A story of pernicious anemia and B12 deficiency I came across in the Washington Post archives, from the year 2000. I find now I read these stories and when hearing the symptoms, at least in my mind I'm going, yep, yep, thats B12 B12 B12. 😆
washingtonpost.com/archive/...
As the article says :
"In hindsight it all seems so obvious"
Thank you for the link. Unfortunately, nothing has changed much regarding the diagnosis of B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia. It’s always an uphill struggle with the medical professionals.
I was thinking the same thing. Think of the severity of the patient's symptoms, and he was still barely diagnosed. The neurologist said he saw B12 deficiency once every five years. I am not surprised to hear that he "sees" it so seldomly, given that he nearly missed this unmistakable case.
"After the body's B12 levels are restored, the shots must be continued monthly for life. Full recovery is a slow process and depends on how far the disease advanced and how much nerve damage it caused.
"It can take up to a year to get the nerves in the feet and legs back to normal--but progress is not a sure thing. My neurologist told me that the extent of my recovery from this point on "is up to the gods." "
Yes, up to the gods to prescribe injections of B12 every other day or twice a week until improvement ceases. Or not, insisting that B12 be cut back, even though there is no risk to continuing recommended B12 injection frequency, and every risk of undertreatment in cutting back. The gods are funny that way.
I "saw myself" in that brilliant article Technoid - thank you.
It took 13 years (after major stomach surgery in 1959) and two Schilling tests before I eventually got the P.A. diagnosis (in 1972 - over fifty years ago) by which time I was like a walking "Zombie" and my B12 levels must have been near enough on zero.
However, there is life after P.A and I'm still "clivealive" coming up to the age of 82 and since Covid-19 and my surgery no longer "demands" I attend there for my B12 injections every three week, my wife Gill dies them for me at home.
I wish all on here good health, happiness and an understanding doctor.
"During that time I saw a psychiatrist, who said there might be a chemical imbalance in my brain"
The psychiatrist was right. But the chemical imbalance is present because B12 and folate are necessary for the production of adequate neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which affect mood and motivation. So the (bio)chemical result has a (bio)chemical cause.
For those interested in the biochemistry, this is because B12 is necessary for the production of tetrahydrobiopterin, which is a coenzyme for the synthesis of many neurotransmitters.
References:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/373...
sciencedirect.com/topics/bi...
Thanks for the info. I have some unusual neuro symptoms so I reckon production of neurotransmitters in my brain has been messed up by years of untreated B12 deficiency.
This paper recently shared by Wiscguy has some additional information on neurotoxic mechanisms affecting the brain in B12 deficiency, beyond tetrahydrobiopterin:
That is a really good article Technoid. Thanks! And in the Washington Post. That helps. I wanted to comment but I don't have a subscription. It is important that PA be talked about. Unfortunately, he thinks one injection a month is all he needs. But all in all, it is a great article.
Another insightful reference. 🌻👍
amazing article. Thank you for sharing ❤️
Every doctor should be made to read that article, then think how many of their patients have presented with similar symptoms...and then do something about it!
I swear GPs act like B12 is the most expensive serum in the universe, and they personally have to pay to inject their patients!
I have been a reader of the Post for most of my life and I never saw this article. Thank you for sharing. I'm going to keep this in my B12 file for future reference.
As JGBH writes nothing has changed much.
Me in 2018/19: tingling in hands and arms, numb arms - neurologist: must be carpal tunnel syndrom, you need to wear an arm brace during the night; impaired memory - GP: must be stress at work, here take some vitamins; about of anger and despair - GP / psychologist: must be stress at work and middle age; double vision - omphtamologist: stress related; tinnitus: ear specialist: everything's fine, it's stress etc. etc. etc.
My GP even had B12 and D checked, both were very, very low. Iron was low, ferritin was low, RBC low. Took the bloodworks to all the above specialsts. No one connected the dots.
For me it took a gastroscopy in 2020. The gastroenterologist said my stomach said it was stress (used to be a teacher) and I should take PPI. And there could be atrophic gastritis involved. No one suggested to test properly. I had to read up on everything myself.
Tuning in from Germany.
Bumping this up in the feed for others, as i only just now ran across it
Can you get Pernicious Anemia at 19 years old?
Do the NHS test for active b12 aswell a total b12?
Downton Abbey PA Story
REST OF THE STORY
