Daughter's Diagnosis

[MoKayD]

I was so very happy to find this group after my pernicious anemia diagnosis. Everyone has shared so much invaluable information and support. Now I have another, very personal, story to share. My wonderful 28 year old daughter was just diagnosed with pernicious anemia.

I noticed my daughter's increasing tiredness and grey hairs popping up in her dark brown locks, so I told her she should get her B12 levels checked. She has had problems with iron deficiency in the past but never checked her B12. I started suggesting (gently at first) that she see her doctor almost 2 years ago but she was busy and didn't think it was important. Then a couple of months ago she started having feelings of intense anxiety, at that point I became more insistent that she see her doctor.

She went to her GP for a physical and asked her doctor to include B12 in her blood tests. (I do not understand why testing B12 is not an automatic part of a blood test.) Her B12 test showed levels too low to measure. Her report read "Below 50." Her doctor was shocked, she said she had never seen levels that low in any of her patients. She received her first loading dose yesterday. After the loading doses she will be on shots once a month for the rest of her life.

I'm hoping her deficiency was caught early enough so long term damage has been avoided. I am more convinced than ever that this is a genetic disease.

[Sleepybunny]

Thank you for sharing both your stories.

I hope she soon sees improvements in her symptoms and feels more energetic.

I'm so glad she listened to you.

[MoKayD in reply to Sleepybunny]

I wish she'd listened sooner but you know how young people are.