Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

B 12 Deficient

Annaem

By Annaem
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Annaem Enthusiast
Annaem
Posted

My ob/gyn has not been good about checking my vitamin levels. I guess cause im gaining weight and have been doing well so she hasn't been to concerned. Just found out that i am b12 deficient at a score of 111 with the range being 133+. As well my hemoglobin is 116 with the range 120+. Now i have 5 weeks to go. And i am worrying that perhaps i have been deficient for a long time. I stopped taking my prenatals around the 4th month and started with iron and calcium only. She said i didn't need all those other things if im eating well. Being Celiac i guess my intestine is sluggish about absorbing b12. Did anyone have a similar problem? Is this significantly low? Do i have time to make up for it?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


NicoleAJ Enthusiast
NicoleAJ
Posted

Annaem,

It takes years for B12 levels to drop because B12 is stored in the body for a long time. It's possible that you were B12 deficient before you got pregnant. You may want the doctor to do the antibody test to see if you have pernicious anemia. In the meantime, B12 injections are a quick way to get the levels back up to normal. My doctor prescribed B12 injections for me every two weeks, but plenty of other people on the site use sublingual B12 as well, a pill that dissolves under your tongue. This can be purchased at a health food store. Regular vitamins that contain B-12 don't help those with pernicious anemia because the digestive tract cannot absorb the nutrients.

TrillumHunter Enthusiast
TrillumHunter
Posted

I've had pernicious anemia for over ten years. If I miss my injection and it drops I get really fatigued. NOt something you're going to want to worry over when you might find yourself lacking sleep in the near future! ;) Also, depression is one of symptoms of low b12 and that could make it difficult to tell the difference between baby blues and postpartum. B12 is safe and cheap. It is extremely difficult to find cases of overdose.

Five weeks to go--best of wishes for you and your little one. Enjoy that new baby smell!

Annaem Enthusiast
Annaem
Posted
  • Author
I've had pernicious anemia for over ten years. If I miss my injection and it drops I get really fatigued. NOt something you're going to want to worry over when you might find yourself lacking sleep in the near future! ;) Also, depression is one of symptoms of low b12 and that could make it difficult to tell the difference between baby blues and postpartum. B12 is safe and cheap. It is extremely difficult to find cases of overdose.

Five weeks to go--best of wishes for you and your little one. Enjoy that new baby smell!

Annaem Enthusiast
Annaem
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the info. At the beginning of my pregnancy, i was checked for b 12 and it was fine. I guess it has been slowly dropping over the pregnancy. It's something that i have been monitoring over the last 3 years along with my ferritin. It seems my b 12 falls first and then my ferritin. Since the last blood test i have had a b 12 shot and i've been taking the vitamins to boost it. But I will definetely approach my dr about pernicious anemia and get the b12 shot again. Especially if the vitamins are ineffective. I eat alot of foods that are rich in b12 so its really a mystery to me why it is low. This antibody test- do you know what it's called?

Emily

Annaem Enthusiast
Annaem
Posted
  • Author
Annaem,

It takes years for B12 levels to drop because B12 is stored in the body for a long time. It's possible that you were B12 deficient before you got pregnant. You may want the doctor to do the antibody test to see if you have pernicious anemia. In the meantime, B12 injections are a quick way to get the levels back up to normal. My doctor prescribed B12 injections for me every two weeks, but plenty of other people on the site use sublingual B12 as well, a pill that dissolves under your tongue. This can be purchased at a health food store. Regular vitamins that contain B-12 don't help those with pernicious anemia because the digestive tract cannot absorb the nutrients.

Well i only found out 3 years ago that i was celiac. So maybe it's from being deficient all those years. Thanks for the info. I will go again in 2 weeks to get another shot. Since the vitamins maybe ineffective for me if i am an individual with pernicious anemia.

NicoleAJ Enthusiast
NicoleAJ
Posted

I forget the name of the pernicious anemia test--I'm not sure my doctor ever told me what it was. I also eat a lot of foods rich in B12, but because of the pernicious anemia, I can't absorb any B12 that is put in my mouth. I'm glad that you were checked at the beginning of the pregnancy; at least it hasn't been a long-standing problem. After a shot or two (or sublingual B12), you should be back up to normal.

Good luck in your last weeks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted

I have pernicious anemia and use the sublingul B12 from GNC instead of the injections now. I used to bruise really bad from the injections. The sublingual tabs from GNC are really cheap, and are gluten free, soy free dairy free (and lots of other stuff that I don't worry about). Those might be a good option if you don't want to do the injections, or if you just want to supplement your B12 until you deliver. Good luck!!!

tiffjake Enthusiast
tiffjake
Posted

I have pernicious anemia and use the sublingul B12 from GNC instead of the injections now. I used to bruise really bad from the injections. The sublingual tabs from GNC are really cheap, and are gluten free, soy free dairy free (and lots of other stuff that I don't worry about). Those might be a good option if you don't want to do the injections, or if you just want to supplement your B12 until you deliver. Good luck!!!

