Would blood tests 3months after last b12 injection be accurate?

[Saya85]

Hi all

I don't have PA but had very low b12 this time last year and many neurological symptoms

gP gave me loading injecitons and then 3 monthly injections since

I've found after 2 months I get symptoms again and was using b12 spray (better you brand) to top me up until next injeciton.

Any blood tests that's I've had before 2 months has shown a very high over range active b12 level.

I want to know whether I really still am b12 deficiebt so I haven't taken any further supplements since last injection and aim to have a blood test at end of 3 months..... I do feel like.im getting a lot of symptoms again but I'm also low on thyroid dose ATM too.

Will the blood tests be accurate enough after 3 months ? Should I leave it longer ? ( I have other tests on the same request sheet which I don't want to leave for much longer)

I don't want to give my GP ammo for not prescribing b12 injections but at same time I want to see if my symptoms correlate with blood tests (I know they aren't always representative)

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

[fbirder]

Once treatment has commenced no further testing is recommended. Blood levels of B12 are irrelevant. What is relevant is - does the treatment adequately address symptoms.

[Saya85 in reply to fbirder]

Thanks

i thought that applies mostly to cases of PA but if someone has a temporary deficiency maybe they don't need lifelong injections ?

I'm questioning it more because we are trying to conceive too and I have read and been advised that too much b12 during pregnancy can also cause problems like autism in the baby.

Furthermore I'm not sure if my symptoms are more due to hypothyroidism' or b12 ATM.

I guess I should cross it off and just see if my symptoms improve with the next injection

Thanks again

[Ritchie1268 in reply to Saya85]

I have read the opposite where too little B12 could cause issues.

The owner of the attached site has posted about this on Twitter also.

b12awareness.org/

[wedgewood in reply to Saya85]

Please quote chapter and verse about too much B12 during pregnancy causing autism in a baby.

[wedgewood in reply to Saya85]

I believe that patients with B12 deficiency /untreated PA are likely to find conception difficult or impossible.

[fbirder]

That sounds like American anti-vaxxer scaremongering.

[Saya85]

Thank you all for your comments

fbirder Hidden wedgewood Ritchie1268

Yes I am aware b12 deficiency is often a cause for fertility issues and miscarrisges and that's what started this process for me.

It was someone on this forum who commented about the autism/b12 link and at the time I did research it and found some research to support that -/i don't have it to hand atm

But most evidence shows deficiency problems during pregnancy and obviously if you do have PA/deficiency it is perfectly safe to have injection during pregnancy etc

I guess I just wanted to know if I was right to feel that my symptoms were b12 related rather than all thyroid and just wanted confirmation that its not in my head (!) Hence just testing to see if levels do indeed lower after 3months of no further supplementation

But I do run the risk of GP saying I'm now normal and not giving me injections. I definitely have now developed more of the specific b12/symotoms I was getting initially so I'm probably right in feeling it's b12 related but sometimes you just doubt yourself in this journey.

Thanks again

[Ritchie1268 in reply to Saya85]

You're right to check & I know exactly what you mean when you say you doubt yourself.

All I was told when my Dr got my results was.

"You have a B12 deficiency, Folate deficiency & Pernicious Anemia"

When I asked what that meant, all I was told was, "you need B12 injections for the rest of your life" and that was that. There was no, this is why, or this is how it can effect you etc, (probably because like many other Dr's, he's unsure!)

I'd never even heard of what he said I had! I couldn't even remember how to pronounce PA at first, I kept calling it Premenisis anemia or something daft!

I'm so pleased I found this site with the many experienced & very helpful people on here. Also the PA site is a great site.

All the very best with everything.

[Saya85 in reply to Ritchie1268]

Goodness- I really do wonder why some doctors are so poor at communicating

Sometimes they want to brush it off as something harmless or not serious so as not to worry patients but I think they don't always realise they're doing the opposite!

Thank you for understanding 🙂 this is definitely a supportive space and forum and I have learnt a lot whilst on here

P.s. you mispronouncing PA made me laugh

My husband recently had a haematoma from an accident and needed an ice pack... He kept asking me how to pronounce it every time he went into a chemist as he almost asked the first one if they had an ice pack for his haemorrhoids 😂

[Ritchie1268 in reply to Saya85]

You're more than very welcome.

I know nothing about my diagnosis but am learning, thanks to the people on here.

All I know is, after keeping a diary of how I felt after injections, I improved greatly after 3 days, for only 3 days, then went downhill fast again. This happened again after my second 3 monthly one also.

So I bit the bullet & have been self injecting every other day since before Christmas & I'm feeling loads better now.

I still have issues but, I'm hoping they will also start to improve in time.

Good luck

[Saya85 in reply to Ritchie1268]

Glad you're feeling better

And have the confidence to self inject

I don't have PA but do consistently seem deficient in all vitamins

Having b12 loading injections was a lifechanger - I couldn't believe the difference it made.

Might be worth posting the residual symptoms you have on a new post

They may not all be b12 related so others may be able to advise you where to look next

Best of luck regaining your health

[Ritchie1268 in reply to Saya85]

Thank you!

After seeing an amazing nurse yesterday for my 3rd 3 monthly injection, she couldn't believe my Dr hadn't referred me to a haemotoligist. She was going to speak to him about it.

She even agreed with me self injecting & showed me exactly where & how to do it etc etc.

So there is hope 👍

[Saya85 in reply to Ritchie1268]

Oh wow that's brilliant (!)

Yes in your case that would certainly make sense

So nice the nurse was actually clued on and helpful!/ theres hope yet it seems....