A chronic disease, pernicious anemia occurs when the immune system attacks the parietal cells in the gastric glands and the lining of the stomach. It took about 20 years for me to receive the pernicious anemia diagnosis that led to my first B12 injection. Research shows that the disease can take 20 years or more to progress, with symptoms worsening slowly over time. I hope that over time, as more people learn about pernicious anemia, there will be fewer limits on treatment. Except for a handful of online support groups, there aren’t many resources in the United States for people living with pernicious anemia.

Source: Washington Post March 26, 2017 15:00 UTC