I haven't posted on here before but find the site really helpful. Sorry for the long post.
I was diagnosed with PA about 1 year ago. I only know it's PA because my intrinsic factor test came back positive and I researched it myself. I had no conversation with a doctor! Sooo frustrating!
Anyway, I have a really unstable gut, going between both extremes in terms of bowel habits. From researching various sites and coming across H Pylori several times, I assume there must be a link between this and PA. I received eradication therapy around 3 years ago after testing positive during a gastroscopy for H Pylori. I've read some horrible stuff about this and requested a retest to make sure it was gone, only to be told they don't retest for this??
I'm constantly bloated, don't enjoy food anymore AT ALL, suffer with horrendous reflux (also diagnosed during gastroscopy).
I guess I'm just asking for some advice on what to ask my GP? They've got me on Omeprazol for reflux and I've read some horrors about these too. They're not very tolerant with people who self research but I'm sick of feeling ill all the time!
Suggestions welcome and thanks in advance. xx
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Catrratt
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My youngest daughter has horrendous problems with digestion
The only thing that's helped her is stopping regular medication and has a medication to use if absolutely necessary. She took months and months using fodmap to eliminate foods that give her severe problems. A year later her food is increasing. It is very ' clean food. No caffeine no milk. Gluten free. Fructose free. Her saviour is almond milk. Its scream pain as no convenience food apart from cooked chicken and a few tortilla chips. She has always loved her food. Loved diary milk eggs ect but really cant tolerate them. She makes smoothies as easily digested. Has fermented fois like miso. It's hard work but she functions alot better now.
At one point she was mak nourished that affects you mentally. As shrs never been thin it wadnt taken seriously.
She was praised recently by gastro. She could have ended up being tube fed. Go was useless. Dietician supported her and was someone to answer to.
She did it on her own.
So perhaps a referral to a dietician would be a start. Oh she also now takes a probiotic. Symprove not in h
er budget but she says the one she has is really helping.
She has to stick with little and often. Cant be sociable apart from pizza ex....which like many other shops does gluten free and only puts on what you can eat.
I make chicken stock without onions only green herbs. As chicken is the only animal protein she tolerates .
Hi Catrratt.they should re test you by using the breath test just to confirm it’s no longer active.Ive had this done a couple of times.
The blood tests only show that you have HPylori as once infected it is always in the blood and will test positive but it’s not necessarily active so the breath test is used usually after the triple therapy has finished ,to check but you’ll have to ask they don’t offer it.
I’d quit the Omiprazole as it causes quite severe tummy pain it certainly did with me so I reduced it gradually then tapered off it with no hassle.
As you have PA, you almost certainly have atrophic gastritis. As well as preventing you from being able to absorb B12, it also means your stomach does not produce any hydrochloric acid.
Many of us find drinking something acidic with large meals helps. I prefer lime juice - about 25 mL in a glass of fizzy orange/water/tonic water/gimlet. Others prefer apple cider vinegar, but it's horrible in a gimlet.
I wrote very detailed replies on another forum thread with links to B12 deficiency symptoms lists, causes of b12 deficiency, info about tests for PA, B12 books, B12 websites, UK B12 documents, letters to GP about B12 deficiency and other B12 info which you might find helpful.
The pandemic has affected B12 treatment in UK . Many UK forum members have had treatment stopped/delayed/frequency reduced or swapped for oral tablets.
I left a long reply in this next thread with info on impact of pandemic on B12 treatment in UK.
It includes links to recent PAS news items and blog posts from B12 Deficiency Info which have suggestions on how to cope if injections stopped/delayed/swapped for oral tablets.
You might want to read a book I just finished titled Why Stomach Acid is Good For You by Jonathan Wright M.D. and Lane Lenard, Ph.D. While the subject matter is mainly about digestion it did specifically mention pernicious anemia and B12 deficiency. I have had digestive issues ever since I had my gallbladder removed. I am trying some of the recommendations from the book and I feel like my stomach issues are getting better. I'm taking a new brand of digestive enzymes with every meal and also taking a hydrochloric acid capsule with meals that contain a lot of meat. I'm also trying to tamp down any h pylori infection by drinking a couple of mugs of green tea a day. (I read that h pylori doesn't like green tea.) I've also upped my intake of foods that contain citric acid to keep the acid levels up in my stomach. Previously I avoided them because of acid reflux problems. I'm hoping this regimen continues to help.
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