I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia 2 1/2 years ago and it has had quite a big impact on my life. Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disease that causes vitamin B12 deficiency. A protein called intrinsic factor is produced by cells in the stomach and it combines with vitamin B12 to get absorbed into the body. For people suffering from pernicious anaemia the immune system attacks the cells that produce intrinsic factor so without intrinsic factor B12 cannot be absorbed. Vitamin B12 is vital for red blood cell production so without it blood cells become deformed and sometimes enlarged and cannot carry haemoglobin which is needed to transport oxygen around the body. The cause of it is unknown.

Before I was diagnosed I was suffering from extreme fatigue, mood swings, brain fogs and short term memory loss. I still suffer from memory problems but luckily the other symptoms have gone since I started treatment. For the rest of my life I will have to have an injection of vitamin B12 every 12 weeks and because I have one autoimmune disease it is more likely that I will develop another.

The Pernicious Anaemia Society Provides Information, Advice and Support for patients with Pernicious Anaemia and their families and friends. They work with researchers to bring about more accurate tests and better treatment of the disease.