B12 or Iron Deficiency?

[gotbaya]

Hi, Can someone make out anything from this blood and stool test reports. These reports are from December 2018 and I did not follow up on this with my doctor and I just realised I could be suffering from b12 or iron deficiency. I have fatigue, lethargy, short breath, chest tightness, extreme bloating, diarrhea & constipation, difficulty passing out gas, short term and long term memory loss, difficulty concentrating(which is badly affecting my studies), burning sensation in feet, numbness in hands at night, metallic taste in mouth, decreased sense of smell. I have been having these symptoms for the last 5-6 years. I have noticed that these symptoms have deteriorated over this time to the point where I am desperate now to seek help. Recently I started taking 500 mcg B12 pills. It helped alleviate my diarrhea as stools have got thicker and bowel movement has improved. Breathing also seems to be have improved slightly as I can exhale now for a longer period.

Any help welcome. Thanks.

[Nackapan]

If you take off personal details abnd the doctors name off then perhaps a way of making it bigger Others could look

Go back to your doctor to get explanations and get an up to date blood test to see where your are now. B12 fokate iron panel vit d ect.

You have alot of gasric problems

Get a referral to a Gastroenterologist for investigations

Push for what you need .

I hope you get some a answers soon.

.

[gotbaya in reply to Nackapan]

Thanks Nackapan. I have updated the photo. Will be grateful if you can make anything out. Also my gastric problems started 2-3 years after my first onset of symptoms of short breath, fatigue, decreased sense of smell and taste, etc.

[Nackapan in reply to gotbaya]

Sorry j can't. Hope someone else can TC

[gotbaya in reply to Nackapan]

Alright. Thanks again.

[gotbaya in reply to Nackapan]

Should I consult a gastroenterologist or a nutritionist. When I had met my doctor(gastroenterologist) in Dec 2018 he had prescribed me a few probiotics. They didn't make much difference then but the problems persisted.

[Nackapan in reply to gotbaya]

I woujx see the Gastroenterologist and get more bloods done no point in a nutritionist until you k ow your gut problem.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I'm sorry but I can't read your results. You may want to type some of them out.

In relation to B12 deficiency, I tend to look particularly at B12, Folate, ferritin (and other iron tests) and Full Blood Count (also known as Complete Blood Count.

It may also be helpful to know which country you are in as patterns of treatment for B12 deficiency vary between countries. Type of B12 used in treatment can also vary.

Link about "What to do next" if B12 deficiency suspected or newly diagnosed

b12deficiency.info/what-to-...

Risk Factors for PA and B12 Deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society....

b12deficiency.info/what-are...

b12deficiency.info/who-is-a...

Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society....

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/admin/healthcheck/...

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy (damage to peripheral nerves)

nhs.uk/conditions/periphera...

Peripheral neuropathy can be associated with B12 deficiency and sometimes with folate deficiency.

Neurological Consequences of B12 Deficiency

PAS news item

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS article about SACD, sub acute combined degeneration of the spinal cord

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

There is a helpline number that PAS members can ring.

PA tests

Intrinsic Factor Antibody (IFA) test

labtestsonline.org/tests/in...

Parietal Cell Antibody (PCA) test

labtestsonline.org/tests/pa...

PCA is not recommended as a diagnostic test for PA in UK.

It is still possible to have PA with a negative result in IFA or PCA test.

About 50% of people with PA test negative on IFA test.

About 10% of people with PA test negative on PCA test.

B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/

B12 Awareness (US website)

b12awareness.org/

US link about PA

rarediseases.org/rare-disea...

Stichting B12 Tekort (Dutch website with English articles)

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

Next link mentions support groups in several European countries.

b12deficiency.info/very-use...

B12 article from Mayo Clinic in US

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Table 1 in above article is about frequent misconceptions about B12 deficiency.

Films about B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/films/

B12 books I found useful

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). UK treatment info in this book is out of date. If you're in UK, see BNF link below.

BNF Hydroxycobalamin (UK info)

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/hydrox...

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive with lots of case studies.

Other UK B12 documents

UK B12 documents

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...

Summary of above document

pernicious-anaemia-society....

BMJ B12 article

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5226

Emphasises need to treat patients who are symptomatic even if their B12 level is within range.

BNF Cyanocobalamin

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/cyanoc...

BNF Hydroxycobalamin

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/hydrox...

NICE CKS

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

I am not medically trained.

[gotbaya in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks a lot. I have updated the photo. I have typed out the outliers.