BellaMortale
10-07-2010, 09:45 PM
Pernicious anemia is a form of megaloblastic anemia due to a vitamin B12 deficiency, which is caused by an impaired absorption of the vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in adult patients. Vitamin B12 is not produced by the human body, and accordingly must be gained through a person's diet, or otherwise introduced to the body.
There are many symptoms and signs related to pernicious anemia. Some of the common ones include:
Mental status
Cognitive impairment ("fog") and personality changes
Physical status
Abdominal pain, appetite loss, chest pain, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, jaundice, low muscle tone, malaise, movement troubles, muscle spasms, pallor, paresthesias (numbness, tingling or burning) in the fingers, "pins and needles," rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, spasticity, tongue symptoms (sore, burning or red), unsteadiness, upset stomach, weakness, weight loss
I was diagnosed with this condition a year ago when the anemia became so severe, it was causing nerve damage and I could not feel anything below my waist other than numbness, as if I had been injected with novacaine. I got to the point where I could not walk without stumbling, had severe cognitive issues, and would often lose my "train of thought" in the middle of a sentence.
It seems my body does not make enough intrinsic factor to help the liver store vitamin B-12. By the time I saw my doctor about it, my red blood cells were so enlarged and sluggish, she was surprised that I was alive at all. There was just so little oxygen getting to my body tissues.
Treatment is relatively easy. I give myself a shot of B-12 once a month. The symptoms have improved, but some of them may be permanent. I still have numbness in my legs, and my memory is quite spotty, but at least it has improved enough that I can exercise again. I gained some weight when I was unable to walk. :(
There are many symptoms and signs related to pernicious anemia. Some of the common ones include:
Mental status
Cognitive impairment ("fog") and personality changes
Physical status
Abdominal pain, appetite loss, chest pain, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, jaundice, low muscle tone, malaise, movement troubles, muscle spasms, pallor, paresthesias (numbness, tingling or burning) in the fingers, "pins and needles," rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, spasticity, tongue symptoms (sore, burning or red), unsteadiness, upset stomach, weakness, weight loss
I was diagnosed with this condition a year ago when the anemia became so severe, it was causing nerve damage and I could not feel anything below my waist other than numbness, as if I had been injected with novacaine. I got to the point where I could not walk without stumbling, had severe cognitive issues, and would often lose my "train of thought" in the middle of a sentence.
It seems my body does not make enough intrinsic factor to help the liver store vitamin B-12. By the time I saw my doctor about it, my red blood cells were so enlarged and sluggish, she was surprised that I was alive at all. There was just so little oxygen getting to my body tissues.
Treatment is relatively easy. I give myself a shot of B-12 once a month. The symptoms have improved, but some of them may be permanent. I still have numbness in my legs, and my memory is quite spotty, but at least it has improved enough that I can exercise again. I gained some weight when I was unable to walk. :(