Pernicious Anemia And Omeprazole (prilosec)

[foodiegurl]

I had my dr run tests last week on iron and b12 to see how they were. I have always been low in iron, but was not sure about b12.

I spoke to her today...and yes, I have low b12 ( i don't know specific numbers), and she wants me to test for pernicious anemia by taking the parietal antibody test (?), and then I will go back t her next week. She is not a GI dr...(my GI dr basically won't do anything with me until i get a biopsy..grrr...but I am doing it in 2 weeks, and then switching to a Dr at Univ of Chicago.)

Anyway....I assume she is checking the antibodies to know what is causing the low B12. Obviously, I know Celiac on its own can cause low B12, also I have been a vegetarian for about 5 years, but I do have fish about once a week.

Also, I have been taking omeprazole (prilosec) for 4 months straight...could this of effected my B12, or would this not be enough time to have an impact?

Are there a lot of people on here with Celiac and pernicious anemia?

Thanks!

[foodiegurl]

no one knows anything about this?

[ravenwoodglass]

There are a lot of us on here that have had low B12 levels prediet because the damage from celiac can keep us from absorbing B12 from our food or supplements. Not all doctors will test for PA, as was the case with my neuro, who I saw prediagnosis, he simply told me to take sublingual B12 tablets, these bypass the damaged gut and are absorbed through the mucous membranes directly into the bloodstream and thus to the brain. If your levels are very low then they can give injections to get levels up quickly although for myself the tablets worked very well and quite fast on their own. PA is a failure of the body to produce something called intrinsic factor, many times again caused by the gut damage as that is where intrinsic factor is produced.

The best, and most likely only way, to tell if this was an effect of the med would be to check what your levels were before the med was started, if they had tested your levels prevously. A comparison with your present levels would then be of some value. You may also find that you no longer need the prilosec after you start the diet. Do check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if you should taper off the med. In some cases with acid blockers and that type of drug you can have a rebound effect if they are stopped suddenly.

I am glad to hear you are seeing the GI in a couple of weeks and getting the biopsy done. Hopefully they let you know that you must be on a full gluten diet until the biopsy is done. Please bear in mind that there are false negatives on biopsy even if on a full gluten diet. As soon as you get the procedure done you can begin the diet and your body may give you the answer before you go back for the results. I hope things improve for you soon.

[foodiegurl]

I have actually been fully gluten-free for 3 months now, and the biopsy is more to check for the h.pylori, I also have, rather than the celiac. I am not going to eat gluten again!

I did not get tested before I started the prilosec, even though I requested to be I always ask to have my vitamins checked since I don't eat meat, but for some reason, she didn't do it last time, so I only have this test to go on.

What scares me the most is pernicious anemia...meaning "fatal" anemia :( This is not something I want I mean, gosh, I m, not even tired, or out of energy, I feel fine, so I could I have something fatal???

[ravenwoodglass]

I have actually been fully gluten-free for 3 months now, and the biopsy is more to check for the h.pylori, I also have, rather than the celiac. I am not going to eat gluten again!

I did not get tested before I started the prilosec, even though I requested to be I always ask to have my vitamins checked since I don't eat meat, but for some reason, she didn't do it last time, so I only have this test to go on.

What scares me the most is pernicious anemia...meaning "fatal" anemia :( This is not something I want I mean, gosh, I m, not even tired, or out of energy, I feel fine, so I could I have something fatal???

PA would not be 'fatal' if the levels are brought up to normal which is easy to do once the subnormal levels are found. Try not to worry even if it is PA and not celiac related (and it is likely related to your celiac) it is treatable through the shots or sublingual tablets. It would only be fatal if it was undiagnosed for a very, very long time. If your not feeling tired or having nerve related issues like parathesias (pins and needles sensations in hands and feet) it will be easily treatable. If you are having nerve issues it is still something that can be resolved. My parasthesias disappeared within a couple weeks and the nerve damage I had repaired itself on supplements although it take take a while for me to regain stuff like reflexes in my legs.

[foodiegurl]

PA would not be 'fatal' if the levels are brought up to normal which is easy to do once the subnormal levels are found. Try not to worry even if it is PA and not celiac related (and it is likely related to your celiac) it is treatable through the shots or sublingual tablets. It would only be fatal if it was undiagnosed for a very, very long time. If your not feeling tired or having nerve related issues like parathesias (pins and needles sensations in hands and feet) it will be easily treatable. If you are having nerve issues it is still something that can be resolved. My parasthesias disappeared within a couple weeks and the nerve damage I had repaired itself on supplements although it take take a while for me to regain stuff like reflexes in my legs.

I really don't think I have symptoms...lately, I have only been sleeping 7 hours a day, since i stay up late, wake up early, keep up with my 4-year old all day, and keep her social calendar full. I rarely ever nap, and by the time I do get to bed at midnight or later, I lay in bed reading for 30 min or so. So, I definitely feel like I have energy. If i had PA would I be more tired?

[Lisa]

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If your vitamin B12 level becomes low, you may develop fatigue from anemia. B12 is needed for healthy nerves, so you also may develop numbness or skin pain, tingling or weakness.

If you have been on acid blockers for more than a few years, or if you have symptoms that suggest possible vitamin B12 deficiency, then your doctor can test your vitamin B12 supply by checking a blood sample.

If you are being treated for B12 deficiency and you are taking an acid blocker, it is best to get your vitamin supplement in the form of a monthly injection, instead of a pill.

Anti-acid medicines in both the H2 blocker proton pump inhibitor groups can occasionally cause headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain or nausea. H2 blockers may cause drowsiness, dizziness or memory complaints, particularly in older adults. These problems go away if the medicine is discontinued.