Feeling rubbish after injection

[H212312]

Hiya, I managed to get the dr to give me the B12 every 8 weeks, instead of 12 weeks. Just had my second 8 weekly one, and while I didn't feel so bad in the run up to it like I did last time, once I've had it I go downhill! Dizzy, so so tired and this time pins and needles in my hand and arm. I've been taking daily folic acid as I read here that can help and I'm on daily Vit D - is there anything else I can do?? I've had to take time off work yesterday & today because I'm too tired to function and I can't keep doing this everytime I have an injection!! Thanks in advance.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi H212312

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.

[H212312 in reply to clivealive]

Hi, the dr's put me on 6 months of folic acid last year when they diagnosed the B12 deficiency but then stopped it. I've started taking folic acid i bought in the shop after seeing one of your posts saying that we use up a lot of folate when we get the B12 topped up. Do you think its worth me asking for a new blood test to check the folate levels? My iron has been in the normal range every time i've had it tested (about 3 times in last 9 months)

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to H212312]

It wouldn't hurt to re-test your Folate but I'm not sure if taking folic acid now my "skew" the result.

The fact that you have been Folate deficient before suggests that you may have become deficient again.

Please remember I am not medically trained.

[JanD236]

I see that in an earlier post you were considering the possibility of re starting loading doses. I assume this didn’t happen?

I do wonder if you need more frequent injections. My GP started me straight on injections every 2 months (no loading doses), then allowed monthly which improved how I was feeling. However, it wasn’t until I started self injecting weekly that I felt as if I got my life back!

A lot of people on this forum find they need more than the Nhs allowed 4-6 injections a year. Perhaps it’s something you need to consider?

[H212312 in reply to JanD236]

Hiya, I'm waiting for the results of the sleep test before I approach about loading doses again as I don't think they will do anything until we get that back. The haemotoloist replied to my GP saying 8 weekly injections were fine - which we all know are if there are neurological symptoms - but I can't see them giving me them more frequently and I don't really want to go down the route of S.I. It's more this time that I feel so pooly after having the injection. My arms and legs feel really heavy, headachey, general fatigue - depsite having a good nights sleep!

[H212312 in reply to H212312]

Sleep test results came back - no sleep apnea - which is exactly what I thought. So I am getting onto the Drs tomorrow to argue my case for the loading doses again. Fingers crossed!!