I'm ready to start my own treatment advice please

[Andypandy30]

I have had enough I want my life back and want to start self injections . I am in the U.K. And a little scared about ordering correct things . I also need to know how often I need to try injections and what type to get . I am currently on hydroxocabalmin 4 weekly . Is this what I order and do I still continue to get my inj from doctor and say nothing ?

[pvanderaa]

Have the nurse at your GP surgery show you where and how to inject.

They still can provide you with the prescription or if you want to inject more frequently you can buy B12 yourself. Some people in the UK buy it from Germany. I bought my first from Canada as I live in West Virginia.

There are also a bunch of youtube videos showing how to inject.

[miniskirt in reply to pvanderaa]

Ha, I told a nurse that I often inject myself with B12 & she nearly fainted (UK) she told me I was naughty and she was going to tell the Dr, still makes me smile.

[wedgewood in reply to pvanderaa]

Can you message The_will_of_Jill , who also lives in USA , and needs a source of B12 injections desperately . You say you get yours from Canada . I suggested a German online pharmacy , but it turns out they will not ship to USA . Thank you !

[pvanderaa in reply to wedgewood]

I just googled “sandoz B12 injectables canada”. Several web sites came up.

Some offer the 10ml vials. I bought 10x 1ml 1000 mcg/ml ampoules when I was first starting out.

The customs label came as vitamin supplements and I didn’t have any import duty to pay.

[wedgewood in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you very much pvanderaa . I have passed the information on to The_will_of_Jill

[wedgewood]

You can order Hydroxocobalamin from versandapo.de in English . Yes type all of that . You need to register for your first purchase . Search for Hydroxocobalamin. Drop down box will appear . Click on Hydroxocobalamin acetat . Then you will see the choice of either 1mg X 1ml ampoules or 1mg X2ml . The choice is yours . You can pay with a card or PayPal . Courier costs €9 no matter how many you order .

Syringes , Needles , swabs and sharps disposal box are obtainable from Medisave.uk Buying in bulk is economical . 1inch needle with a 25 gauge is the finest for injecting and absolutely painless . A longer needle is needed to withdraw B12 from ampoule. eliminate any airbunbkes by tapping the syringe

Look at several self injection videos . Some are good , some not so good . But it will be a help . Most GPSs will not cooperate and show you how to inject . I use my thighs alternately and keep account of injections . Dispose of needles in the sharps box . Most chemists accept the full box for disposal .

Strict hygiene must be observed . Of course you will be nervous first time . Then it will become routine .

If you say nothing you will still get your injections from your surgery . I told my doctor and now do not get them from the surgery . Buying in bulk (100 of everything ) means an injection costs about £1.00 Cheaper than catching the bus ! It’s your decision . I wish you all the best in your pursuit of better health BUT DON’T FOTGET TO SUPPLEMENT FOLIC ACID ! VERY IMPORTANT

[Andypandy30 in reply to wedgewood]

Thank u

[miniskirt in reply to wedgewood]

Hi, My Dr told me never to touch Folic Acid, am I missing something?

Thanks.

[wedgewood in reply to miniskirt]

It is well known that B12 works together with B9 ( folic acid ) You really need it if you are using B12 for deficiency . Not massive amounts obviously . Cannot understand a doctor saying that you should not touch it . You eat it on a daily basis in its natural form of folate .( green leafy veg broccoli , peas etc Clive alive ought to tell you all about it . He is the folic acid expert !

[miniskirt in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you. No I don't understand it either, he said no Folic Acid or Asprin! I remember it clearly as I was pregnant at the time & had to stop taking Folic Acid, he said for some it's important to supplement with FA but for others (inc me) it's dangerous! Think I need a word with Clive Alive lol. Thanks again. x

[wedgewood in reply to miniskirt]

But he didn’t tell you to stop eating foods with high folate ( folic acid ) content did he ? i.e greenleafy veg , peas etc.I would ask him the reason . It would be interesting for us to know. Nowadays pregnant women are asked to take folic acid daily .

[Hidden]

Hi Andypandy30. I found I was getting problems I wasn't prepared to put up with after about 4 weeks into the 3 month cycle and as I had been self injecting, with guidance and supervision at first, after the 2nd top up injection and so gave myself another dose which worked. Then the interval dropped to 2 weeks and finally 1 week. I was going purely on symptoms, mainly burning toes, pins and needles in hands, soreness at corner of mouth and tinnitus. The weekly schedule began mid August last year and I am just now extending that gradually so that now it is at 10 days. If it solves the problems I really don't feel I want to have to put up with anything.

I would, in your position, get the practice nurse to show you how to do it for yourself next time you go, and do it yourself under supervision at the next 4 weekly visit then off you go. The practice will probably be only too delighted to no longer have to make space for doing your injection once a month. The nurse should also arrange for a sharps disposal box for you.

I did discuss this with my GP and after referring him to this and the PAS website he was in agreement with what I wanted to do but felt constrained by the licensing terms for hydroxocobalamin. A stock of 100 ampoules came from Germany via a partner family member - they have a 2020 use by date - and the needles as detailed by Wedgewood.

I can request a script for 5 ampoules from the GP in July so I will do that - they will go into the stock.

You might think having the means to inject whenever you like could lead to you doing it too frequently but I don't think that would happen as even though I can now do it in just a few minutes is isn't something I relish having to do and only do it because not doing it causes problems. I usually do it into a thigh muscle just before getting into bed, always on my own and without distractions and I have a well practiced routine now.

Best of luck.

[Andypandy30]

Thank u

[Debs281172]

I just bought my needles, syringes, alcohol wipes and sharps bin from the needle exchange, very cheap I thought compared to amazon and a few other places I looked at but I’m still having trouble getting my B12 ampoules. I had my B12 today with the nurse and told her I was interested in self injection, she didn’t seem keen but understood my need, she told me to inject in the side of the thigh

[Andypandy30]

Thank u I wanted to ask where to get these x

[toph]

Buy needles and syringes from medisave . Co. Uk and the B12 1 ml from my care. De

Buy 100 ampuoles inject them everyday as shown on YouTube

this is what I did and the results have been quite good also go to b12d.org fill in the questionnaire and they will help you