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How common is a B12 and/or Folic acid defiency with the use of PPI's?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/17/2008 10:01 AM (GMT 0)
I went to the docs yesterday for this horrible tiredness that I have been experiencing.  She took a ton of bloodwork to check my thyroid, B12 and folic acid, calcium and CBC.  So I've been reading and I noticed that PPI's can inhibit the production of B12 in some people.  I've been on a PPI now for almost 2 years now.  I haven't got the test results back yet but if it comes back as a B12 defiency, does that mean that I am always going to have that defiency if I am on a PPI?  I'm jumping the gun a bit because I don't even know if the blood tests will show anything but I was just thinking about it and got curious to see how many others have had that defiency while being on a PPI.

Oh and off the topic of the post, my primary doc prescribed me a little bit weaker dose of steroid cream for my face rash.  I was on a strong one because my rash wasn't responding to anything else.  But what she told me about long term steroid creams sort of scared me.  She said that long term steroid cream usage can cause the skin on the face to atrophy.  Now I am not a very vain person but to think that the skin can do that had me a bit freaked!  She (and I) feel that I keep getting these rashes from me starting on 6mp because I never got a rash before starting it.  So she wants me to ask my GI if being on 6mp is even worth it.  Especially since I can not get to the therepeudic (sp?) level since my body can't metabolize it correctly.  So she wants me to talk to him and weigh the pros and cons of me stopping 6mp.  I feel that 6mp is marginally controlling my UC but I am not sure if I am willing to stop it yet since it IS keeping me out of severe flares and then on the other hand, I'm afraid of these rashes and the long term steroid cream usage warnings.  What would you do????

Posted 10/19/2008 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, over 40 views and no comments?? :)
Posted 10/19/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Red,
From my understanding folic acid/b-12 dif (and vit D), and thyriod problems are common for those with long flaring IBD, usually more common with crohns. Have you had any unexplain weight gain and fatigue lately or should I say constantly? (granted I developed lupus at the same time so that does effect my perception of the problem a bit). I had lost the feeling in my pinkie and ring finger and my feet felt constantly asleep.
Good Luck with your tests,
Navy
Posted 10/19/2008 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I've gained about 10lbs, I can barely keep my eyes open, my fingers and toes are almost constanly tingly.
Posted 10/20/2008 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
See my reply to the unusual symptoms post taking folic acid helped me avoid fatigue I was getting. I would have thought the risk of severe side effects from the steroid cream are very small - perhaps ask you doc what exactly the risks are.
Posted 10/20/2008 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Actually... is the rash on your face butterfly shape? Did you ever take one of the Anti-TNF drugs?
Posted 10/20/2008 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Navy - No, the rash is on my chin, under my nose and across the left side of my lower cheek area. I've been checked numerous times for Lupus and every test has always came out negative so I don't think it's that. And nope on the Anti-TNF (yet) and not sure if I ever want to if I have a choice.

Ian, thanks - I haven't checked out your post yet, been sort of busy over here. But I will do that now :)
Posted 10/21/2008 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
What is a PPI? I take 6mp and Asacol. My UC is "under control" meaning I'm not bleeding and only go a few times a day with medium urgency. But its not "in remission" - I have loose movements, mucus, tons of gas, sometimes mild pain, and sometimes pain. I am very tired and have numbness in hands and feet. Also dry skin and low body temperature. So my family doctor thought maybe thyroid but that bloodwork came back within normal range. I then did a Spectracell FIA 5000 bloodtest that checks lots of stuff (various B vitamins, folate, vitamins A C D E, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, glutamine, selenium, coenzymeQ10, and more) but I don't have the results yet. Without the cream is the rash really bad looking or really itchy or is it something you can live with? I personally think I could probably tolerate a rash (if not horrible) better than I could tolerate an increase in UC problems.
Posted 10/21/2008 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
A PPI is a proton pump inhibitor such as Prilosec. It slows down stomach acid production. And yes, without the cream, my rash gets super red, bumpy, dry and itchy. If I had a mild rash, then I would definately be able to put up with it but over the months this rash has been getting worse and worse and is slowly spreading across my cheeks - before it was just limited to under my nose.
Posted 10/21/2008 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Chris,

I think it's normal for UCers to be deficient in quite a few things and probably varies with how active the UC is - anti-oxidant vitamins (A C E I) glutamine and selenuim I believe are normally low in blood. Please keep us updated with your results - I take most of these things as suppliments.
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