stomach issues

[Shelley1234567]

Not yet had a diagnoses of PA but does anyone else have strange contractions of stomach and upper GI tract and is this a symptom of PA.

Also have tachycardia and fatigue.

thank you.

[fbirder]

Pernicious Anaemia is actually a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Your immune system attacks Gastric Parietal Cells (GPCs) in the stomach causing Autoimmune Gastric Atrophy (AGA). These make a protein called Intrinsic Factor, which is essential for B12 to cross from the gut into the bloodstream. That's why you cannot absorb B12.

GPCs also make stomach acid. So people with AGA also have very low stomach acid. This has various effects. Normally acid kills any bacteria that enter with food. It is also essential for activating some of the protein-digesting enzymes. And it helps control the release of the hormone gastrin - which, amongst other things, helps in the control of gut movement.

So people with PA, also have AGA, which means they have low stomach acid and high gastrin. So their guts tend to be full of bad bacteria, undigested protein and the motility of the gut is affected. The outcome is gas, bloating, gurgling and diarrhoea!

Many of us find relief by drinking something acidic with large meals (I prefer lime juice, others like vinegar), and taking pre- and probiotics to encourage the good bacteria.