Restarting loading doses?

[H212312]

Hi, I started 6 loading doses last June after B12 came back at 89, and then on 3 monthly injections. Drs retested B12 as I was still feeling awful in November - which they aren't meant to do - however mine came back at 300, which I think is still pretty low considering I'd had the loading then maintenance injections. Dr then sent me for for sleep apnea test ,(because of my fatigue) which I am waiting on results, although I 100% don't think I've got it! After lots of my own research and great advice from here, I have successfully argued with the Drs in January into giving me maintenance shots every 2 months now because of my neurological symptoms, but I still feel really bad with fatigue/muscle spasms/random pins and needles (these are the main ones I'm suffering with). I was wondering if anyone had any luck in requesting the loading doses again? Because I should have had more at the start I thought this might give me the boost I actually need!! Thanks in advance.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi H212312 there would be no harm in suggesting a re-start of B12 loading doses.

It is also important that your Folate level is monitored as this is essential to process the B12.

There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:

symptoms related to anaemia

reduced sense of taste

diarrhoea

numbness and tingling in the feet and hands

muscle weakness

depression

Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (one of many causes of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[Ritchie1268]

Hi.

Your symptoms are similar to mine, that is until I started to self inject myself as my Dr also wanted my B12 levels tested again, so I gave up asking.

I was diagnosed with Central sleep apnoea back in December 2016 where, after a sleep study, was told I'd stop breathing on average 80 times per hour.

Due to it being Central sleep apnoea (where the brain doesn't tell you to wake up as you've stopped breathing, unlike the most common "obstructive" sleep apnoea) the standard CPAP machine for sleep apnoea made it much worse so I had to have an ASV machine.

The interesting thing is, since being diagnosed with B12/Folate & PA & now having regular B12 injections, my sleep apnoea has virtually vanished!

I have a Resmed ASV & can see results after every night & almost every night now, since increased B12 injections, the AHI's which are associated with a decrease in blood oxygenation, are around

0.1 - 0.5 per hour.

Anyone with an AHI of 5.0 or below per hour are classed as not having sleep apnoea.

I'm at the sleep clinic today so am going to ask them what there thoughts are regarding any known link between B12 / PA & sleep apnoea, as I'm yet to read of any connection. But in my case I'm convinced my sleep apnoea was caused by B12 & or Microcytic Anemia!??

Maybe worth mentioning to your Dr?

[Ryaan]

Seems like you need more frequent B12 injections after the loading doses to increase your level as I don’t think 3 monthly or 2 monthly injections will do the job.