I started having severe abdominal cramping two nights ago and which was preceded by constipation for two days. When I woke up the following more of the beginning of the cramping I felt OK, but then by the afternoon I ate lunch and started having severe diarrhea. Now the cramping has been going on for two days and I can’t keep anything in my stomach. I have been diagnosed with IBS in the past along with anemia, but with my IBS I don’t normally have the cramping. Published: August 07 ::

I am 44 years old and have just been diagnosed with pernicious anemia. My B12 level was at the bottom of the barrel on the chart on my blood test. My symptoms began vaguely but then quickly got worse as time went on. I am extremely fatigued and my muscles hurt. I have heart palpitations and shortness of breath easily. Mental confusion is a huge symptom for me. I have begun taking B12 injections one time per week. I’m on my third day with it, and I am beginning to see a slight improvement. Thank goodness! Published: August 25 ::

I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia about five years ago. I was frequently treated for an iron deficiency before I was diagnosed. My symptoms started several years before my diagnosis. I had severe memory loss by age 26. I had tingling in my hands and feet. I had loss of pigmentation, confusion, tiredness, and personality changes. I had frequent visits to my physician and neurologists with no success. Eventually, a rookie doctor checked my B12 levels and found them to be extremely low. So, I was started on B12 shots immediately. It took a while for most symptoms to decrease. I still have memory loss with significant bouts of confusion. The tingling in my hands and feet has subsided. I’ve lost interest in eating meat, including fish. I am now a vegetarian. Published: August 25 ::

I have just been diagnosed with pernicious anemia. The reason I saw a neurologist was due to a complaint of a "constant large burp" in my back. The neurologist took certain blood tests following my comments of "I feel like I am sliding." I did not feel dizzy. I had slight tingling of my left hand and foot and was often dropping things. These symptoms I attributed to using the left side more than the right while recovering from right shoulder surgery. I did note feeling tired, even though I had a good night sleep and often fell asleep while reading a book. I also noted a slight change in diet preference - my appetite for beef disappeared as did my desire for certain fishes. My continual desire for fruits and vegetables did not change and I often felt better (for a bit) after eating a salad. Published: June 24 ::

At age 55, I was recently diagnosed with pernicious anemia. I too, was fatigued, off balance at times walking, sick a lot with flu symptoms, etc. I now give myself vitamin B-12 shots once a week. It was discovered through blood work that I was very low in vitamin B-12. I eat healthier, exercise a couple of times a week and feel somewhat better. Published: August 28 ::

I was diagnosed about a year ago with pernicious anemia after having these symptoms: racing heart, numbness in my hands and feet, nausea, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating, stumbling over words, shortness of breath and very, very tired. I generally felt terrible. My B12 levels were at only 165. My doctor started me on the shots. I had one every day for a week, once a week for a month after that, and now once a month. I get blood work every three months, and if it looks low, I get extra shots at first. Most of my symptoms have disappeared, but I can definitely tell when I'm due for a shot. The diarrhea returns and some of the mental cloudiness and heart racing comes back too. The treatment is for a lifetime, but there are worse things. Now that I know what it is, it’s easier to deal with. Published: August 28 ::

I have been on Aciphex for four years and didn't know it limited and/or stopped B12 absorption. Last winter, I began to experience constant dizziness, exhaustion, muscle pain and weakness, confusion, memory loss and increasing problems with balance. My doctor did blood work and discovered that I was at the bottom of the acceptable scale for B12. He gave me an injection and within a day, I noticed a marked improvement. Now I take 4000 mcg of B12 complex daily and have resolved most issues with my pernicious anemia, save for some loss of energy. Published: August 22 ::

At 44, two-and-a-half months ago, I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia. I had extreme fatigue (no matter how much I slept), my heart was racing, I was constantly sweating, I had chest pains, shortness of breath, and depression. I am on medications that relieve most of my symptoms, but I am still very tired most days. Published: August 04 ::