Gastritis autoimmune??

[Minimouse1]

Hi, I'm not sure I'm posing this question to the correct group?? I have Hypothyroidism, mild Sjogrens & have also just had gastroscopy confirming gastritis. Im not sure if the gastritis us autoimmune related or not. Hpylori negative apparently. Was low in Vit D as get skin rashes after sun exposure so use sun screen constantly. B12 was ok but not optimal (all results as per photo). Feel like I'm going downhill & don't know which consultant should be managing me as have GI, Dermatology & Rheumatology involved - GP only for thyroid, but feel like the main culprit e.g. autoimmune disease is not being managed collectively & properly. GI consultant didn't do any acid tests to decipher if low or high (suspect low) but gave me omeprazole anyway which I believe will cause me more probs if acid is actually low. Have no idea where to go with this - GP just doing what GI consultant advised. Any suggestions/advice welcome??

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Do you have any earlier serum B12 tests that show levels significantly higher? and by significantly we are talking about more than 20% higher.Serum B12 is a difficult test to interpret - there is a huge normal range and people tend to sit at a specific point in that range as regulated by stores in the liver. If you have an absorption problem that also affects your ability to use the stores to regulate levels and they start to drop.

If people are trying to tell you that there is an optimal level of B12 which everyone must achieve the fact that there is an enormous normal range would suggest that this really isn't true - optimal is what is best for you and there is too much variation with B12 to put a precise number on it.

If your GI had identified gastritis in the area that pointed to PA then he would have picked up that you had PA. The omeprazole is intended to give the gastritis time to heal and is usually given for periods of a couple of months.

If you want to get a diagnosis of B12 deficiency then any supplements you take should be low dose not high dose as this could affect future test results. the first link in this pinned post covers the problems caused by use of high dose oral.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Sorry that I can't provide you with anything concrete but your B12 result is inconclusive for the reasons outlined in my second paragraph.