Tests picked up pernicious anemia – the most common cause of B12 deficiency in the UK.

Unfortunately, it had already caused neurological damage.

The doctor at the hospital said it could take up to a year for the damage to get better, but that, depending on how long the damage was going on before diagnosis and treatment, that it was more likely to remain permanent.

“I am coming up to a year since an 11-day hospital stay and diagnosis, my feet, parts of my legs, and fingers are still numb, my balance isn’t great, and walking can be an adventure,” the patient explained.

He walk with a cane most of the time, adding that “parts of me have almost no feeling. The cold seems to affect it as well”.

Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack the cells in your stomach that produce intrinsic factor. This means your body is unable to absorb vitamin B12.

The exact cause of pernicious anaemia is unknown, but it’s more common in women around 60 years of age, people with a family history of the condition and those with another autoimmune condition, such as Addison’s disease or vitiligo.

The Reddit user revealed he has vitiligo and digestive issues connected to the pernicious anemia.

Other causes of B12 deficiency include:

• A lack of these vitamins in your diet – this is uncommon, but can happen if you have a vegan diet and do not take vitamin B12 supplements or eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 , follow a restrictive diet or have a generally poor diet for a long time
• Medicine – certain medicines, including anticonvulsants and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), can affect how much of these vitamins your body absorbs

How to treat B12 deficiency