Trying to get diagnosed for b12

[Mioe]

Hi all, I have a friend who suspects she is b12 defficient, she is finding this site a bit difficult to get round, she would like some info on links to the Doctors discussions on this topic, any help would be much welcome as her gp doesnt seem to be taking her seriously. Thanks.

[Technoid]

Not sure whats being asked for here. This is not a forum where doctors discuss B12 deficiency. Qualified doctors have left many ruined lives behind including mine and others through misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of this most serious of conditions. Although there may be medical doctors on or reading this forums they do not post here in that professional capacity. Please see the disclaimer:

"Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked."

Personally I would take the advice of some forum members here over most doctors opinions but thats my personal decision and I and most others on this forum are not medically trained (whatever that counts for).

For any specific questions please post them and members will try to help with advice as best they can - there are many reputable sources of B12 expertise which you can find in almost any reply by forum member: "Sleepybunny".

[Mioe in reply to Technoid]

Thanks for replying, Maybe i worded it wrong, I meant some links with information , Ive since seen (Sleepy bunnies) posts/replies to others which she has some links/info.

[Technoid in reply to Mioe]

Sleepbunny indexes almost the entirety of useful B12 sources so theres nothing I could add to that unless theres a specific query.

[Mioe in reply to Technoid]

No thats all I wanted to know, Im just so happy sleepy bunny has the links, thank you,

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum Mioe,

Here's a link to a forum thread where I left lots of information about PA and B12 deficiency.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I hope your friend gets the help she needs.

Maybe she'd like to visit this forum herself.

I suffered for many years with unrecognised and untreated B12 deficiency and count myself lucky to have avoided permanent spinal damage and dementia.

Here's two websites I think are worth looking at.

Pernicious Anaemia Society website

pernicious-anaemia-society....

B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/

Two useful B12 books

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

Martyn Hooper founded PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society).

UK treatment info in book is out of date.

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

Comprehensive with lots of case studies.

Lots more B12 info in other thread I linked to at top of this reply.

I'm not medically trained.

[Mioe in reply to Sleepybunny]

Oh thank you so much, god bless you, your an angel 🤗 x

[Sleepybunny]

There are two pieces of advice I usually give to UK forum members

1) Always get copies of all your blood test results

I was told everything was normal and then found abnormal and borderline results when I got access to my results.

Look for trends in results. Results that are increasing or decreasing over time may be significant even if still within normal range.

2) Find out what's in the local B12 deficiency guidelines for your ICB (Integrated Care Board) or Health Board.

If your friend has the symptoms of B12 deficiency with other possible causes excluded then my understanding is that she should be treated even if her serum (total) B12 results are normal range.

Symptoms of B12 Deficiency (folate deficiency also mentioned)

pernicious-anaemia-society....

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

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

b12-institute.nl/en/symptom... (from B12 Institute Netherlands)

NICE CKS B12 deficiency and Folate deficiency

( UK document about B12 and folate deficiency, aimed at health professionals)

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

[Gambit62 Administrator]

this is a patient support forum. If your friend is looking for information on B12 deficiency caused by absorption problems then the PAS website would be a better source of iformation though, unfortunately, a lot of the less basic content is behind pay walls - the subscription fee is quite moderate.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Mioe in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you Gambit.