No better after b12 boosters.

[Pinkpeony]

After asking GP for the b12 , ferritin etc , the results came back out of range for both of these, and I was immediately started on jabs and ferrous fumarate and told jabs would be for life.

The doc told me "I would feel like a new woman" or not?

Well guess what I feel the same as before if not worse.

To my surprise I have received an appointment for a gastroenterologist next week.

Any ideas what this would be for ?

Pernicious anaemia was mentioned in passing, but my own doc says results show I am not anaemic.

I am confused totally!

Mary

[Marz]

Perhaps your Doc does not understand how to diagnose anaemia....there is Iron and B12 anaemia. If you have PA - then it is auto-immune and the anti-body test for Intrinsic Factor and Parietal Cells would confirm this. Ask for your results with ranges and post here. Are you taking Folic Acid with the B12 as they work together in the body and prevents the B12 from leaving the body too quickly....

B12 is absorbed/created in the Ileum - so seeing a Gastroenterologist may rule out anything going on with the gut that would prevent good absorption.

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

bcshguidelines.com/document...

it can take time for the B12 injections to work in the body - after all it has taken years for the deterioration to happen and so it will take time for the body to heal.

A good book - Pernicious Anaemia - The Forgotten Illness and B12 Deficiency - by Martyn Hooper. Available on Amazon and Kindle too I believe....

[Pinkpeony in reply to Marz]

Thanks Mars

I had a hemicolectomy 11 years ago and I am thinking he wants to get that checked out.

I will read the recommendations you sent.

Cheers Mary

[Pinkpeony in reply to Pinkpeony]

Sorry Marz. Tablet has a mind of it's own.

Pp

[Marz in reply to Pinkpeony]

If you have had a hemicolectomy then you will not have the Terminal Ileum - and that is where the B12 is absorbed - so you should have been having regular injections for the last 11 years. Not good enough I am afraid. I too had one done over 40 years ago and was not told - now it's catch up time and I am having them every week. Fortunately I have not slipped into dementia .....

Try to make time to read the links and then you will be better informed than your Doc. Having knowledge enables you to ask the right and meaningful questions....

[Pinkpeony in reply to Marz]

Haha Marz you certainly sound like you have all your marbles lol.

If it wasn't for finding this site a couple of months ago and being advised to ask for the b12 ferretin tests etc , I think I would have still been crawling into the surgery, saying how unwell I felt.

Is it fair to say that it is not the fault of the levo as I have been blaming that for all my woes?

Best regards Pp

Will definitely read the links. :·)

[Marz in reply to Pinkpeony]

It's easy to blame Levo and of course it does not suit lots of people. Please let us know what your FT4 and FT3 results are - with ranges. Also have anti-bodies checked - Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg. Also the other things I have listed earlier. Ensure you have copies of your PA results too. This must be clarified - and maybe further testing is required. Information on the links I gave you....

If you have one auto-immune illness - you often have another....

[Pinkpeony in reply to Marz]

Thanks. Will do.

Pp

[Hidden]

Your Dr is just ruling out possible absorption problems.

May be, that all you need is a higher dose, maintained for longer, to build you up, then dropped to monthly.

Our bodies are all different,what strength suits one, may not be acceptable for another.

All you may need, is an increase in the B12, and for longer duration.

[Pinkpeony in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Manukia

Will see what consultant says next week.

Regards Mary

[Polaris]

Anaemia is the later stage of B12 deficiency and it is good that your GP is treating you with injections before that stage - many people have to fight to convince their doctor they need them.

B12 deficiency presents with a wide variety of signs and symptoms and affects all systems of the body, one of which is the gastrointestinal tract. As Marz says, your GP will want to rule out anything that would affect absorption.

It may take a while for you to feel better as it, apparently, takes two to three months if I remember correctly, for new blood cells to form.

I found the book, " The B12 Deficiency Survival Handbook" by Dr Aqsa Ghazanfar, a mine of information.

I hope you feel better soon.

[silverfox7 in reply to Polaris]

We continually replace dead red blood cells which have a life of about 120 days so 3 months down the line you will have a completely new set. The nearer you get to this time the better you will feel but in the early days the slight improvement won't be easy to see

[Pinkpeony in reply to Polaris]

Sorry Polaris, I thought I had replied to your post.

Thank you for your thoughts, and I will certainly look for that book.

Regards Mary

[Pinkpeony]

Thank you silverfox 7. I will bear that in mind.

Cheers Pp