclined?
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