Guest Doll
Guest Doll
Posted

IF (Intrinsic Factor) levels and/or antibodies are tested when suspecting Pernicious Anemia. I think there may be another marker, but I can't think of it off the top of my head!

Someone step in if they can think of it!

grey Explorer
grey
Posted

When I was first dx w/ low B12 (2001?), my rheumatologist did a Schilling Test. It was negative for PA and so he told me I was just depressed and should take a multivitamin!

I would imagine that you have a better doctor than that (I hope), but don't let them tell you the Schilling Test is the 'gold standard'. It's REALLY old-fashioned and is pretty inconclusive.

I now give myself B12 shots every other day (it was monthly, then 3 weeks, then weekly ... then the IV after my celiac dx). I bruise a lot as well, but the B12 shots are all that's kept me going for the past years so I'm hesitent to switch.

Still don't know if I have PA - there's a family history - but my gastro said it didn't matter since I'd be getting the B12 & gluten-free no matter what. My PCP assumes PA, but I'd like to know.

One thing about B12 is it's a vitamin you can't overdose on. If you have too much, you pee it out. Also, often, the amount you need if you're deficient is wildly more than normal people. If you can digest it by stomach, make sure you're getting animal products in your food. Vegans will be deficient, for ex, w/o supplementation.

B12 can make a HUGE difference when you make up the deficit, and very quickly. Hope it helps you.

All best!

IF (Intrinsic Factor) levels and/or antibodies are tested when suspecting Pernicious Anemia. I think there may be another marker, but I can't think of it off the top of my head!

Someone step in if they can think of it!

Moustique77 Newbie
Moustique77
Posted

My wife has pernicious anemia due to celiac disease. It was so bad that the doctors at Mayo Clinic believe it caused her dysautonomia and neurological problems. She's had to get weekly injections for 7 years. They check regularly, but despite being strictly gluten-free it has never gotten better enough to stop the shots. She has improved though from use. They says its an autoimmune disease and will never go away.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,705
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    SammyS
    Newest Member
    SammyS
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.4k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • RMJ
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By RMJ · Posted

      I’d say celiac is likely.  Please continue to eat plenty of gluten until your endoscopy to be sure that any gluten-related damage can be seen.  Plus it gives you one last chance to enjoy your favorite gluten-containing foods. I hope the endoscopy/biopsies give you a definitive answer. 
    • TexasCeliacNewbie
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By TexasCeliacNewbie · Posted

      I do also have the bloating, gas, constipation, hair loss, an auto-splenectomy that no one can see any reason for and some elevated liver enzymes that don't seem to have a cause, I also have joint pain and some spinal compression fractures that have no explanation.  I am only 42 so haven't had a bone density test yet.  My calcium was normal, but my D was a little low.  They haven't checked for any other vitamin deficiencies yet.  My blood test for an autoimmue disorder was quite high but my Thyroid was all normal.
    • TexasCeliacNewbie
      High blood test numbers - with scales. Any advice?

      By TexasCeliacNewbie · Posted

      Hi, I have been having a lot of back pain and gut issues for 8 weeks or so.  I saw the GI on Monday and my results just came in from the lab.  Some of these number are high and off the little chart from the lab.  I am reading this correctly that I most likely have Celiac, right???  It would explain a lot of things for me.  She does have me scheduled for a colonoscopy and endoscopy in  2 weeks to do the biopsy.  I posted this prior, but forgot to put the range assuming they were all the same.  Someone advised me to repost with the ranges for some insight in the meantime. Immunoglobulin A, Qn, Serum 140 (normal) - Normal is 87-352 Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgA 256 (High) - Moderate to strong positive at or above 30 Deamidated Gliadin Abs, IgG 65 (High) - Moderate to strong positive at or above 30 t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA 31 (High) - Moderate to strong positive above 10 t-Transglutaminase (tTG) IgG 10 (High) - Positive is at or above 10
    • trents
      Colonoscopy with large area of inflammation

      By trents · Posted

      Usually, the blood testing is done first and the endoscopy/biopsy follows for confirmation if there are positive antibody test scores. Historically, the endoscopy with biopsy has been considered to be the gold standard for diagnosing celiac disease. If the tTG-IGA scores are very high (5x-10x normal), some doctors will forego the endoscpoy/biopsy and grant a celiac disease diagnosis without it. So, if you are starting with the endoscopy/biopsy that may be all you need to arrive at a diagnosis. Another possibility would be for the GI doc to do a blood draw for antibody testing on the same day you come in for the endoscopy/biopsy.
    • AuntieAutoimmune
      Royal Caribbean Only, Please

      By AuntieAutoimmune · Posted

      Thanks,Scott. Yes, I had already seen those 
×
×
  • Create New...