blood test results

[Tattlee]

many thanks for the replies . Is there a test for pernicious anaemia ?

[Nackapan]

The Intrinsic factor antibody test is used.It picks up about 50% of those with PA .

Some havd had several tests before s positive one.

So no definitive test at present .

Absorbtion problems of b12 all need same treatment.

B12 injections for life

[Tattlee in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you for the good news ! But I must admit I haven’t felt this good for years, so I’ve joined the pernicious anemia B12 club . Is it worth contacting the doctor regarding this as I’ve no confidence in them. What would you recommend ?

[topazrat in reply to Tattlee]

You can get an IF test done privately if your G.P won't do one. I think they are around £100, but as they are unreliable, it might not give you the answers that you want/need.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

There is a gastrin test that is more sensitive tham the IFAB test but it isn't always available and don't think it is formally recognised yet as it is quite new.

IFAB gives false negatives 40-60% of the time (%=age depends on exact method used in the test) but rarely gives false positives which makes it a good test for confirming PA as the cause of a B12 deficiency, but does mean that a negative doesn't rule out PA as a cause.

It is also worth being aware that although this forum uses PA to mean a specific form of auto-immune gastritis that destroys the mechanism that is normally used to absorb B12, medical practitioners don't alway understand/use this definition and some can be two fixated on the anaemia symptom, without realising that it is a symptom rather than the cause.

[ReallyWondering in reply to Gambit62]

If this is caused by gastritis, can it be cured? I am IFA positive and pretty sure I have gastritis. Heartburn for months now. Nothing has worked to get rid of it.

[Hockey_player in reply to ReallyWondering]

Elevating your upper body with a wedge pillow or elevating the head of the bed might help with heartburn. Also not eating several hours before bed. Have you tried prescription medications?

[ReallyWondering in reply to Hockey_player]

I don’t have heartburn at night. Only during the day and it comes and goes. I tried PPis then Famotidine for months. Now I just take gaviscon and sometimes Pepsid complete when it gets really bad. I also tried cabbage juice for five days and cut out all acidic foods. I’m getting an endoscopy in 10 days.

[ReallyWondering in reply to ReallyWondering]

Also never eat a few hours before bed. I’m a side sleeper so elevating would be hard.

[Hockey_player in reply to ReallyWondering]

Is it possible some specific foods are causing it? You could try an elimination diet. Wheat bothers some people. People start with some innocuous foods then add foods back in paying attention to symptoms.

[ReallyWondering in reply to Hockey_player]

I already cut out all acidic foods. It doesn’t seem food related.

[ReallyWondering in reply to ReallyWondering]

Also some days it’s on an empty stomach and some days full.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to ReallyWondering]

ReallyWondering the symptoms of low stomach acidity are pretty much the same as those of high stomach acidity and low stomach acidity is another symptom of PA. Personally I find that taking something acid - some lemon or lime juice with water - is the most effective way I've found of stopping my heartburn when it occurs.

[ReallyWondering in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks. I’m going to try that. How much lemon/lime juice?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to ReallyWondering]

not a lot - on one occassion a few slices of an easy peel orange did the trick

[Mixteca]

There's also the parietal cell antibody test. Checking homocysteine and serum and/or urine MMA levels will also be very useful, but you're unlikely to get these via your GP. It does happen though.

[Beadbuddy in reply to Mixteca]

I must have had one of those tests by a consultant at hospital and when they sent me a copy of the letter which had gone to my docs the Gastric Parietal antibodies were Positive ! So does that indicate I definitely do have PA?

[Mixteca in reply to Beadbuddy]

Yes, I think so, but other more knowledgeable members can give more details. Gambit62 ? Technoid ?