I will make this short and sweet. I'm not going to list all of my problems just know that my ENTIRE life is being affected because of B12 deficiency. Everything from physical to mental and all in between! It is difficult to even live everyday life ie...having energy to clean up or cook or do anything! All of the mental health stuff kicks my butt constantly...I can go on and on and on!!
Basically, I am tired of living my life! I can't continue this way anymore! I am tired of dealing with these Dr's! My question is, does anyone know where/how I can purchase B12 injections to self treat? I know my body! And I'm not going to allow them to keep telling me that I don't know what I am talking about and that my life isn't that hard to live! Something has got to give!! And it's not going to be these da** Dr's!
Sorry it is so difficult dealing with doctors - been there
I am assuming that you don't have an actual diagnosis of B12 deficiency from a doctor.
There are things you can try before going to injections - ie injections aren't the only way of supplementing B12 though they may be on the face of it the most efficient.
Other options are sublingual tablets and sprays, nasal sprays or skin patches.
As B12 is a vitamin these are all quite easy to get hold of and some are even available through high-street chemists, though most of us probably use internet suppliers.
I am also assuming that you are UK based - so problem is that because it is injectable, injectable B12 is a prescription only medication. However, it isn't prescription only in a lot of other european countries so you can source from a pharmacy in another european country. There is a bit of EU legislation that allows you to import medication for personal use if it isn't available in your home country but is necessary for your health so there aren't any legal problems with doing this providing it is for personal use. Germany is a favourite country - lots of people use amazon.de. I use mycare.de. goldpharma is another popular source but I think there have been problems in the last year with payment methods etc because of changes in US legislation around money-laundering which has had an impact on the processes that goldpharma. Don't know if these problems are resolved.
However, please do bear in mind that the symptoms of B12 deficiency have a huge overlap with other conditions ... and there may actually be more than one thing going on.
Thank you so much! I will look into it! At least now I have some hope! It has been a long hard road. I needed a break!
One problem that I am having with Dr's is that I have moved around so much that I have not been able to spend enough time with one Dr. And out of all of the Dr's I have seen, none of them have taken me seriously! I try explain what I go through on a daily basis and they just don't have time! I guess I don't have the right words to make them understand just how serious and dangerous this has gotten. What do I do?
Now, I am finally in a place that I am pretty sure I will be staying for a little while so I need to find the right one!
I really don't have an answer re getting GPs to listen. Some find that they can get their GPs to listen by leaving them with evidence - writing can help but it can be very difficult, and sometimes passing on to them a book like Sally Pacholocks a"Could it Be B12?" helps them to realise just how serious the condition is.
If you're already dealing with a skeptical physician, or one who simply isn't listening to you, I think it's best to give them a printout or send email link of a scientific paper/article rather than one written for lay people.
When I was first diagnosed with B12 Def. I read several books in addition to researching scientific information. I think that "Could it be B12" is the best I've found, but even it gets a bit "excitable" and heavy on exclamation points at times. The latter might turn physicians away from it.
I believe some of the best professional information is in:
Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders, from British Society for Haematology
I printed off a list of symptoms from a B12 Def site and ticked all the ones which applied to me. The Dr was able to look at it quickly during the appointment and then took me seriously. I have tried leaving longer things for them to read and they just don't read them. They refused a book on B12 Def - didn't have time to read.
Sublingual B12 lozenges or tablets and sprays are available online and I have found Amazon most cost effective. I buy 5000 mcg B12 and personally liked Solgar best, then Jarrows Formulas and then others. Although the dose is 1/day, I have taken up to ten a day with positive results! B12 Boost Spray is also very effective for me and works quicker but if I take extreme doses I get a sore throat! Look them up for the latest deals and keep checking as the deals change. You can get them for about 10p to 12p / dose.
There are other good online suppliers but I have bought my B12 ampoules from versandapo.de. I set up a PayPal account which was easy to do and deals with all the exchange rates and taxes. If you open the website in Google Chrome it can automatically translate everything for you.
100 extra strength ampoules cost me £84 including delivery. They sell smaller boxes too. I think other people have bought standard strength ones for much less than this. Look through past posts.
Needles, syringes and sharps boxes are readily available online but I needed mine immediately (my Dr stopped my daily jabs without warning) so got mine from my vets.
100 x 21Gx1.5 draw up needles and 100 x 23Gx1 injection needles plus 100 syringes cost me £32.
I hope this gives you an idea. Good luck! Don't be afraid to ask more. x
I'm in U.S. and order B12, cyanocobalamin, from Canadian site and can definitely recommend their products and excellent service:
Buy-Otc.com
I also bought their syringes with needles attached: BD 3 ml Syringe, Luer-Lok Tip with BD PrecisionGlide Needle. 25G (gauge) x 1in (0.5mm x 25mm)
I'm a retired RN and was happy to see BD as they have been around forever and are considered a reputable company, as is Cytex, the maker of the cyanocobalamin. It comes in 10ml multiple dose vial/bottle with rubber stopper under the cap. 1000mcg/ml, for Intramuscular or Deep Sub-Q Injection.
I self-inject into thigh and these needles are slick...barely knew it was in! (Using multi-dose B12 eliminates the need to break glass vial and potential cuts.)
AWESOME!! Thank you so much!! I will look into all it. I really appreciate you!!
I already have a PayPal acct. But I don't think I can get into it. Can I just set up a new one? Where online can I get the needles, syringes and sharps? That was going to be my next post. lol
Hi there, I believe you can obtain B12 lozenges on the internet. You are not alone. Please join the PA and get some advice. I know exactly how you feel as they reduced my injections from every 3 months to once a year. I had to fight with my doctor to get them more frequently again. The Pernicious Anemia Society was a great help to me and you can buy a book from Amazon online. I seldom go out myself as my energy levels are very low. i HAD TO WAIT 2 YEARS FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND NOW I FEEL LIKE AN OAP AS I CAN HARDLY WALK, I GET BRAIN FOG, TIRED BUT CAN'T SLEEP. I SIT HERE PLAYING GAMES AND WATCHING TV ALL DAY. MY PARTNER HAD TO GIVE UP HIS JOB TO CARE FOR ME. I AM ONLY 54 NEXT MONTH AND FEEL ABOUT 84. I WOULD WITH A STICK BUT AS PA, ASTHMA AND ARTHIRITIS. I ALSO HAVE DIABETES AND I AM OBESE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THIS BUT I NEED MORE HELP. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH. PS. I AM SCOTTISH.
The Pernicious Anemia facebook group maintains a list of sources of B12. You have to request to join the group, once you're accepted you can view the files section that contains this and a lot of other PA-related information.
I’m in the same boat in it’s awful. I’m waiting for the practice manager of the GP’s surgery to call me back. I’m on my knees now and don’t know what to do. My PsA has flared too and I feel like throwing myself off the Erskine Bridge. I’d never manage though as I’ve not got the energy ☹️
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