Dr refused my b12 injection cause I SI

[area16rep]

Are they allowed to do this ?

[Hidden]

I suppose he/she thinks if you’re self injecting there’s no point in them duplicating the procedure. Also some Drs think you can overdose B12 ( I understand you can’t as it’s a water soluble vitamin)

[Baggy8]

Mine said he was going to stop authorising mine. I told him that I expected to be treated by them 8 weekly as per the current guidelines. I would be willing to come in to discuss the possibility of me reducing this vitamin supplement if he would be kind enough to give me the evidence proving it could damage me. He agreed to continue with 8 weekly.

For me it's important for my deficiency to be on my record, in readiness for the day that I have a knowledgeable GP 🤔

[Jennie16]

Mine refuses to do any jabs or any blood testing for b12 because I si.

I also get a warning, every time I go to the docs for anything else, of the dangers of overdose and ordering medication over the internet!

Needless to say, I don't have a lot of faith in my doctor!

[wedgewood in reply to Jennie16]

There can be dangers in ordering medication over the Internet if the said medication is toxic . But we order from German online pharmacies ,which are at least as well regulated as ours . B12 injections are prescription - free in Germany , as they should be here . ( maybe they will be here one day 🤞! )And B12 injections are NOT TOXIC .

[Jennie16 in reply to wedgewood]

I've given up explaining this to my doctor... Brick wall!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Sorry to hear that your GP has stopped your B12 jabs because you SI. Has GP explained why?

I'm guessing GP may think high levels of B12 can be harmful. Links below may be of interest.

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines (UK document)

b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...

I self treat because my neurological symptoms return very quickly after an injection, way before the 2 or 3 monthly maintenance jabs of NHS treatment.

If your symptoms return very quickly after B12 jabs from GP, have you asked GP what they recommend you do?

Do you keep a symptoms diary? This may be useful evidence of how quickly symptoms return.

I also wondered if there is any chance GP might refer you to/contact a haematologist/neurologist if you have neuro symptoms due to B12 deficiency. However you may get same response from specialist doctors.

NICE CKS (UK document)

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

Queries about treatment

My preference is to write brief, polite letters to GP with supportive evidence eg symptoms, extracts from relevant B12 documents etc

Letters to GPs about B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

Are you a PAS member?

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK. Offers support and info about PA.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS tel no [phone] answerphone

PAS support groups in UK

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Sazntef]

I would suggest caution injecting something bought on the Internet. Pharmacy drugs are produced to strict GMP regulations in labs that are inspected to ensure they're meeting the required standards. You won't have the same security for Internet purchases and could be taking a massive risk. Sterile preparations, if not done properly, just mean you could be introducing harmful bacteria to your system.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Sazntef]

except that using an on-line pharmacy means that you are using the internet to purchase and I suspect this is what is being referred to.

[bdole2018 in reply to Sazntef]

The said injectable medication is being manufactured by reputable European pharmaceutical firms and sold by licensed German pharmacies. The fact it is online is really irrelevant in 2018. UK pharmacies have been doing online and mail order prescription dispensing for over 15 years now.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

GPs can refuse to treat patients who are undertaking private treatment - this was a major issue for people suffering from macular degeneration a few years ago when the NHS would only treat the problem in one eye but many patients had problems with both eyes.

In providing any treatment GPs are required to use their professional judgement. The only person who can tell you exactly why they are not allowing further injections is your GP - all any of the rest of us can do is speculate

[glinks in reply to Gambit62]

Gambit62, just checking – if a NHS Dr refuses someone because they are undertaking private treatment, presumably they can only refuse treatment for that same condition? So, if someone is having private treatment for a B12 deficiency, but goes to their NHS Dr for help with, say, a sprained ankle or a lump in their breast (i.e. something unrelated!) presumably the Dr can't refuse treatment for that unrelated condition?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to glinks]

I think it can end up getting very complicated as the GP could in theory claim that the bond of trust between patient and clinician has broken down and refuse to treat. You would have the option of looking for another GP in that situation. Not saying that would be the case here.

[glinks in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit62, I think my worry was that the NHS system as a whole could refuse to look at other conditions – the claim that the bond of trust between patient and clinician had broken down would indeed be true in my case (it has!) and I no longer trust their judgement in things B12 related. So looking for a new GP would have to be the solution.

And then there is the other situation I'm faced with in relation to private treatment – I asked for a Neurology referral to investigate my symptoms (which I still think are probably B12D related, they do improve with B12 jabs!) – GP is happy to refer, but the waiting list in my area is "up to a year" so, if I want a timely consultation, I'm effectively being forced to go private!

[Teloch]

Best thing to do is not tell them, though in my case it made no difference .

[Annnon58]

“Waiting for Godot “