Vitamin B12 injections

[misty14]

Hi everyone

I would love to hear of others experiences of Vit B12 injections. May have to have them myself and hope they are very effective?.

Many thanksX

[Lupylass]

Hi there

I get them every 3 months and they cause no problems. Initially I had a 'loading dose' over 2 weeks where I had them every few days.

Towards the time my next injection is due I sometimes start to feel tired in the evening, but not always.

I have no problems at all with this.

[misty14 in reply to Lupylass]

Hi Lupylass

Good to hear how straightforward B12 injections are!. Feeling so tired now, can do with the help!.X

[tennissenior in reply to misty14]

I was B12 deficient. My hematologist didn't check it for 5 months and it dropped to around 212. A hematologist on staff at the hospital I was in for DVTs discovered it. I started taking 1000 mcgs of B12 and now I am on 500 mcgs of B12 once a day and it's working for me. For a while, my doctor talked about injections, but if the tablets work, I'll settle for that!

[misty14 in reply to tennissenior]

Hi tennis senior

Glad to read your feeling better and B12 comes in tablets too!. Easier to do!. Love your name, did u used to play tennis?. X

[tennissenior in reply to misty14]

Misty - I didn't used to play tennis - I still do .. 4 days a week. That is, when it's no raining in Florida! We got rained out Wednesday and Friday. I do have a game this morning. When I don't play tennis, I hurt. Lately it's my ribs. Activity helps figh the inflammation of the SLE. Yes, I do take a B12 vitamin, which is very inexpensive, once a day. I order online and they alwawys have specials on vitamins. You must do due diligence with your doctors. Mine neglected to check my B12 for months, and the outcome was bad. Anemia, Procrit shots and then a leg full of blood clots and one in the lung. Procrit can predispose one to clots if you've had a history. I did. Many women fail to ask their doctors to check their thyroid levels. When women go thru menopause, they think that weight gain, bloating and hair loss is part of getting older. Doctors don't test thyroid automatically unless you ask them to. I've been on Synthroid now for 8 years. I, too, assumed my weight gain, fatigue and hair loss were part of the aging process. When my thyroid was finally checked, my number was close to 6. Normal is between 0-3. The lower the better. I started on 0.25 mcgs and 8 years later, I take 125 mcgs. My Primary Care doctor now checks it every 4 months, but if it starts to rise, and my hair starts falling out onto my keyboard, he checks it again in a few weeks. After a while, you will get to know your body and you can actually feel when your thyroid starts to slow down. Off to tennis!

[misty14 in reply to tennissenior]

Hi tennis senior

Good for you playing tennis, glad it helps. I used to play and loved it but can't anymore!. Thanks for your health info, I'm fortunate my doctors are checking all the right things!. Hope you enjoyed your game and keep wellX

[tennissenior in reply to misty14]

I can't play the way I used to before I got sick...but I AM out there 4 days a week. I have been trying to advise everyone on this forum that unless you fight the Lupus with being active, you will always feel sick. Not a day goes by when I am not hurting or weak or shaky. I fight it. There is no other way. A magic cure is not around the corner.

[Ctb567]

I don't have lupus so it may be different for you but I had a significant improvement after getting my b12 injections. I had always had low b12 but I wasn't until it plummeted was I allowed to get injections which is annoying because your body really suffers when youre low on b12. When getting the loading injections I felt bad which some people also feel because your body is tryingbto repair itself. Other people say they feel amazing an hour or so after their first injection! It took about 6 weeks for me to feel better after my loading doses, one day I just woke up and realised that I was feeling a lot better. My tiredness was greatly reduced and my immune system really cleared up.

B12 is worth looking at, experts believe that <300 then you should get injections if symptomatic despite what most doctors believe.

Hope this helps

[misty14 in reply to Ctb567]

Hi Carly

Thanks for your really good info about B12 injections. Are you feeling much better now?. You were allowed to get bad weren't you?. Is it true they are for life once started?. X

[Ctb567 in reply to misty14]

Yes I feel better now, its not a miracle drug where afterwards you'll have this amazing energy, it just feels like you're able to function properly again. Usually the injections are for life but if they know the cause of the deficiency and its treatable then you will just have them for a certain amount of time. Examples of this is having a b12 deficiency due to coeliac disease, if you fix the diet then you will start absorbing b12 normally again so you should be fine. It seems to be fairly uncommon to know whats causing the deficiency though. The most common cause is supposed to be pernicious anmeia where you simply can't absorb b12 anymore, in this case you need to have injections for life. If you join the pernicious aemia society on this website then they also have some great information and help available on b12

[misty14 in reply to Ctb567]

Hi Carly

Thanks for your helpful info. Mine is pernicious anaemia due to Ulcerative Colitis. How about for you?. Glad you feel more like youX

[Ctb567 in reply to misty14]

I still don't know the cause of mine, I tested negative for PA but I do have digestion issues so I might be going to a gastroenterologist soon to have some investigations. Hopefully I'll find out soon!

[misty14 in reply to Ctb567]

Hi Carly

Good luck for when you go to Gastroenterolgy. May well be the reason for your deficiency as it is for me! Thanks again for your help and keep us posted. X

[Natura]

I had a dr tell me no point in checking b12 as it is water soluble and u can't test effectively. Didn't bother to test. Again, I hate doctors!!!!!

[Ctb567 in reply to Natura]

Hi Natura, I can't believe your doctor said that! Its definitely worth testing as b12 is so important for your body. In the UK b12 has become a standard test for the "tiredness screening", this includes a full blood count, folate, ferritin and b12 blood test. B12 deficiencies seem to be becoming more common so.its important that you get tested if your worried about it. If you go to the pernicious anemia society on this site, that's all about b12, testing for it and treatment. Its very useful

[Natura in reply to Ctb567]

Thanks Carly...I believe it should be tested, but I have one pediatric dr for my daughters entire life...don't feel like finding a new one. I will look at site...thanks

[Sugarplumb]

I have them weekly for 3 months and then I every month for a year !!! I have Lupas ,ME,Fibro ect

[misty14 in reply to Sugarplumb]

Hi sugarplums

Hope you are feeling better on them?.X