I'm a long time victim of IBS (I've had symptoms since i was 5) and i have severe B12 anemia. Does anyone know if IBS and pernicious anemia are in anyway related? or how I can make myself better if it's not lack of intrinsic factor but bad intestines that are causing the problem? Please let me know any help would be greatly appreciated.
IBS and anemia
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IBS does not effect the way we absorb nutrients or damage the intestines.It is a misfunctioning of what controls digestion, not a problem with digestion, so the anemia and IBS are not related.However, you should probably be tested for Celiac disease. That can damage the small intestine and cause anemia. This is a reaction to the protein gluten which is in wheat and barley and some other grains. It may be in some grains that are processed on the same machinery (like oats).If you do a google search on Celiac and Gluten free there are tons of resources on the web to help you figure out how to do that kind of diet. It can take some effort to do (one of my neighbor's kids had it when I was growing up so they would get her special cakes made with rice flour for birthdays and such) but it can make a big difference.Along with the celiac testing you may want to have a pretty complete physical just to make sure it isn't anything else.K.
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PS forgot to add Celiac can also cause diarrhea and other digestive problems so it also causes IBS-like symptoms as well.K.
Since pernicious anemia is considered an autoimmune disease, I would probably get checked out for other autoimmune diseases that cause IBS-like symptoms. When you have one autoimmune disease, you are more suseptible to developing another.I have Graves disease and pernicious anemia and rhuematoid arthritis are 2 other autoimmune diseases often seen in conjunction with Graves.
Ok so pernicious anemia is out, I have intrinsic factor and i don't have celiacs like my grandma. So what is wrong with me I'm still not absorbing B12. I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in Feb. and the doctor says Colonoscopy. What does that mean and how bad is it?
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My mother developed pernicious anemia in her 30's. The doctors missed it because it usually is found in older adults so they didn't look or find it in some of the test right off. She was constantly anemic and had trouble with her stomach, she almost died from the lack of diagnosis. Her mother also developed it in her 60's. I am constantly tested as "anemic" and have yet to get a real answer. I have a colonoscopy every 3 years due to inflammation in my bowels and I am tested every year for a B-12 defiency. With my mom she had the sore tongue, her hair was white at 30, her gums became inflammed and she ended up losing all her teeth, her digestion was definately affected by the pernicious anemia. Are they IBS and pernicious anemia connected? who knows - depends what study and which person you talk to.
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