Posted by
Lisa on September 30, 2000 at 00:20:45:
In Reply to: Re: PA and Pregnancy posted by Roberta on September 27, 2000 at 22:28:47:
Hi Roberta,
The first step I think is to talk to your OB/GYN about your condition. With B-12 shots during your pregnancy, you should be able to have a healthy pregnancy. Your levels should be high before you ever get pregnant, and then monitored. I am concerned that your doctor didn't try to ascertain the origin of your B-12 deficiency. People don't just become B-12 deficient, unless they are vegans for several years. There is usually something bigger attached to it when you become deficient as an adult (in other words, you weren't born with it).
As for me, after a lot more testing it turns out that I have pernicious anemia as autoimmune disease, my body is attacking the parietal cells in my stomach (which make intrinsic factor which is needed to bind with B-12 for absorption) That's why I cannot absorb B-12. The bigger issue is that this puts me at a higher risk of atrophic gastritis and/or stomach cancer down the line. I have to get an endoscopy next month to look at the inside of my stomach. I'm on a macrobiotic healing diet and seeing my acupuncturist who is trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I am determined to turn this around as I don't want to live my life with body attacking itself.
Anyway, sorry this was so long. I do encourage you to do more research and ask why they aren't trying to find a cause. It would be good to know for your pending pregnancy.
Keep in touch!
Lisa
