Hi...just looking into other thoughts on stomach issues I'm having, will the gp do a h-pylori stool test if I ask or is it best to do this via online testing? thanks for any help....
Will doctors do a h-pylori test or do... - Pernicious Anaemi...
Will doctors do a h-pylori test or do we need to do these privately?
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diagnosed2013
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Here in the US they should test as standard protocol. But if not just ask. Not sure about UK. It important to test for and if necessary eradicate H-pylori since ~98% of gastritis is H-Pylori related. AIG related Gastritis is maybe 1 to 1.5 % of all gastritis seen. However, there is some thought and debate that prolonged H-pylori infection can also lead to AIG. This would show up as Pangastritis where the Antrum, Corpus, and Fundus are involved.
So if they don't test for this then, yes, ask for it.
Also, if they have done and endoscopy/gastroscopy they will test/stain biopsy tissue samples for H-pylori. So make sure you get a copy of your pathology report so you can see what they've done.
Rexz
Thanks for your reply....I'm in the UK. I've had a faecal calprotectin test & that was a bit over what it should be, doctor said to re test in 6 weeks. I guess just trying to see if there's other issues that could be causing my bowel issues.
I suggest you get a fecal elastase test. This tests the functioning of your pancreatic enzymes. Low FE-1 is known to co-exist with Pa and cause stomach issues.
Hi...thank you for your recommendation, my Mum actually has an autoimmune pancreatitis. She has to take digestive enzymes with every meal, I'm wandering if that's the same thing?
Hi,
GUTS UK ( a UK charity) might have some useful info.
They have info on many gut conditions.
I found lots of info when I searched online for "NHS H Pylori".
I have read research articles that suggest there may be an association between H Pylori infection and PA (Pernicious Anaemia). Search online for "H Pylori pernicious anaemia" for more info.
If you have gut issues, have you ever been tested for PA (Pernicious Anaemia) and Coeliac disease? Both of these autoimmune conditions can cause gut symptoms.
PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS membership is separate to membership of this forum.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS website has lots of useful leaflets.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS have support groups in UK.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
I think non members can attend some meetings but check with PAS or support group co-ordinators.
Coeliac UK website
coeliac.org.uk/information-...
Their website has an online assessment for coeliac disease.
NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) has published a guideline on coeliac disease.
Search online for "NICE coeliac disease NG20".
I mentioned on your other thread that there is a new NICE guideline for B12 deficiency.
It uses the term autoimmune gastritis rather than pernicious anaemia.
Search online for "NICE B12 deficiency NG239".
GPs sometimes won't accept private blood test results but if the private tests show something significant it should nudge them to order the same tests or refer you to someone who can order them.
Link about faecal calprotectin test
labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...
I hope you find answers.
Many thanks for all the info...lots to read, & look into thank you 😊....I'm going to have an mma test next week, paid to get it done privately as my gp says my serum b12 is fine, was 385 back in June & after a month or so of b12 supplement with folate its now 410. But I have so many deficiency symptoms & the back pain (I have spinal stenosis) & numbness in legs & pins & needles in hands is really getting me down now its been going on for ages. So trying to get some tests done to see what's going on. Thank you so much for all your help, it's great.
Thank you for you help its very much appreciated...sorry to add this on, only my son had his test results back today & looks like an autoimmune thyroid but I was worried about his b12 levels...they are low, doxtor I don't think has mentioned this yet with everything else going on. His tsh was actually 150! & low T4 3.2 I think that was. Here's his b12 test. I'm thinking with it that low should he ask the doctor for b12 injections? Or to get tested properly for PA? I've not had a great experience with doctors at all, so I'm glad they are taking him seriously....
B12
That b12 level probably warrants injections regardless of a PA diagnosis. The tsh is through the roof. Ideally get a t3 and t4 test done too. This suggests hypothyroidism too and both will need treatment. Interestingly they often occur together and the symptoms are pretty similar.
Re yourself a trial of b12 shots might be worth considering - it may help your symptoms and their is no significant downside.
I'm not medically trained and the above are suggestions which you may wish to consider talking through with a medic.
This was T4 result...thanks
This was T4 result
That's really low and explains the really high tsh.
His doctor wants to test for addisons disease too as they said his low cortisol might show that.
PA / B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism are usually auto immune diseases and Addison's usually is too. A wise doctor once wrote something like "if one auto immune disease is present then look for others". So his doctor is wise!
I hope you both get effectively treated and cared for. The HU PA and thyroid sites are excellent resources. Many of us find that we have to gain considerable knowledge of our conditions to advocate effectively for personalised treatment and thereby regain our health.
vimeo.com/891099138/4150efa06b
You might find this talk by a GP who specialises in b12 deficiency of interest.
Thank you
Hi,
That result looks quite low to me.
Was it a serum B12 test?
I can't see the units of measurement.
Was the result 137ng/L and the range 133 - 675 ng/L?
