B12 deficiency separate from PA

[Irene]

Is it possible that a condition like Coeliac Disease, Crohns or similar, that prevents absorbtion of vitamins, could result in a low B12 count or would low B12 always be considered PA after it was confirmed that the person was eating a diet with plenty of B12?

[Martyn]

A person can be deficient in B12 for a number of reasons including Coeliac's and Crohns. A person who is B12 Deficient should always have that reason for the deficiency investigated. One of the causes could be Pernicious Anaemia. A normal healthy person has a protein in their gut called Intrinsic Factor. Intrinsic Factor binds to animal products and extracts B12. This is a very complicated bio-chemical process. A patient who has no Intrinsic Factor in their gut is diagnosed as having Pernicious Anaemia. Patients who have Pernicious Anaemia have something in their gut that kills off the Intrinsic Factor - they have Intrinsic Factor Antibodies.

[mummytina in reply to Martyn]

Do you have to have coeliacs or crohns to have PA, because I dont have either of them but I do have IBS and I do have PA diagnosed 8 weeks ago, and also I have an underactive thyroid which I have had for 17 years which was under control for a number of years but since being diagnosed with PA (or it could be just a coincidence) my TSH level has gone from 0.8 (the lowest its ever been) in all the years to 17.16 in a matter of 4 weeks and now after having my levothyroxine increased from 125mcg to 150mcg it has gone back down to 1.4 in 4 weeks, so my doctor has referred me to an Endocrinologist to get to the bottom of this as I have also been very tired, aches and pains in my legs, feet, hands and he has also reduced my levothyroxine down to 100mcg and have to repeat my blood test in 4 weeks. I have never had so many blood tests as I have in the last 8 weeks I feel like a pin cushion.

Also my B12 levels have risen from 178 - 8 weeks ago to 1500 - 3 weeks ago which is a big rise when the levels are supposed to be between 200 - 900 so im not sure what is going on there.

As my doctor said my body seems to be "out of whack" which is no comfort at all to me.

[doityourself]

Hi

Im wondering if you ever got any further with answering your questions above because they also fit my profile and your symptoms are very similar. It is a shame nobody was able to answer your questions on this site.

[suki65]

please try and read a book called could it be b12 ? it explains lots of things and has helped me so much b12 is massive in your body