Oh dear.

[wongy215]

Saw the locum today for 3rd jab.instructions from my original doc I see him in 2 weeks. I queried having the proper loading dose of at least 6 and he agreed he would either treat or not treat but I need to see my own gp.losing faith in him now....and the results locum had up on screen were not the low levels I've had he said he didn't have access to these .sounded strange to me

[clivealive Forum Support]

Maybe the locum didn't have full access to your medical records on screen or didn't know where to find them.

How are you feeling anyway? Any signs of improvement? Is your Folate level OK.

[wongy215 in reply to clivealive]

My main symptoms were tiredness and leg pains and weakness. Both have greatly improved but I've been on leave from work this week so hard to judge. Improvement seemed short lived tho and today legs really heavy again so hoping today's dose will kick in but worried about going back to work on Wednesday with no further jabs in sight

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to wongy215]

(ADVICE ON FREQUENCY OF INJECTIONS)

Ideally you should be receiving more frequent injections as the BNF guidelines say below of treatment with Hydroxocobalamin:-

By intramuscular injection, pernicious anaemia and other macrocytic anaemias without neurological involvement, initially 1 mg 3 times a week for 2 weeks then 1 mg every 3 months

Pernicious anaemia and other macrocytic anaemias with neurological involvement, initially 1 mg on alternate days until no further improvement, then 1 mg every 2 months.

Is your diagnosis P.A? If so this is the treatment you should demand to be getting.

[wongy215 in reply to clivealive]

No real diagnosis,intrinsic factor etc negative ,think this is why dr reluctant to treat my symptoms

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to wongy215]

Sadly the IF test is known to be only 50% accurate.

Do you see yourself in any of the list below?

Who’s at greatest risk for B12 Deficiency?

Anyone at any age, can become B12 deficient. Thus you need to be tested immediately if you develop the symptoms described in this chapter. However, certain people are at an elevated risk. They include the following:

Vegetarians, vegans and people eating macrobiotic diets.

People aged sixty and over

People who’ve undergone any gastric and/or intestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery for weight loss purposes (Gastric bypass).

People who regularly use proton-pump- inhibitors. H2 blockers, antacids, Metformin, and related diabetes drugs, or other medications that can interfere with B12 absorption.

People who undergo surgeries or dental procedures involving nitrous oxide, or who use the drug recreationally.

People with a history of eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia).

People with a history of alcoholism.

People with a family history of pernicious anaemia.

People diagnosed with anaemia (including iron deficiency anaemia, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia).

People with Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten enteropathy (celiac disease), or any other disease that cause malabsorption of nutrients.

People with autoimmune disorders (especially thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease) Type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, lupus, Addison’s disease, ulcerative colitis, infertility, acquired agammaglobulinemia, or a family history of these disorders.

Women with a history of infertility or multiple miscarriages.

Infants born to and/or breast fed by women who are symptomatic or are at risk for B12 deficiency.

From page 23 in the book “Could it be B12? – an epidemic of misdiagnoses” by Sally M. Pacholok R.N., B.S.N. & Jeffrey J. Stuart, D.O.