Advice please

When I have discussions with people about p.a I know to tell them I have b12 deficiency and I know to say I have no intrinsic factor so my body can’t make the b12 I need then I usually get asked why’s that or how does that work and I really struggle to answer,I’m not completely thick I just don’t feel well enough informed to give a decent answer,I read as much as I can but there’s an awful lot I can’t recall or can’t absorb maybe so can anyone help with a simplified form I can Chuck back at them,it’s like they’re trying to catch me out it’s not asked in a sincere concerned way if you get my meaning.

[fbirder]

My immune system attacks and kills certain cells in my stomach, which make acid and a protein needed to absorb vitamin B12. Because I can't absorb B12 I need injections to keep me alive.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

Gosh fbirder that certainly puts it in context for me as well.thanks so much for that it’s really appreciated.

[fbirder in reply to Hidden]

I’ve had practice. I spent 13 years having to teach science to people of all ranges, many of whom had never studied it before.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

I often wish I’d had the opportunity to go into a science or medical field but I was straight out of school at 15 and into the local factory same as all my friends,at least I didn’t get sent up the chimneys lol could have been worse.

[fbirder in reply to Hidden]

Yup, sounds like some of my students. One of them left school at 14 and decided to try a science degree at the age of 81.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

My kind of student lol I really admire that.

[FlipperTD]

Scientist, not medic.

In these days, folks are becoming more aware of 'antibodies', 'Antigens' and 'B cells' &'T Cells' etc. So with everyone's favourite Virus and the abundant tests & news stories, then the general public might be aware that some folks who have clearly had the virus develop antibodies, and some don't. [Or perhaps some develop antibodies the test kits detect, and some don't?] The wide range of antibody test kits results in some patients [we're talking Covid now but the principle applies] ends up with some folks testing positive with one kit but not another. But both test kits have been tested and both seem to work.

Some folks with PA never seem to generate detectable IFAb, whereas some do. To argue with folks who want to argue back, just point out that post Covid, some do and some don't. If that won't shut them up, [no, I'm not goign to say what I'm thinking!] fbirder sums it up better than I ahve, but then again, he usually does.