B12 Levels Plummeting

I've been having a variety of issues lately. My latest is my B12 level is dropping like a rock. I'll list the dates and levels and see what you think. Be mindful since they have been checking my B12 since last year, they have remained steady in the 700 range, until this last month.

4-11-2018 758

4-16-2018 590

5-12-2018 444

5-19-2018 Started experiencing new symptoms and went into the ER. They gave 1 cyanocobalamin shot/injection in the hip without checking levels. The next 2 days, started to feel better with no symptoms, then symptoms started coming back and deteriorating.

5-25-2018 Went back to the same ER (different doctor), refused to give shot. Went to my neurologist's office and he's on vacation and no on-call doctor available. Called my GP and he is out for the holiday weekend and the APRN's made the decision to not give injection due to my last B12 level (444), two weeks ago, being in the normal range. Went to 3 more Urgency Care centers and all stated they think it sounds like low B12, but none of them have in-house pharmacy to keep B12 on-hand.

Now it is 3 day holiday weekend here and I can't find anyone to help. I haven't changed my diet other than making sure I get ~100% RDA of all other B vitamins. I wasn't doing this before. This basically means I am eating more pork products like boston butt and pork loin, which are relatively high in the other B vitamins except for B12 and Folate, but I get those to complement with other foods like herring, oysters, orange juice, sunflower seeds, etc. I also tried cyanocobalamin tablets and methylcobalamin tablets again, but you can see by the numbers above, it is not working. Either I am not absorbing all of a sudden or burning through B12 at a rapid pace. Likely, a little of both.

What do you think is happening here? Want to place bets on whether I make it through the weekend without having to return to the ER again? I feel absolutely horrible. Dark lines coming from the corner of my eyes. Soles of feet burning, palms and fingertips burning, left shoulder and upper back burning, fasciculations all over my body and blurred vision. (These are all new symptoms, together) Ugh.

[pvanderaa]

Stress and worry burn through lots of B12 and it sounds like you are very stressed at the moment.

Are you also supplementing with folic acid so your body is utilizing the B12?

Have you looked at self injections? YouTube has some fairly good videos on how to self inject.

Energy drinks have B12 in them but if you have an absorbtion issue they don’t work well either.

Presume you are in the UK and can’t buy B12 over the counter at a pharmacy or chemist.

[Hidden in reply to pvanderaa]

I'm in the US where synthetic pills are our middle name. They will give me all of the steroid shots I want (which I refuse because I don't have steroid deficiency), but ask for a B12 injection and they act like you just requested an ounce of crack. Stress? The only stress I have is when I have to jump through hoops to get essential nutrients my body needs, like yesterday. I get 100% Folate now through food sources. My latest folate level was ~7, down from ~14 back in October. I get over 100% B12 in my daily diet, more like 200%.

You can purchase B12 injections online in the US, but I'm looking at delivery of late next week. My B12 tablets contain fake sugars (sugar alcohols) that spike my glucose and I really prefer not to go that route, especially if I'm not absorbing B12 in the first place. Really, all I need right now is a B12 injection to get me through the long weekend so I can see my physician on Tuesday morning and hopefully get him to run another test/issue a prescription until this gets worked out.

[pvanderaa in reply to Hidden]

My pharmacy in WV allows me to purchase extra B12 vials at full price whenever I travel. But I have a regular prescription with them.

[pvanderaa in reply to pvanderaa]

I get my syringes from them too

[KimberinUS]

im in the US and get injections from weight loss clinics but they are likily also closed for the holiday also.

you can try a good local suppliment shop and try to get 1000 mcg b12 pills and take one every 2 to 3 hours to hopefully get some through passive absorbtion. if you go this route you might try opening the capsule and swallowing the contents mixed in yogurt or something else to cover the taste, because your stomach acid may be low and not opening the capsule. if you buy tablets crush them first. those stores also have liquid b12 but it probably has sugar in it.

i wish you all the best in this stressful time.

[Anne1952]

Sorry to hear this I Pray you get help ! I’ve been on Vit B12 injections every 8 weeks for 4 years and on my last appointment with my GP was told because of people requesting this it’s now every 12 weeks my friend buys it from a German Company and gets her daughter to administer this ! I’m same with all your symptoms. Take Care c

[Panpal in reply to Anne1952]

You may be should complain to the health board in your area. We should not be left suffering because they have not informed GPs.

I am in Glasgow.

[Anne1952]

I’m sorry I forgot to say I’m in Scotland and because patients are getting this for feel good factor I’m most certainly not I’ve PM and feel awful when I need this I get confused pains & tinling burning infert and hands ! So much for NHS x

[Anne1952]

Hi I’m trying to find out where to purchase injector pen to administer myself? Not sure I would manage to do injections into muscle ! It’s awful the way GP,s treat you ! Thanks for your reply! 😀