B12 Injections

Hi, I've been diagnosed with B12 Deficiency & am starting Injections at the GPs this Friday.

I'm a little confused to be honest as the GP has prescribed me B12 Vials that I then need to take along with me for the nurse to administer. (I know of 3 others that have B12 Injections, but the vials are kept within the surgery... they all belong to different surgeries!)

Does it vary surgery to surgery? Has anyone ever been prescribed B12 this way?

Kind regards

[fbirder]

It does vary from surgery to surgery. Quite a few seem to do it the way you describe. Stupid and a waste of time and money if you ask me.

[Hidden in reply to fbirder]

Thank you for your reply, its very much appreciated.

[Nackapan]

Yes I've heard of this. I also think a stupid idea. It's been done in the district for some time . It goes wrong there as nurses expect the vials delivened by another person to be at the persons house. So also a wastes of time and money. Happened to my mum. The nurse was rooting through her fridge as though he couldn't believe herwhen she said they didn't deliver them. He had to go back!

When I was very poorly there no way I could've collected the vials first from a chemist. Too many things to go wrong. Fortunately they have them delivered to the surgery enmass .

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you for your reply, it's very much appreciated.

[Chinaxo]

Hi, I am also having the injections - after the loading dose where the surgery took from their own supply, I was then prescribed the vials and I now have to take them to each appointment. Seems strange to me but there must be some reason for it.

Hope this helps!

[Hidden in reply to Chinaxo]

Thank you for your reply, its very much appreciated.

[Chinaxo in reply to Hidden]

No problem. Hope the injections will help you to feel better soon

[Hidden in reply to Chinaxo]

Thank you.

[buster_uk in reply to Hidden]

It saves the surgery money, after all it's only a vitamin in there eyes...

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Suggest you read following guidelines. If you have neurological symptoms, treatment should be more intensive but some GPs are unaware of that.

How many loading jabs are you having?

How often will you have B12 jabs after loading doses are finished?

Have you been tested for PA and Coeliac disease?

UK B12 documents

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...

Flowchart from BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

Flowchart outlines process for diagnosing PA and Antibody Negative PA in UK

BMJ B12 article

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5226

Emphasises need to treat patients who are symptomatic even if their B12 level is within range.

BNF

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/hydrox...

BNF guidance on treating b12 deficiency changed recently.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

NICE CKS

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

B12 books I found useful

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). Book does not show updated BNF info.

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive with lots of case studies. There is also a paediatric version of this book "Could It Be B12? Paediatric Edition: What Every Parent Needs to Know".

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS tel no [phone] answerphone

PAS support groups in UK

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Blog post about how PAS can support PAS members seeking PA diagnosis

martynhooper.com/2017/06/24...

B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/

I am not medically trained, I've written other much more detailed replies, may be worth searching for them. More B12 info in pinned posts on forum.

[Londone16]

I keep my own and take them to the surgery every three months.

[Hidden in reply to Londone16]

Thank you for your reply. Its very much appreciated.

[Janma123]

We had to collect from the chemists in the first place. Hubby had to take his with him for the loading doses - but our doctors have 3 surgeries and his appointments were not all at the same one. After the loading doses they were kept at the surgery.

[Hidden in reply to Janma123]

Thank you for your reply. It's very much appreciated.

[ODAAT77]

Hi Willow. I’m in a similar boat to you. I recently arrived at the GP for my last loading dose and found I had forgotten my B12. The nurse said she’d have one in the cupboard that we could use and then I could replace but when we looked we discovered that my loading shots were a higher dosage than the ones she gave out 3-monthly, so maybe your dose is the same and that’s why you have to collect them. Just a thought...

[Londone16 in reply to ODAAT77]

I was told there is only one dose - strength

[Hidden]

Hi, I have been given 10x Hydroxocobalamin Loading Doses at 1mg/1ml each. I'm assuming how often these will be given will be discussed on Friday at my appointment?!

Its confusing as my GP never explained any of this to me. I had a phone consultation yesterday with her about another issue & then she said "make an appointment to have your B12 injections". When I went to collect my prescription from the pharmacy (about the other issue), that's when I discovered I had these B12 vials also.

I'm learning a lot by being on this forum & some of the responses I have had are beginning to make sense.

[Hidden]

It probably means they don't have to fund the cost of the ampoules themselves.

Our surgery made a mistake last year when my daughter asked for her annual B12 5 pack prescription and was given a script for just a single one. We were concerned this may have become the latest crazy idea for some crackers reason so queried it. The explanation was almost understandable but it was a mistake by the issuing GP who didn't read my daughters notes and assumed she was going to the surgery for the nurse to inject her. This meant he had to issue a single ampoule script to be given to the nurse so she could keep their records straight when she used their stock.

So long as you are getting the injections you need then go with the flow and let the poor dears in the surgery do as they feel appropriate. Otherwise they might sulk and get a strop on and that would never do.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. Its very much appreciated.

Yeah you're right. I'm just going to turn up Friday & discuss with the nurse what my next steps are.

[Lurcher-lady]

Mine did it this way Willow7975 for the loading doses, then refused to give regular shots. They’re hard to fathom at times 🙄

[Hidden in reply to Lurcher-lady]

Thank you for your reply. It's very much appreciated.

[Curlygal]

I get a single ampoule prescribed every 3 months. The practice nurse taught me how to self inject so I just go to the treatment room every couple of years for more needles etc and to demonstrate my technique. But I also top up my B12 with weekly injections of B12 from Germany.

[Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. Its very much appreciated. I'm most definitely finding everyone's responses extremely interesting.