Any advice please

[Narwhal10]

I’m a bit confused, I don’t actually know if I’ve got P.A. or not. In March I got a positive blood result showing I’m gluten intolerant (also lactose and fructose which usually means the small intestine is in a bad way) and I’d seen a reflexologist who had said my B12 were low but bloods taken by GP all in range (I had symptoms though and I’ve got a diagnosis of fibromyalgia)

Anyway, had bloods taken 2 weeks ago. Rang to get results yesterday, was told you need B12 injection (I’m having Monday) and iron supplements. I’ve felt absolutely awful, dizzy, pins and needles, tinnitus etc. I’ve asked for a copy of my results but I don’t know if it just B12 deficiency or PA. Any thoughts or pointers would be gratefully received.

Hope everyone is well.

Thank you 😊

[Nackapan]

I you have caeliac diseases youu are more susceptible to b12 and iron deficiency. Good idea you got a print of your blood results? Always a good idea .

Your doctor should explain tour blood results.

An intrinsic antybody test is sometimes done but will only pick up 50% with PA . Usually follows a low b12 reading but do e before Injetions start.

Was your folate level okay? Vitamin D ?

Fibromyalgia is often diagnosed when it could be b12 deficiency.

Hope the treatment helps quickly with a change in diet.

[Narwhal10 in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you Nackapan for your reply. Hope you are well. I had a very strong suspicion it was vitamin B12 deficiency after stumbling across Tracy Witty’s Vitamin B12 deficiency website recently (am I allowed to say that here - apologies if not).

I’ve had ‘IBS’ for 26 years !!!

[Nackapan in reply to Narwhal10]

Yes you are lol. Great campaigner and information source.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Pernicious anaemia, B12 deficiency - feels the same.

Quite often is the same, just sometimes takes a while for a diagnosis, since many B12 deficiency symptoms are wide-ranging and can easily, taken separately or together, look like other conditions, many GPs seem unfamiliar with symptoms, other vitamins and minerals can be low at the same time, and tests for PA can be unreliable. So it can take a while to find out.

Good to have other potential conditions eliminated as long as it doesn't delay any B12 treatment - which at least it seems you are going to get.

SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) can also rob you of vitamins, B12 being one of them. This can be tested for: a hydrogen breath test. You may have had this test already, given that IBS (as a syndrome or set of symptoms) can be an indicator for SIBO.

A copy of your results might well help you. Folate and ferritin levels, even within range, can be low enough to give you deficiency symptoms (my GP suggests keeping ferritin above 60 ug/L). Vitamin D might be low. Thyroid may be struggling a bit.

The main thing at first is to get your symptoms under control, whatever this turns out to be later on. Start a daily record of symptoms and hopefully you will see them start to get less severe and occur less often. This may come in handy later on too, if you are sent to any specialists for tests.

Let's hope this is the start of much improved health for you. Any questions or worries, ask: lots of experience, advice and support here. Certainly helped me.

[Narwhal10 in reply to Cherylclaire]

Hi Cherylclaire,

Thank you for all your advice.

All the best.