windyway

[Windyway]

Hi all I have pernicious anemia

How much & how regular do I need B12 injections? I had 6 loading over 2 weeks in December /January and every 3 months ?? I’ve talked my dr into every 2 months is this enough ?

I’m having heart palpitations/ irregular fast heart beats is this connected? I’ve read this issue with the heart is connected to pernicious anemia? Also my last bloods in October last year said my folate is borderline which means low ?

im practically a vegan I don’t eat meat or much fish so don’t think this helps ?

What’s the best way to sort this issue out please ant advise recommendations would be really appreciated as I’m very worried about this the drs are not helping ! I Only found out I have pernicious anemia after I asked for further testing very unsatisfactory

Help !!

Best wishes Windyway

[Nackapan]

9Try and eat more b12 and iron and folate rich foods .A multivit ususlly contain 200-400mcg folic acid which should help you .

If you've a confirmed PA diagnosis you simply can't absorb enough B12 via stomach so need b12 injections for life..

I had heart palpitations amongst other symptoms which went .

Ferritin and iron can go low .

Be very careful about taking iron ,,nonprescription

Some multi vits have about 14mg iron

And there are other low dose maintenance otc supplements.

Always good to have a repeat blood test for levels but not B12 though.

Healing takes time .

Injection frequency varies with every individual.

Good you have 2 monthly.

See how your symptoms settle .

Many need more than 2 monthly but see how you go as early days.

[Windyway in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you 🙏

[JanD236]

Only you will know if injections every 2 months are enough. If your symptoms of PA are alleviated by 2 monthly injections then they’re enough. If your symptoms remain or return before your next injection, then 2 monthly isn’t enough. We’re all different with some people fine on injections every 3 months and others needing daily injections at the other end of the scale.

I’m sorry I don’t know the answer to your question about palpitations and would suggest you return to your GP to see if further investigation of this is needed.

Borderline folate is likely to mean that your level is at or near the bottom of the range. Your blood test results should show your actual level and the range. If you’re in range I’d suggest 400mcg of folic acid a day plus eating plenty of folate containing foods (easy to google a list of these). If you’re below range your doctor should prescribe a higher dose and check your blood levels again at a later date.

[Technoid]

"im practically a vegan I don’t eat meat or much fish so don’t think this helps ? "

If you have PA you won't absorb B12 from meat or fish anyway so it would be a waste of time. If you don't have PA or any B12 absorption issue, then you would absorb B12 fine from a supplement but for treating a severe deficiency, injections are usually preferable. If you have a functional deficiency as hinted at in a previous post you may need high frequency B12 injections to overcome cellular deficiency. Persistently raised MMA despite good B12 levels would be suggestive of a functional deficiency. How frequent you need is up to you depending on how often is needed to alleviate symptoms, there is no one size fits all.

If you wish to remain vegan please check my profile for some tips on how to eat a healthy vegan diet and supplement correctly as there is more involved than just B12 and you need the right nutrition to help your recovery.

[AJackson21]

I found heart palpitations are caused by potassium decrease on B12 injections, so try upping your potassium intake and see if it helps. I drink around 1L of coconut water a day but I have every day injections.

[Windyway in reply to AJackson21]

Thank you I do drink coconut water but not as much as you 👍

[Nackapan in reply to Windyway]

There are other sources .Do you take vitamins ?

[wedgewood]

I used to have what I called “ funny turns” . They were terribly fast hearty-rates . Which passed quite quickly , but were frightening . Since I was diagnosed and had sufficient b12 injections ( I self-inject weekly ) I have never had one of those “turns” . Thats 14 years now .

There are many B12 deficiency/ P.A. Symptoms . We just get about 4-5 . Which is more than enough.

[OldmanD in reply to wedgewood]

Oh the things we forget about. . . . I used to near on pass out if I exerted myself. . .not all the time just sometimes.. . . . .And yes heart racing for little or no reason. . . . . I had my youngest go beresrk once because it was obvious I fell over and went all weird , . . . . I had totally forgotten about that as it hasnt happened in several years. . . . . Not that I wanted to remember but it another thing that has disappeared