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My blood results have came back saying i have low levels of B12 and folate. is this common for crohns?
Does anyone else have low B12 and/or low folate levels?
- Thread starter dreamdesire
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I also have to give myself B12 shots every month. It gives you a lot more energy when your levels are back normal.
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Hi im new. I have been feeling unwell now for over a year with tummy problems. My gp has done a blood panel and i have low levels of b12 and folic acid!! I have recently had a colonoscopy which showed red patches and inflammation of the ilieum! My consultant took biopsys which have come back as normal!
In the last few days the pain has increased and im feeling so sick. I have been told that i need to have a barium MRI scan, which is scheduled for June 16th.
Can anyone give me there opinion as to what could be my diaganosis, i feel like im going mad
In the last few days the pain has increased and im feeling so sick. I have been told that i need to have a barium MRI scan, which is scheduled for June 16th.
Can anyone give me there opinion as to what could be my diaganosis, i feel like im going mad
yes, very common. I used to take folic acid, and I currently get a B12 shot every 2 months.
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There's an undiagnosed club on the forum. They should be able to answer some of your questions
Hi,
I have had a B12 deficiency for over 10 yrs, with no explanation as to why, I had a Shillings test and that came back normal (so not pernicius anemea) then I had a scope down the throat to see about intrinsic factor and all came back fine. I continue to have B12 injections once a month with no answer as to why my body won't absorb it. Most times I don't take it seriously and tend to miss months at a time. I too have had bowel problems and recently had a colonoscopy, which showed two ulcers and inflamation in my terminal illeum. Doc says he's not fully convinced i have Crohn's b/c he only "saw two ulcers"... so now he's doing a ultrasound strickly on my small intestine to see if there are any other ulcers lurking around. My B12 dropped significantly over a period of 5 months with having only one injection during that time. now i'm having to get B12 injections once a week for a month and then retest to see where my levels are at. I am also on HRT and my results on my blood work shows signs of my body not absorbing them too... I beleive I have Crohns but was told that Terminal Illeitis is not considered Crohn's., I'm just not sure what to think.
My question to you is was it "red patches" or "ulcers" found in your illeum?
A B12 deficiency dosen't just happen for no reason, so I would seriously consider that a definite symptom of Crohns. remember, there are 5 different types of Crohns and one of the most common area's are the illeum. (Terminal illeum) which is the end of the small intestine.
Good luck with the Barium MRI scan. I haven't had to have any other testing other than the scope, colonoscopy and an upcoming ultrasound (internal as well as external).
hang in there, not sure if I helped out or not but I wish you luck and don't give up! if your not satisfied with results, you can always get a second opinion, after all, it is your body and only you know what's right and not right.
I have had a B12 deficiency for over 10 yrs, with no explanation as to why, I had a Shillings test and that came back normal (so not pernicius anemea) then I had a scope down the throat to see about intrinsic factor and all came back fine. I continue to have B12 injections once a month with no answer as to why my body won't absorb it. Most times I don't take it seriously and tend to miss months at a time. I too have had bowel problems and recently had a colonoscopy, which showed two ulcers and inflamation in my terminal illeum. Doc says he's not fully convinced i have Crohn's b/c he only "saw two ulcers"... so now he's doing a ultrasound strickly on my small intestine to see if there are any other ulcers lurking around. My B12 dropped significantly over a period of 5 months with having only one injection during that time. now i'm having to get B12 injections once a week for a month and then retest to see where my levels are at. I am also on HRT and my results on my blood work shows signs of my body not absorbing them too... I beleive I have Crohns but was told that Terminal Illeitis is not considered Crohn's., I'm just not sure what to think.
My question to you is was it "red patches" or "ulcers" found in your illeum?
A B12 deficiency dosen't just happen for no reason, so I would seriously consider that a definite symptom of Crohns. remember, there are 5 different types of Crohns and one of the most common area's are the illeum. (Terminal illeum) which is the end of the small intestine.
Good luck with the Barium MRI scan. I haven't had to have any other testing other than the scope, colonoscopy and an upcoming ultrasound (internal as well as external).
hang in there, not sure if I helped out or not but I wish you luck and don't give up! if your not satisfied with results, you can always get a second opinion, after all, it is your body and only you know what's right and not right.
ameslouise
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Yes, since the B vitamins are mostly absorbed in the terminal ileum, where a lot of us have activity or have even had removed, B deficiencies are very, very common!
- Amy
- Amy
Yep, this is what I have been told by my docs too. My new doc said if you don't want to do the injection, you can get the liquid form and have more absorbed than the pill form.
Yes, i've read its common in chrons. Right now i'm dx with colitis of oct/07. Shortly after my dr. said i was low in vitb12, so now have them once a month. I see another dr. when mine is away and he said i don't need this, my level was good. THis was like 1 year ago. I don't which dr. is right.
B12 levels will fluctuate and depending on how soon you had an injection and having a blood test will may not be a proper reading.
I was told to wait at least two weeks after an injection to test levels. I have been B12 deficient a long time and my levels will fluctuate from normal to low and low to normal - without c hanging my diet or do anything different.
I was told to wait at least two weeks after an injection to test levels. I have been B12 deficient a long time and my levels will fluctuate from normal to low and low to normal - without c hanging my diet or do anything different.
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I've heard the same thing too.. the B12 is mainly absorbed in the ileum where Crohn's is common for inflammation. I have low levels as well.. and give myself injections every 3 weeks.. I also had very low Vit D levels.. like 4% low.. A Rheumatologist found that when i had a high ANA level and the docs thought i had Crohn's and Lupus. It's good to ask the Dr's to at least check the Vit D level and the B12 level i think. I'm pretty sure i've read of quite a few others with low D levels.
I have low Vit D but a few blood tests ago... My Vit D levels were off the charts! and now had it retested and seems i'm low. But with being in Alberta, over half the population are low. so I never really paid any attention to it. I just thought it was very odd to have extremely high level at one time, then low another.
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