Gp not happy I'm going to SI

[SarahFerguson]

Just told my Gp I've purchased B12 from Germany, she wasn't happy. I'm worried now, how can we be sure we are injecting the right thing?! I'm going to see her again shortly to push for jabs monthly.

[ellj]

I wish you luck asking for more frequent jabs....It seems that most of us end up Si route.

Personally my own GP told me that if I did not trust his judgement we could not continue a doctor / patient relationship . I felt that as a threat and since he has Infact been really great over the years do not want to change to,s. They usually pass on any difference of opinions between them and a patient asking to change practice anyway so now I self inject but don't mention it.

I am pretty sure he knows I do and will continue and we are both just ignoring the fact.

Best of luck.

Ell

[auntieb in reply to ellj]

That's disgusting. He is blackmailing you to keep you as a patient. I understand that you would be reluctant to change, it's not that easy but you need to stand up for your rights. See my reply to Saarah above, good luck x

[Gambit62 Administrator]

most of the B12 used in this country is actually manufactured outside the UK - generally the brands sourced from german on-line pharmacies are precisely the same brands as those used in GP surgeries in the UK - though the packaging is specific to the UK so the patient leaflet is different - eg in Germany the protocol is monthly injections for maintenance but the covering leaflet in the UK would show the UK licensing arrangements.

On-line pharamacies will be subject to the same reputational risks and professional standards as UK pharmacies - only difference with B12 is that in Germany injectable doesn't make it a prescription only medication.

[wedgewood]

You can rest assured that you are getting excellent B12 from a German online pharmacy . The ampoules that I use , called " Rotexmedica" are the ones that are used in many NHS surgeries in the U.K. . German online pharmacies are subject to very strict controls . At least as rigorous as here in U.K. . So you don't need to worry at all

There's nothing to stop you trying to get more injections at the surgery . I met a complete brick wall when I did that I was more or less told that I was imagining things . . I told my doctor also that I was self injecting . She put it in my notes My feet are no longer numb,, no more confusion or brain fog etc etc . My faith in doctors has now been totally destroyed . I would have to feel I was at death door to go to my surgery now . I just won't go to the doctors anymore . I just cannot trust them after how I was treated

[SarahFerguson in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you wedgewood, I'm in the same camp as you now. Although I'm going back one last time to see GP as she did phone me yesterday in response to my letter (she actually admitted she new very little about PA-B12 def- so, maybe I'm banging down that brick wall! As for German pharmacy I do feel rest assured that medication will be fine. I also managed to speak to Dr Chandy from B12d.org yesterday about SI and feel a bit more confident in dealing with mine and my 18 year old son's PA. thank you for all your adv x Sarah

[auntieb]

I just posted on another thread about this Sarah. I was in a similar position. I've had PA for 38 years and I self-injected for most of them, until someone somewhere decided it was not the right thing to do anymore, as well as change to 3 monthly. I've battled with my docs ever since but about a month ago I just decided to take the bull by the horns. I wrote a letter to back up what I was saying, mainly because it's a group practice and I know decisions are made in meetings so it would be unfair on that one particular doctor to have to say she broke the rules for me. But I told her it was now non-negotiable. I was too ill to just sit back and take it anymore. I wanted monthly injections and I wanted to SI. If they insisted on saying no, I was going to withdraw treatment from them for that particular condition and take responsibility for it myself by purchasing the things I needed online. She didn't want me to do that so agreed to a trial of monthly for the next 3 months. I feel so much better now,, yes I do still hve symptons when my injection is due but I think that would happen even if I had them weekly. However, I am at least able to function as a human being again. The fog has lifted, I actually feel like I have a brain again. Heaven knows what damage has been done by their stupid rules, I'm convinced my recent DVT was a result of my B12 getting so low. So be strong, tell them what YOU want, you're not a sheep to be bundled in with everyone else who has this condition. You're an individual, your needs are different to mine. Good Luck!

Oh and buying online, well you can't be sure. I did actually purchase from one of the chemists in Germany and I sent them an image of my prescribed meds and asked them to confirm that the one I had picked was the same, they did. so maybe that's an option for you?