To ask for help with Pernicious Anemia re GP

[AndNowItIsSeven]

I think I have PA I have all the symptoms but my GP will not prescribe injections as my B12 levels are 205 this is despite the fact I also have extremely low folate.
I am really unwell and desperate for my GP to understand that my levels are low.
Could anyone point me in the direction of info I can print of to take to my GP.
Thank you

YANBU.

Sorry to hear you are so unwell. You can be very poorly with levels like that.

There's a great closed facebook group that you should join called:

Pernicious Anaemia/B12 Deficiency - Support Group

The people on there are very imformative and supportive and will be able to help.

YANBU - however you'll not have much luck finding a GP who will look as that figure is 'normal'. Its the complete bottom of normal and lots of sufferers will really suffer at that level, but still...

You could try supplimenting yourself with sublingual B12. I find that helps me somewhat in between injections.

Thank you Words I will look up that Facebook group.
Hashi that is the problem the GP says they are normal but I have breath shortage, pica, joint pain, extreme tiredness , nails snapping off and just generally feel awful.
I purchased Jarrows b12 lozenges but unsure if they are technically sublingual. I also don't want my levels to increase only slightly if that means no GP will prescribe injections.
I just want a theraupetic trial , it's so frustrating.

Hi Seven

As a fellow severe PA sufferer can I offer you some advice

Firstly join PASOC there's a wealth of information and support available through them

Secondly address your low folate. You cannot absorb B12 properly if your folate is low as they require each other

Many people can't utilise B12 injections adequately anyway as the form injected Hydroxycobalamin needs to break down to Methylcobalamin and a decent percentage of sufferers also have a gene alteration called MTHFR as I do

Once I took control away from the drs I got on a lot better as PA treatment is not one size fits all which is the nhs approach

I take jarrow (b)right which includes methylated folate and other important b group vitamins so they are all readily bio available

I also use jarrow b12 1000mcg lozenges daily as this too is the most bio available form of b12

Are you coeliac? Or been tested for it?
B12 jabs are common for coeliacs as they often lack intrinsic factor, a chemical that is needed to carry b12 from your gut into your blood stream - no IF = no b12 in blood stream no matter how many tablets you take. It's not exclusive to coeliacs though.
Change your gp, PA can be draining.

TBH, you have many symptoms of coeliac disease (not contagious, hate the name 'disease')

There's also some cross over there with thyroid issues too.

If they say your b12 levels are normal and can't be causing the issue (they probably are or at least are contributing) then ask your gp to do a thorough work up including coeliacs and thyroid levels. Quite a few things overlap with b12 deficiency.

I had a fight to even get my b12 checked. It was 198 when I had it done, which was below normal then for our lab but our lab now does 185 and up . I've since battled to get a diagnosis of hashimotos too. It's a pain, but if you're not well then don't let them fob you off