Long term b12 deficiency.

[stumpnme1]

Hi, I have been deficient for around 15+ years and have 3-monthly injections which make absolutely no improvement to my myriad symptoms. I have never been referred to any consultant and wonder if it is worth making a visit to GP to see if he will refer me to talk about spine deterioration, constant pain, numbness etc etc etc..... Or is it too late to hope for any kind of active, normal life?

[spacey1]

You should definitely return to your GP. Either you need more frequent b12, or there's another explanation for you feeling so unwell. Go back and ask the GP to work with you to get you feeling better x

[fbirder]

go to GP and ask for two things -

1. A referral to a neurologist.

2. An increase in frequency of injections to every two months. The guidelines have recently changed. Ask the doc to look in the BNF.

[Nackapan]

Definitely get a referral to a specialist. Have you had mrisen scans? Keep pushing tout get a better quality of life.

[TroyNZ]

stumpnme1, in reply to your last sentence; there is definitely hope for an active life.

I was deficient for 16 years before my new doctor recognized what was wrong with me. I did the normal loading doses and was going to go on 2 monthly injections. When i told him, after 1 week, that I was crashing fast he put me on every second day. I have subsequently moved to daily injections and, one year later, I am coaching my sons football team and hiking with my son and daughter (things I could only dream of 10 years ago).

Everyone is different so you may improve faster or slower, you may get more or less improvement but, if you have a b12 deficiency, you will find improvement from what ever injection regime you settle on as best for you