Vitamin B. 12 injections

Just spoken to my doctor and he is very happy with my B12 it’s 659 per something per litre, which is good he says, the other thing Folic acid I think is all fine as well, but he wants me to go and see him in a couple of weeks about the pins and needles and tiredness (he was at pains to point out that I will be 70 next week and also working in a care home which is quite a physical job, obviously, but like I told him I think it’s the work that keeps me going!!)
He went back over 17 years of my history and says my B12 has always been good but I explained to him I don’t eat a lot of meat so I don’t know where I’m getting the B12 from but I do take a multivitamin maybe it’s in that and maybe I’ve got the sort of physiology that does hang on to B12 because we are all different to a degree, but anyway thank you for your advice

When I was first diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia I had a lovely Dr who recognised that I needed it every 2 months.
That way I never get the terrible lows
To anyone who feels that 3 monthly isn’t enough, talk to your Dr.

I've a good friend whose family has them regularly, and they swear by them. Asked my doctor, who told me my blood test said I didn't need B12. My energy levels say otherwise. I'd liked to have tried them for a few months to see if they made a difference.

The injections will help. As others have said you will need a loading dose but after that you'll probably get them quarterly, and you'll feel a lot better afterwards.

Doodledog

I have Pernicious Anaemia and get B12 injections every three months. When they are due I get very tired and 'lose' words. My memory is definitely affected, and I don't sleep well. I don't at the best of times, but it gets worse when my levels are low.

The list of symptoms is long, and not everyone gets all of them (luckily!) but it's worth looking at the Pernicious Anaemia Society's website for information.

I have all those symptoms doodledog… especially the memory and losing words. I was thinking I might have got the onset of dementia…
Reading all the comments on here has helped to put my mind at rest and will be having a long chat with my doctor tomorrow morning when he rings me…💐

I have Pernicious Anaemia and get B12 injections every three months. When they are due I get very tired and 'lose' words. My memory is definitely affected, and I don't sleep well. I don't at the best of times, but it gets worse when my levels are low.

The list of symptoms is long, and not everyone gets all of them (luckily!) but it's worth looking at the Pernicious Anaemia Society's website for information.

BigBertha1

Shinamae sounds like you and I are reaching our 70th birthday around the same day.

Mine is the 9th of February 🤓

Lyndylou

Sorry Shinamae I was assuming you are in the UK when I said they were free!

Yes, I am in North Devon,thank you…💐

I diagnosed B12 deficiency in my late DM and (tactfully) suggested this to her GP as the cause of the tiredness and serious loss of appetite that mum was having. GP agreed, tests confirmed and from then on DM had a boost by injection every 3 months. The symptoms of decreasing levels were apparent as we got close to the 3 month date.

Shinamae sounds like you and I are reaching our 70th birthday around the same day.

Sorry Shinamae I was assuming you are in the UK when I said they were free!

I have had Vit B12 injections since 2017, after being so tired and then having blood tests. There was a loading dose of 6 injections, given every other day, then one every 12 weeks.
Recently my blood tests showed that I was deficient in Folic Acid. On reading up on this it appears that Vit B12 injections can have an adverse reaction on absorbing Folic Acid. (i hope I have got this right)
I was prescribed Folate tablets, to be taken once daily. Now my levels have evened out and I take a Folate tablet, every other day while I am having Vit B12 injections.
I already take a calcium tablet AdCal, twice daily.
All this should be available under the NHS.

Pins and needles and tiredness are possible signs of Pernicious Anaemia but diagnosis requires a special blood test and your doctor will arrange that if they feel it is suitable. PA means that the body can no longer absorb B12 so taking vitamins or food high in B12 will not help, that is why it has to be regular injections. There may be other reasons for your symptoms but if it is PA then yes the first course of injections will make a big difference and the first ones and the follow up 3 monthly ones are totally free and usually carried out by the surgery nurse.

Thanks everyone..💐💐…

B12 deficiency used to be associated with vegetarian / veganism but as we age we probably use it less efficiently. Also I don't eat much red meat as I'd like to eat less & my husband emphatically wouldn't - so we have veggie once a week, fish once a week, red meat 2-3 times a week but when we eat red meat I always give him nearly all of it so in actual terms I really don't eat much meat at all - I'm quite active & probably eat a lot of calories for my age.Also B12 is depleted by alcohol use,However, low iron & low vitamin D are more common causes of tiredness than low B12, so I'd try these over the counter before thinking about B12 if you don't have any pre-disposing factors.

Now 64, I’ve taken a Vitamin D3 and B12, magnesium and calcium supplement daily. All things are needed in older age.

My Mum used to have one every 3 months

My brother also had them and said he could feel his 'batteries' getting low when the next one was due.

Seemed to work for both of them

Following on from blood tests recently I have had a course of Vit B12 injections. Six injections, given on alternate days at the surgery. Completely free of charge. For the rest of my life I will have a booster injection every three months.
My vit D was depleted also and I'm on a six month course of capsules. Following on from this course I have to take over the counter vit D. Hope this is helpful to you.

Shinamae
If your Dr doesn’t mention checking your Thyroid, ask him/her.

My 90y old stepfather has been very anaemic Shinamae and was given a blood transfusion 3 weeks ago, then his GP prescribed Vit B12 injections. A prescription was written up for him (no charge obviously) and the district nurses administered them. He looked really well when we spent time with him today.

Perhaps ask your GP for baseline bloods, including ferritin levels (which will show your ‘store’ of iron). Depending on the results these will or won’t be indicated.

I hope you feel better soon. x