Or is it 137pmol/L and range 133 -675 pmol/L?
If he's just been diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid condition then I think that conditions such as PA (Pernicious Anaemia) and Coeliac disease should be on the GPs list to test.
Thread about tests for PA and B12 deficiency
healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...
Does he have neurological symptoms that suggest B12 deficiency?
If yes, it's vital he gets prompt and adequate B12 treatment.
Delayed or inadequate treatment of B12 deficiency increases the risk of developing permanent neurological damage. In severe cases, the spinal cord may be affected.
People can have severe B12 deficiency symptoms with normal range serum B12....it happened to me. See blog post below.
b12info.com/your-serum-b12-...
Have you or your son considered joining and talking to PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)?
PAS membership is separate to membership of this forum.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS members can contact PAS members helpline.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS have useful leaflets eg Helpsheet for Patient - GP discussion
pernicious-anaemia-society....
Some GPs may dismiss the idea of PA if someone is quite young....PA can affect any age including children.
PAS have support groups in UK. Most meet online.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
I think non members can attend some meetings but check with PAS.
I left a lot of information in thread below eg suggestions of B12 documents to read, links for those struggling to get treatment in UK etc.
Some links might have details that are upsetting to read.
Help Needed! Have I got Pernicious Anaemia?
healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...
There has been an increase recently of UK forum members having their B12 injections stopped or swapped for high dose oral tablets. B12 injections are cheap but nurses' time to give them isn't so I feel there is financial pressure on NHS in UK to put more people onto high dose oral.
See thread below which discusses this.
healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po....
My symptoms only started improving when I started B12 injections...in my late thirties I had dementia type symptoms and spinal symptoms ....over 50 typical b12 deficiency symptoms....couldn't get treatment for years due to my serum B12 being within normal range.
There is a lot of ignorance about PA and B12 deficiency among some health professionals.
I'm not medically trained.
Its ....137pmol/L and range 133 -675 pmol/L.
Is that serum b12 or active? Thank you for your reply 😊
Technically the result is within the range but only just....
Equivalent results in ng/L would be roughly
186ng/L (range 180 - 915 ng/L (if my sums are correct)
I've mentioned these documents in one of the threads I've linked to in other reply but repeating it here to help others reading this thread.
I suggest you search for these online when you have the time and energy.
They may have some details that could be upsetting.
1) BSH Cobalamin and Folate guideline (published 2014)
BSH stands for British Society of Haematology.
2) NICE B12 Deficiency guideline (published 2024)
pernicious-anaemia-society....
3) NICE CKS Anaemia B12 and Folate deficiency (published a few years ago)
There are differences in the guidance between the two NICE documents.
4) Try to find the local B12 deficiency guidelines his ICB (Integrated Care Board) uses. Health Boards in Wales/Scotland.
If you can't find the local B12 deficiency guidelines online, best bet is to submit a FOI (Freedom of Information) request to ICB asking which B12 deficiency guidelines they use and for a link to or copy of them.
Thank you...very interesting reading the one about misdiagnosis with hashimotos & bipolar....thank you for the information, you know so much & I know alot of it is down to your undertreatment for b12 deficiency, & I thank you for sharing your knowledge to help others 😊
Yes just checked...it was the serum B12 test...
Hi...can I ask did you manage to get b12 injections from your gp or did you have to source your own? Many thanks for your replies 🙏 I have spinal stenosis (mri diagnosed grade 2 spondylosis spondylolithesis with bilateral impingement) & the neuroprathy pain in my lower legs & feet is now getting pretty bad & I don't feel my doctors take any of my symptoms seriously.
Hi,
I did eventually get B12 injections from NHS but this is not enough so I've had to look at other ways of getting extra treatment.
Thank you for your reply....I'm still looking to get diagnosed & having an mma test this week. Hopefully it's the right one to check for b12 deficiency
Yes that low b12 result should be addressed. Not sure what m4adurement used?
My NHS serum B12 test ( first one ever)
Was 106ng/L ( 200-900)
I was put on b12 injections.
Yes IFAB test shoukd be done before treatment commences
Hooe he had vit D levels checked and ferritin/ iron too
The doctor may not have looked at the actual figure..
As the computer would record okay as scraped into 'range '
That's what I thought re just scraping into range...thank you for your reply
It was the serum b12 test & the range given was 133-675 I think it was 🤔 ...also his folate was only 8 so a bit low too
Yes, if you have symptoms of gastritis, your gp should be happy to check for h.pylori.
There is always a quick, relatively cheap, fingerpick option like the one from Superdrug superdrug.com/health/home-t...
Thanks...have you used one of these kits before? Are they reliable? Thanks for your help 🙏
I haven’t used that particular one but I had one done in a portable unit on Waitrose car park (like you do!) many years ago which think was similar. It was negative and I had one at the hospital too later on which was also negative.
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