Rebecca
I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia on Dec. 3, 2001.I am 50 years old. My hemiglobin was 7.9, platelets 117,000, hematacrit 22.2, red and white blood cells were all down. I was hospitalized and had to have a blood transfusion. I was given one injection of B-12 a week for four weeks and now one injection a month. My bloodwork on 1/24/02 revealed a hemiglobin of 14.2, platelets 229,000, hematacrit 42.7, and red and white blood cells in normal range. It's been two months since diagnosis and improvement for me was fast. I have much more energy, can think clearly again, am not moody as before, and feel I can go back to work now (which I haven't had the energy to do for the past 6 years). I pray that this gives you hope, because before I was diagnosed and treated I felt as though there was no hope for me. I actually feared I was in the early stage of dementia, I couldn't remember from one minute to the next. I also had heart palpitations, anxiety (due to the low oxygen), and had gotten to the point I could no longer function. Recovery time may be a little longer for some and faster for others. Hang in there, follow your doctor's orders to the letter (I did) and you WILL get better. I drank lots of orange juice, took folic acid and iron, got my B-12 injections regularly, and rested a lot. I will be thinking of you and will say a prayer for your recovery.