Loading doses of B12

[Lilian15]

I will try and keep this as short as possible. 21 years ago GP diagnosed PA and up until 3 years ago I had B12 injections every 12 weeks. 3 years ago the CCG instructed GP's to cut down giving injections to anyone unless they had PA. My jobsworth GP decided to give me a blood test, which was in range (as it would be when getting injections) and pronounced I do not have PA. After that, I had no more injections and never requested any blood tests. Any routine blood tests I did have never included B12. After a while I started to get all the symptoms I had when I was originally diagnosed. I spoke to my GP and asked if I could have a B12 blood test. She agreed and it came back below range. She then arranged for intrinsic factor test. The results said "borderline - no need to do anything". A week or so ago she phoned me to inform me I do not have PA, however she prescribed me cyno pills with a blood test form for March next year.

Yesterday, for some reason or other, I decided to look at my records on line. I saw that a few days ago they had recorded that I do have PA. There was a note on there, which I could not make out whether it was from the District Nurses or to the District Nurses about starting me with three monthly B12 injections. I am practically house bound hence needing the DN to do it. Nobody has said anything to me about it.

What I am wondering is that when they do resume the injections, seeing as I have not had an injection for a few years now, should they start with loading doses or, as I suspect, they will just start the three monthly injections.

Happy New Year to everyone.

[Gambit62]

hi Lillian. Please note that there is a forum on HU sponsored by the PAS where you might want to post on for support specific to B12.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/posts

There are different protocols where there is neurological involvement and the frequency of maintenance doses should be 8 weekly if you have neurological symptoms - though the overlap with diabetic neuropathy can make it difficult to establish that you have neurological problems.

Loading doses are also different - 3x per week until symptoms stop improving, rather than 6 over 2 weeks. However, it is likely that you would need to follow up on this with your GP,

Unless your GP has prescribed loading doses it is unlikely that the DN will provide them as they will only act on GPs instructions.

Please note that some people do respond well to high dose oral (1000mcg+) but if the tablets you had been prescribed were 50mcg they would not be helpful if you have PA as a cause of a B12 absorption problem.

[Lilian15 in reply to Gambit62]

I seem to have got a bit mixed up. I have diabetes, hypothyroidism, and on/off PA, and do belong to HU for all of them. I thought I was writing to PAS group. I wonder if this is another symptom ;). Thanks for your reply.

[Gambit62 in reply to Lilian15]

Lilian - no need to worry - it is very easy to find yourself posting on the wrong forum by mistake - you aren't the first and you won't be the last - Hope you do manage to get GP to listen and authorise loading doses soon