Signs you are due a B12 injection?

[Starlight1976]

For those of you that take vitamin B12 injections regularly, what signs does your body give you that indicates you are due a shot? I have been having B12 shots due to Macrocytic anaemia caused by low B12. I've had loading doses and self-injecting as needed. I have a couple of health problems with some cross over symptoms. It's been a month since my last injection (4 weeks and 3 days to be precise) and the last couple of days I've had fatigue and brain fog. I'm due to inject this week but trying to get used to recognising symptoms in my body and what is causing what. So, may I ask you what signs does your body give you that you are overdue/due a shot?

[Nackapan]

Sounds like you just passed the time you needed an injection as your symptoms returning

[pvanderaa]

Brain fog. Ask your GP for more frequent injections or self inject.

I’m on weekly cyano self injections but I fill in as needed with Methylcobalamin sublinguals

[Starlight1976 in reply to pvanderaa]

Thanks for that. I have had brain fog the last couple of days. I'm studying for an exam and really struggling. I have Hashimotos (low thyroid) as well so try to work out what symptoms are causing what. I used to get nerve pain before being diagnosed with B12, this has stopped now. I self inject but had run out of injections(getting more today). Initially I did loading doses, then once a week, then once a fortnight and was trying to work out ideally how often I need them. I think I'm going to stick to once a fortnight. I was feeling a bit overzealous injecting so frequently but needs must.

[ChrisG123 in reply to pvanderaa]

The sublinguals can't do it for you on their own? Have you tried taking a larger dose of sublinguals and dropping the injections to once per week?

[pvanderaa in reply to ChrisG123]

It all depends on my level of activity and stress. For my normal work and commute, sublinguals are not enough.

A couple of weeks ago, my weekly cyano prescription ran out and I survived on methyl sublinguals for a week and a half while I saw the GP and got the annual blood tests, physical and had the prescription renewed. I doubled up my the methyl dosage to 40,000 mcg and barely got by.

The better I feel, the more I try to do, and I consume more B12. That is true for both injections and sublinguals.

With injections at $3.75 per month with insurance and sublinguals at $18.75 OTC for a bottle of 300x 5000 mcg tablets that last me a little over 2 months , it’s really a matter of economics.

But I feel much more stable and the roller coaster ride is pretty much gone of the weekly injections and support with sublinguals to fill in as needed.

[ChrisG123 in reply to pvanderaa]

Wow, 40,000mcg of sublingual sounds like a lot. And here I was worried about going all the way up to 10k

Great to hear that you have things under control and that those injections are so affordable!

[fbirder]

I normally inject Mondays and Thursdays. This week I forgot the Thursday one until Saturday evening. I started feeling antsy and irritable on Saturday morning when I was taking two friends to the airport. I kept having to stop myself from snapping at them for nothing.

Felt fine on Sunday.

It's a very subtle change and I sometimes don't notice it - until it's pointed out to me.

[pvanderaa in reply to fbirder]

I’ve been there as well

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

I find my wife is a good indicator as she complains I am in a grumpy mood when I need an injection.

[Nanc72 in reply to fbirder]

Oh lord, I get snappy too! I didn’t link it to the b-12.

[Wagonwheel]

It is such an insidious disease.

I was bidaily si for around 6 months then increased the time between in response to my doctor telling me b12 has become a psychological crutch/placebo. Despite knowing this is baloney it got to me.

So I extended to a month which was ok for that month then 2 weeks later I realised I was unable to think or make decisions clearly, suffering from depression, irritability (a kind of physical desperateness), brain fog and chronic fatigue so back to once a week. I've started running again which has been ok but think I probably need twice weekly as this seems to bring symptoms on earlier.

The symptoms seem to sneak up on me before I realise I need an injection and have decided that if my doctor maintains that I'm addicted to b12 then I shall start buying it from Germany.

[Starlight1976 in reply to Wagonwheel]

Thanks for your response. That's would I had found the last couple of days, heavy head, fogginess, irritable and low mood and very tired. I'm living overseas and it only costs approx £1.20 for 5 amps, bought this morning and just done an injection. You are right about it sneaking up on you.Before I found out I had a problem with B12 I used to get shooting pains in my body, but I don't get this when due an injection, its mostly fatigue. Its usefull to compare to what others experience so I can be more body aware.

[Wagonwheel]

I hope I don't have to start buying from Germany, on nhs prescription it costs £9 for 15 ampoules and from the little research I've done it would cost me around £30 including delivery.

For me too, the extreme symptoms of the deficiency, numb toes, falling over, severe brain fog (like a door closing on my line of thought), don't return but I guess they would if I left it too long between injections. I think I've had pernicious anaemia for years, at least 3 probably 5.

[fbirder in reply to Wagonwheel]

Last time I bought hydroxocobalamin it cost €57.19 (about £50) for 100 ampoules - including postage.

Postage from Vesadnapo is €9 regardless of quantity. 10 ampoules costs €8.49 - versandapo.de/vitamin-b12-d... - so 20 of them, including postage will be €26 (£23) including postage.

[Wagonwheel in reply to fbirder]

Thank you fbirder, I now recall that I looked post a month of abstaining from self injecting!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

In my case, signs I need more B12 are...

1) Tinnitus returning

2) Eyelid flickering starts again

3) Muscle twitching starts again

4) If I leave it a bit longer, pins and needles/tingling in my spinal cord

5) If I leave it more than a couple of weeks, my mental health starts to deteriorate

[Hel195]

I get tired tend to fall asleep, irritable and snappy. I have an injection every 3 months, I am having my injection this afternoon as I am 2 weeks overdue.

[tomdickharry]

I get sore tongue, blank brain, balance problem, falling asleep at rest, tinnitus increase.