healing malabsorption possible?

so i've read about antibodies attacking parietal cells and IF, low acid, SIBO, H pylori and maybe the affect these have on b12 absorption. so the solution is to bypass the gut and get b12 in the blood via injection. this is far better then getting PA. but, has anyone looked into healing/treating the absorption problem? that seems to be the true underlying issue. i also have a feeling whatever is preventing B12 absorption is probably messing up a lot of other things as well. autoimmune diseases tend to come as a package.

i'm new to this PA thing. my strategy will be to first inject and see if PA is the issue. then try and solve the underlying problem (as i continue to inject).

one strange thing about me is i don't seem to have any GI issues. never have. i can eat anything (i've tried a lot of different diets), no IBS, nothing. but i have lost weight and some appetite in the last year. i'm 49 and weigh what i did when i was 20 now.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

It sounds like you are confusing PA and B12 deficiency.

PA is an auto-immune disorder that affects the gut destroying the main mechanism used to absorb B12 from food. The symptoms are the symptoms of the B12 deficiency PA causes. There is no cure for PA, only treatment to prevent B12 deficiency.

There are other absorption problems. SIBO is one, h pylori is another. These two are curable though there does seem to be some evidence of links between them and the development of PA.

Responding to B12 injections will not tell you if you have PA. It will only tell you that you were B12 deficient. Injecting without a diagnosis will make getting a formal diagnosis much more difficult

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

I didnt know what to ask for at the start. I was just very relieved they at last found something to treat.

As I understand it the test I was given (parietal cell antybody test ) is not used anymore to diagnoses PA. It seems that alot of people test positive that haveny PA . I tested negative that ad I understand it 20% can have PA. I'm not vegan vegetarian or on any medication or had ant gut or bowl surgery .

I'm making the assumption that I've either PA or the menopause (timing right) and a known risk factor . Age and stress a k own risk factor depleted by b12 as less stomach acid and not upping my b12 i take at the time as my diet has always been good and have never been on a diet.

Am i right in thinking once on injections and my body used to high levels and i eventually find the right regime that is that?.

Also my ferritin dropped and vit d I'm again assuming must be an absorbtion problem.

I know the treatment doesnt change but at times i would like to know what happened to me.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Nackapan]

Nackapan - not really clear what you are asking. Your question isn't very clear.

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

Musing really and wondered if my assumptions plausible .or in your view plausible.

Or have I got anything wrong in what I've put on trying to work it out. ?

It just made me think again reading Thumderdoggy's post.

Am I right thinking once on injections your body gets used to high levels. You then have ti kero them high ?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Nackapan]

more like once you have had injections serum B12 becomes almost impossible to interpret so it can't be used to manage a B12 absorption problem - the only real course of action is to go by symptoms in trying to decide how frequently you need B12 injections

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you

[flosslechops]

I've never had GI issues either apart from occasional nausea-no indigestion,heartburn -yet my mum and youngest sister do-but then they have not had the symptoms I've had-depression,foggy brain,anxiety,burning joint pain,cramps,pins and needles,tinnitus,falling over etc,etc,also I've not had a pa diagnosis,only that I don't absorb b12-I did ask gp about tests but she said they are not very good so I will probably never know ,so again ,just different for everyone

[Nackapan in reply to flosslechops]

I'm the same as you. I was just told I je tions for life . They were hoping 2 -3 monthly though !! Hence trying g me on tablets. They did nothing.

Contradicting that I was told my deficiency was dietary. At that point t I lost co nfidence in my care

I have been unable to digest at times in the early evening that is due to severe fatigue. So I have my main meal at lunchtime now.

[flosslechops in reply to Nackapan]

at least they said injections for life for you-loading jabs and then *your'e b12 levels are good now* after blood test for me!I admit I would like it all to be *on record*but at the beginning I alternated between being foggy brained and manic so was still useless at standing up for myself-much better now,all I need is an appointment(referral still not through,hospitals are still closed it seems)reading your posts I'm glad your'e improving,take care x