Pernicious Anemia

Hey, I don't know if my anemia is pernicious, but it certainly is a recurrent problem. And nobody can seem to tell me what causes it. I know my mother was this way, always low blood, always tired.

Absolutely there are days I don't feel I can hold my head up, much less workout. I don't take B12 shots every week, but I do take an iron supplement from shaklee. But the blood will always be low.

Anyway, back to the gym. Force yourself in. As you get your blood flowing, you'll feel better. You're not alone. Peace.

I dont get B12 shots weekly (had one today ) I get one about every 2 month (I get a monthly blood test to see if I need it as I have had blood clots) But I have to take Vit B and iron pills. these usaly work well, and my anemia dose not affect me to much, but as I have changed my diet my lvls are realy low. Its crappy feeling tired all the time, though its just something I have to live with I supose

I get monthly B12 shots...I started with weekly shots about a year ago, then 5 months ago I started on the monthly. When I am feeing exceptionally tired, with no valid reason for it, then I also take a daily under the tonque B12 pill. I will have more lab tests done next month to see what my levels are at now. I also have to take an iron supplement. My white blood cell count is very low and never gets into the normal range.

I sometimes just have to force myself to get moving, otherwise I feel even worse. I know that it is extremely frustrating, especially when the Doctors don't seem to know the cause, or how best to treat it. I also have Rheaumatoid Arthritis so that is probabley what causes it in me.

Try to stay positive...and just do the best you can.

bump

hi guys... i have chronic severe anemia - my problem is the feritin (ie. the stores) - my body won't absorb it.

I regular get iron infusions in the hospital to combat this.

To this day the only explanation that has been offered is my celiac disease, but to me it doesn't make sense as my body has managed to aborb every other vitamin and nutrient.

I think if the shots work, and you can get some iron infusions then do that too - i always feel better a few days after i have them.

Out of interest, what is the test for pernicious anemia ? Is it blood test?

I'm in school for medical laboratory sciences so hopefully I can explain how the testing works!

The difference between pernicious anemia and regular vitamin B-12 deficiency is that there are cells in your stomach that lack intrinsic factor, which is required for B-12 absorption. If someone has pernicious anemia they lack intrinsic factor. So in the lab if blood work comes back with a B-12 deficiency (this is usually seen with low red blood cell count, low amount of hemoglobin, and the red blood cells are abnormally large), we have to go one step further and test for intrinsic factor to verify pernicious anemia or 'regular' B-12 deficiency. There is a specific test for intrinsic factor, but we wouldn't normally test someone unless they had the symptoms B-12 deficiency as seen on their regular blood work.