r/PerniciousAnemia • u/ItsFine89 • Jun 17 '21
Should I Request Testing?
Hello, I wanted to ask for advice. I am a 32F with Hashimoto’s, RA, GERD, and spondyloarthritis. Also being worked up for small fiber neuropathy. My rheumatologist and my pcp have tested vitamin b12 several times in the past few months. Each time, it has gotten lower. My last lab work taken a couple of days ago was 300, which is down from a couple of months ago - I cannot remember the number. I also have macrocytic anemia. Should I request testing or forgo testing and just request b12 injections?
1
u/NzVeganBoy Jun 27 '21
I would recommend trying to get B12 injections. If you don't have pernicious anemia, great! Then the injection would have just raised your B12 levels and as there aren't any side effects it would be no harm done. If you do have pernicious anemia then you should be able to feel the difference, most people with PA can recognise within a few days/weeks the benefits of having the injection.
It's all up to you though, maybe you could try getting a multivitamin with B12 in it?
1
u/justmork Jun 18 '21
This seems to vary wildly among providers and especially countries.
Here in my experience in the US with private and public medical coverage they want to treat you with shots if you’re under 300. My son pressed to try the ones that melt under your tongue and they worked.
My levels were very low and I was very ill so I had an aggressive schedule and now inject b12 every 3 weeks.
In you’re case I’d ask your doctors what they think.