I just had an appointment with my gastroenterologist. I had an endoscopy that came back clean. I have lots of symptoms of b12 deficiency/PA. I tested positive for parietal cell antibodies but have not been tested for insintric factor. I've been doing SI so I'm not sure if I'll be able to test for IF anytime soon. My gastro said I don't have b12 deficiency/PA because my biopsy results came back negative and I didn't have gastritis or inflammation. Is this true? Also, I have not found any relief of symptoms from injecting. I have tingling all over body and head, fatigue, nausea, bloating, heartburn, new symptom of achy bones and a host of other symptoms.
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Maggiez
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A gastroscopy can rule out autoimmune gastric atrophy, the base cause of PA. It will also rule out other possible causes of a B12 deficiency (H. pylori infection, coeliacs, etc.). But a gastroscopy alone cannot rule out a B12 deficiency.
There is just one gold standard test for a B12 deficiency and that is a trial of B12 injections. If you are deficient then injections should produce a reduction in symptoms.
It really does sound as if your problems are not caused by a B12 deficiency. You and your GP really need to concentrate on other possibilities.
Thank you. My gastro said it could possible be Functional Dyspepsia. It's just a guess. I do have lots of symptoms of PA but I know that doesn't mean I have it. Sure is frustrating. I've been trying to figure it out for almost three years. I do have the odd symptoms like balance issues, walking into walls and recently a swollen tongue.
I have over 15 symptoms of PA but the injection haven’t changed anything. I feel like in the past when I had neuropathy in my back, getting an injection once a month did help. My symptoms got worse recently and I have been SI but no change. I will schedule an appointment with the hematologist but I have so much b12 in my system.
That fact that injecting B12 has not given you any relief from symptoms suggests you and your GP may want to look at other possibilities besides B12 deficiency.
"My gastro said I don't have b12 deficiency/PA"
What level was your serum B12 when last tested?
Have your iron, folate and vit D levels been checked?
Lots of B12 info in my replies on the the thread below eg symptoms, causes of B12 deficiency, B12 books, B12 websites, B12 articles/documents and a few hints about dealing with unhelpful GPs.
Hi, thank you. I had a regular endoscopy. I am low on Vitamin D, which I'm working on. I'm normal with other vitamins on labs. I have lots of symptoms and no diagnosis. :/
One thing I learnt was to always check results for myself after being told everything was normal and then finding abnormal and borderline results when I got access to the results.
In relation to B12 deficiency, I look particularly at B12, folate, ferritin (and other iron tests) and Full Blood Count (known as Complete Blood Count in US).
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