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35 weeks pernicious anaemia, Can't get hold of hospital. Help.

9 replies

ViktoriaMac · 13/11/2009 16:30

Hello, I am hoping that someone can help.

I have had dire blood test results all through this pregnancy and no amount of iron tablets has raised my iron level. I found out my great granny had pernicious anaemia and so brought this up with my GP, he brushed it aside and just increased my iron intake. Anyway last week midwife looked back through my bloods and said she was worried. Got latest results today and on the print out it states "URGENT TREATMENT REQUIRED." All the results point to pernicious anaemia. I can't see my GP until next Thursday (so receptionist says), I have spoken to community midwives and the maternity ward, who have all tried to get hold of the blood analysist for me, but they haven't called back. I am really worried about what this all means. Will I be able to get treatment for B12 deficiency whilst pregnant and will my low levels have any affect on my baby?

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EldonAve · 13/11/2009 16:33

Don't panic

The MW team should be urgently referring you to the Obs team / Haematologist

Assuming your B12 is low they will give you B12 injections

Call your GP in the morning and say you need an emergency appt

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EightiesChick · 13/11/2009 16:37

How bad of them not to see you immediately. If you're up to it, I would ring your GP practice now, before they close for the weekend, and say you need to be seen today and you will be complaining if not given what is on your results. If that gives you no joy, go to A&E. The B12 will help but obviously you want to get it done asap. I know it's probably the last thing you feel like doing but summon up some anger and get really assertive with them. Good luck!

My friend had B12 deficiency during pregnancy and had the injections. Think it mainly affected how she felt. Her DS is fine and healthy, no problems there.

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ruddynorah · 13/11/2009 16:42

what is your level now?

mine is 9.5, same as last pregnancy. it is 9.5 whether i take iron tablets or not it seems. midwife got panicky and sent me to the hospital about getting iron injections. consultant said it's fine, not great, but fine. plus i didn't want the faff of a series of injections.

depending what you read, the main problems would be general lethargy ie no energy to give birth and recover. also more potential for harm if you had large blood loss after giving birth.

however, other material suggests a level of 9.5 is ideal, and that that the body will be less likely to loose a lot of blood as it 'knows' it has low iron?!

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ruddynorah · 13/11/2009 16:45

here is some of the stuff i read

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ViktoriaMac · 13/11/2009 16:50

Hi, thanks for the quick responses. HAve spoken to GP surgery and they say that the best they can do is get me in to see duty doctor on Monday.
My levels are
iron: 8.9
B12: 169 (should be 246 - 911)
Ferritin: 7 (should be 15 - 300)

I also have a low mcv.

It's more the B12 deficiency rather than the iron I am worried about. Just don't know what more I can do to get speak to the haemotologist today - my midwife said if I rang the desk she should get back to me, but she hasn't.

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EldonAve · 13/11/2009 16:55

TBH apart from you feeling crappy for longer waiting until Monday isn't likely to endanger you or your baby

I was diagnosed with PA midway through 2nd pgy - they failed to read the blood results for 2 mths so it took about 3 mths to get treatment started

are you under MW led care? they should refer you to the Obs led care team asap and then they will liase with the Haem team

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ViktoriaMac · 13/11/2009 17:00

Thanks Eldon, I thought as much too, about the Monday appointment, just my DH and my mother keep texting and saying "have you heard yet?" Which is stressing me out a bit!
Yeah, my care is MW led. It was actually my midwife who insisted I ring the haematologist today.

Baby is also seemingly breech so am also waiting for a scan date. Everything seems to have started to happen suddenly, after a relatively quiet pregnancy.

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ruddynorah · 13/11/2009 17:07

another good source i used though it relates to home birth it does explain things well.

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ViktoriaMac · 13/11/2009 18:55

Thank you everyone. I have now (finally) spoken to the hospital and I am going to be starting the B12 injections next week, also have an appointment with the consultant. Just so frustrating that I mentioned a family history of PA yet no one would test my B12 levels until last week. Hopefully it's all up from here!

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