Pernicious Anemia Community Group
Decrease in Red Blood Cells due to Vitamin B12 deficiency from malaborption through the gastrointestinal tract. This form of anemia is part of Megoblastic Anemia which is where the blood cells are larger then normal. Anemia is a condition where the body does not have enough healthy blood cells and therefore does not allow enough oxygen to body tissues. Please join the...
Hello Everyone -
I'm so thankful to have found this Pernicious Anemia forum. There isn't much information on the web about this condition. I'm pretty sure I have PA. My situation started a few years ago with H. Pylori. I was treated for it, but unfortunately the stomach issues have remained. The doctor said I have Gastritis. About 6 months ago I started noticing more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath (when walking up the hill to my house), numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, sore tongue, lightheaded, weak feeling, no energy, depression (more severe), brain fog. It's gotten so bad that I'm afraid to leave the house unless my husband can drive me. I used to be very active. I love yoga and kickboxing. Now with feeling off-balance so often, I know those are out of the question. After several doctor visits in the past few years with no answers, I found myself online looking for support groups for Gastritis, and I stumbled upon a woman's post on a website (forgot which one) and I thought I was reading my story! She mentioned having been diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia and it was as though a light bulb went off inside of me. I recently insisted my doctor test my B12 level - so she did. I'm awaiting the results. Are there any other tests I need that could help the doctor diagnose this?
Thank you all and God bless.
I'm so thankful to have found this Pernicious Anemia forum. There isn't much information on the web about this condition. I'm pretty sure I have PA. My situation started a few years ago with H. Pylori. I was treated for it, but unfortunately the stomach issues have remained. The doctor said I have Gastritis. About 6 months ago I started noticing more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath (when walking up the hill to my house), numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, sore tongue, lightheaded, weak feeling, no energy, depression (more severe), brain fog. It's gotten so bad that I'm afraid to leave the house unless my husband can drive me. I used to be very active. I love yoga and kickboxing. Now with feeling off-balance so often, I know those are out of the question. After several doctor visits in the past few years with no answers, I found myself online looking for support groups for Gastritis, and I stumbled upon a woman's post on a website (forgot which one) and I thought I was reading my story! She mentioned having been diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia and it was as though a light bulb went off inside of me. I recently insisted my doctor test my B12 level - so she did. I'm awaiting the results. Are there any other tests I need that could help the doctor diagnose this?
Thank you all and God bless.
I was told that I had PA then told I did not, have it based on the fact I have the intrinsic factor. Since then I have found out that my b12 levels are finally normal. For the first time in over 25+ years they are normal. Dr asked what I did differently--I told him--I eliminated all grains from my diet. At that point the dr told me to never eat grains again because it was grain intolerance that was blocking my b12 absorbtion.
Through my research if you have Gastritis it is your best interest to see if you have the IF--it's a blood test that can be done by pretty much any dr but I would see a hematologist because he will know exactly what he is looking for.
If your b12 comes back borderline or low--besure to have the advanced testing done or just go have the hemotologist do everything.
Have you ever been tested for Gluten intolerance as well? Your symptoms mimic gluten ataxia which is neurological damage caused by Gluten intolerance.
Good luck to you--