Following my previous posts about finally getting a low B12 test and starting on loading doses, I've had a partial success in continuing them past the standard '6 in 2 weeks'.
Just thought it might give others encouragement that it is possible to achieve if you are persistent and consistent in stating your case.
In my case, it involved the circuitous route of talking to the nurse on my first injection, getting a negative response from the neurologist, having an email conversation with the person who wrote the guidelines used by the neurologist, sending the nurse a letter and finally this morning talking to a doctor I'd never seen before (my regular GP is away).
Not sure if it was the big pile of guidelines I had with me, along with hand picked quotes, or that the doctor wanted to get rid of me, but she agreed to another 5 alternate day doses, by which time my usual doctor will be back and I can reassess with her. (This is in line with the 'reassess after 3 weeks' in the BSH guidelines anyway, so is as much as I could reasonably expect I think).
I found that the nurse was probably the most interested in my issues - perhaps because she is the one who does most of the injections and sees the sharp end as it were (pun intended :P). It was her that suggested I go back to the neurologist since my GP was away, and her that booked me in to see a doctor at short notice.
It also helped I think that I wrote letters and showed that I was taking an interest in my treatment, but without being aggressive or argumentative. They will be on record for future too, which will hopefully make things easier going forward.
After my 5th jab this morning I am just starting to notice the numbness in my little fingers diminishing, so hopefully that's a sign that things are starting to correct themselves - time will tell how long that will continue, but I consider it progress.
Gavin