New here

[Lorrained8]

I got my first b12 injection today don't know what to exspect any advice would be welcome

[Lisahelen]

If you can give a bit of background story as to why you are having b12 and what sort of things you want answers for someone should be able to help.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Lisahelen]

Sorry Lisahelen my reply crossed with yours.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Lorrained8 as we are all different so will our reactions to the B12 will be different.

Were you asked to sit quietly for ten minutes? I seem to remember a slight metallic taste in my mouth when I had my first injection but that was 45 years ago.

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself? What diagnosis do you have? What frequency of injections are you on? What symptoms do you have?

How old are you? What other medications are you on?

Do you know whether your Folate level has been tested? If so what was it?

[Lorrained8 in reply to clivealive]

I take thyroxine and metformin I'm 58 years old

I wasn't told to sit quietly for ten minutes after my injection

I started to feel tired and sad in mood three years ago

I put it down to being diabetic

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Lorrained8]

Hi again Lorrained8 that you are Type 2 Diabetic (as am I) the fact that you are taking Metformin will have an adverse effect on you Vitamin B12.

In addition you have a thyroid problem which again can cause a B12 Deficiency so that probably helps to explain why you are being given the injections.

You need to find out what your Folate level is as this works with the B12 and can be "used up".

Another pointer is your age as people aged sixty and over are at risk of becoming B12 deficient as the level of acid in the stomach declines and you are approaching that age.

That you don't eat meat is another possible cause as we get B12 from eating animal products.

However, the good news is that the injections will certainly help. It may take time and will depend on the number and frequency of them. Can you tell me what that is?

You and I have a lot in common so if you have any more questions please come back and ask.

I wish you well

[Lorrained8 in reply to clivealive]

Hi Clive Thankyou for your message

I will find out about folate and let you know is that iron if so they are saying my iron is normal but I'm anaemic

I'm getting six injections within the next 14 days then every three months for a top up

Are you a type 1 or 2 diabetic

Thanks again Lorraine

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Lorrained8]

Folate is Vitamin B9 also known as folic acid and is sourced naturally by eating leafy green vegetable, sprouts. broccoli, beans, peas, asparagus etc. However folate gets "used up" processing the B12 you are having injected so it needs to be at a "healthy level" and supplemented if necessary.

I am Type 2 diabetic which is why I was aware of the effect of Metformin on B12 levels as I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for 45 years.

[Lorrained8 in reply to clivealive]

My folate level is 4.5 the nurse told me today it's normal

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Lorrained8]

Without knowing the <from - to> ranges used by the lab it is difficult to comment although to me it seems you folate level is a bit on the low side despite being flagged "normal".

I suggest you ask your GP whether you need to supplement with folic acid for a few months to raise the level while you are having the B12 injections.

"Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body. Vitamin B9 works with vitamins B6 and B12 and other nutrients in controlling the blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine".

Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) University of Maryland Medical Centre

[Galixie]

Everyone tends to have different first experiences. Some people really don't feel much of any change just after the first injection while others have reported feeling a little worse. I was lucky. I happened to feel better than I had in a long time within the first 24 hours after my first injection. For me it was the ah ha moment when I realized I was finally on the right track to feeling better. I hope you get an experience similar to mine.

[rosyG]

I don't notice much but start to feel tired when my next injection is due- to the extent that I start to think about booking it !!

[Lorrained8]

Sorry I should have gave more info I'm a type 2 diabetic I also have a underactive thyroid

I'm trying to lose weight I'm 18 stone I'm also not a meat eater and I've lowered my carbs eight weeks ago so I could lower my blood sugars and also lose weight

But I've been feeling depressed and very tired for a long time

I had a blood test that said my iron level was ok but I'm anaemic it also showed my b12 was 120

[Newberryk]

I found after having a couple of injections I felt a lot better more energy and my appetite got a lot better I couldn't stop eating IV never been a great eater only managing a quarter of my dinner but when having the b12 jabs I was eating everything on my plate and eating 3 meals but I found after a couple of weeks after finishing my loading doses of b12 I'm starting to feel weak and tired again so iv had my levels checked again waiting on the results hope you start to feel better soon

[Lorrained8 in reply to Newberryk]

Thankyou I hopefully will feel better too I've also not got a big appetite I struggle to eat a lot

Hope your results show what's happening I'm in the uk and they can give a monthly injection if need be

Let me know what happens with your results

[Lorrained8]

Feeling well today I didn't need a afternoon nap and that's just one injection