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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 29
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 29
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G'Day again
The B12 question is a difficult one I reckon.
I hope you will bear with me whilst I meander thru these thoughts of mine:
 Firstly it seems (at least here in Ozzy Land) that unless you actually meet the said criteria.... given by the medics and government for a specific ailment/disease/disorder, then you are NOT sick and are probably a hypochondriac. So if you get a blood test done say for B12 and Folate and the test results come back in the 'normal range' - whatever happens to be the normal range for your country, then you obviously do not have a deficiency or a problem with either B12 or Folate..... end of subject! 'go home after you sign the medicare form'.... byeeeeeeeee
I have gently twisted my GP's arm and asked for blood tests for Homocystein (?spelling) and Methylmalonic acid (MMA) as I have read extensively that these two are better markers for B12 insufficiency. My Gp humoured me and ordered the tests, but did advise me that I would probably have to pay for them myself as the government did not consider them essential or necessary. Time will tell if I receive an account and have to pay privately for them, so be it as I WANT the numbers for reference.
As of today - six days since the blood draw, the test results are not yet back - I was told that Hcy takes about a week to come back. I have a GP appointment booked for tomorrow.... fingers crossed results available for discussion.
Now for some background on your's truly:
I have been sick for seven years, probbably much longer.
In 2000 I was bitten by a necrotic spider........ no action taken other than to debride the bite area and allow it to heal. My Darling Hubbie tends to want to place/blame my down turn in health to this point in time.
I however, with the wonderful gift of hindsight, and the amazing resources of the internet have discovered much written about the Proton Pump Inhibitor's (PPI's), stomach acid insufficiency and B12 deficiency. There is also the question of wether PPI's damage the Paretial cells in the stomach endangering the production of Intrinsic Factor (IF).
Having said all that....... let me put this in context.
I had an ulcer in the stomack back in the mid 1980's .... long before they were talking about Helicobacter pylori bacterium. I cannot remember what the Doc prescribed but I took it for a considerable time. However since that time - OVER 20 years now.... off and on ..... MORE ON than off, I have been taking medications to reduce stomach acid. I do also have a small hiatial hernia.
For at least 6 years I have been taking a drug called SOMAC. I have tried umpteen times over the years to come off this drug without success. A few days without taking it and the acid is rising nastily in my esophagus.
Me feels that perhaps I am deplete in B12 because of the years I have been TAKING ACID REDUCING MEDICATIONS. Seems a feasable proposition to me. But who am I to make discerning statements like this?
Doc's just hate it when you point things like this out to them!
Wish me luck coz I am going to attempt to show this to my GP tomorrow. Hopefully the blood work results will be back and will be available to back up my hypothesis.
There is so much more I could write but it would not be fair to publish  a book on my health problems here, when I am such a new member. I will write more as time progresses. The symptoms are nasty and progressive BUT not yet diagnosed..... 'would you like to see a psychiatrist' I was asked at my last neuroligists appointment!
Thank you for replying to my inquiry.
Have a Great Day
McHarris aka Clare in Tassie 
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