B12 injection reaction

[Marrob]

I’m in the UK, I had my first B12 injection yesterday and today I’m feeling very dizzy and unstable on my feet! Any one else had that reaction, I’ve to have one injection every second day for two weeks and then on every three months! Worried how I might feel if I’m reacting to the first one like this! Thanks

[Nackapan]

Many do get worse before better as you start to get repair work .

Your body has gone from very low to very high levels.

I initially thought I was having a 'bad reaction'

The nurses and doctor seem unaware of this so don't reassure you.

If you Google hydroxocobalamin it will list things that would be a worrying reaction.

Hope things settle soon for you.

[th3joker]

I get this if I have injections given via IM around the 1ml mark, I switched to 0.25ml SubQ weekly which gives no side effects at all and is far less painful.

[Priscilla17 in reply to th3joker]

Evening,

Just read your reply to this older post and wondered if you could explain a little further, as it could be really helpful for me

I'm guessing Sub Q = subcutaneous. I didn't know you could inject b12 this way, thought it had to be intramuscular!

Where is the best site to inject?

I normally inject 0.50ml, as the 1ml used to really make me feel so awful, my symptoms are still happening with 0.50ml and I've tried magnesium and tested all other levels and they are fine, so I need to give this regime ago.

Thank you very much

Priscilla

[deniseinmilden]

You need to talk to your doctor about this, before you have another jab and I would suggest that you get your folate levels checked ASAP.

B12 works in conjunction with folate (B9) and it maybe that you are low in this too. As the extra B12 works it can use up your folate reserves so that you get folate deficiency symptoms as well - which include dizziness, anxiety and fatigue.

It does a similar thing with many other nutrients so if you are on regular jabs you may well benefit from a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement plus extra folate, potassium, magnesium and maybe iron and vitamin D, ideally from your diet. You can look these up to see what dietary sources of these you will like.

[fbirder in reply to deniseinmilden]

Especially - ask for potassium to be checked. If you had megaloblastic anaemia then your body will be making use of all this B12 to go on a spurt of making red blood cells. This will increase the body's demand for folate, iron and potassium. Stores of iron and folate should be able to handle this in most people (although many with PA will also be deficient in those two) but the body doesn't store a lot of potassium.

[Hidden]

Hi, I had my 1st B12 loading dose on Friday 11th & an hour later my arm hurt, I felt dizzy, nauseous & flue like. It only lasted about 2hrs & then I felt fine.

I'm currently due to have my 4th loading dose today & I can honestly say that I have felt ok with the rest of my Injections.

As everyone can react differently it's difficult to say if it is a one time occurrence for you. I hope the rest of your Injections go ok & without any other side effects for you.

[Christina1988]

Hello, I have had my two weeks worth the other month. I felt like this too, and so far, I don’t feel anything but worse.

[buster_uk]

Its perfectly normal. Despite what some may tell you. Get your other electrolytes and minerals checked..

[Marrob]

Thanks everyone who replied, lots of helpful advice, had second one on Friday and so far dizziness settling and beginning to feel better all round! Keep healthy all xx

[Marrob]

Here I am again after fourth injection and feeling as bad as ever! I feel very odd, dizziness, floating feeling, arms feeling very heavy! Will keep going to no. 6, if no improvement looks like a GP visit, hey ho!!

[jonnylongton]

Hi Marrob, how are you after your 6th injection. I didnt have any adverse effects, but ive had my 6 , plus 3 x 3 monthly ones , im still feeling no better than before. I darent tell the dr in case he tries to take me off them , so im going to try for every 2 month instead of 3. Hope this finds you well an after your 6th things are much better for you

jon

[Marrob in reply to jonnylongton]

Hi Jon, had my 6th on Monday last but I’m afraid I’m still feeling pretty bad! Last night was the worst, I had been out shopping in the afternoon and don’t know if I had done too much, I have absorption issue due to high output ileostomy and feel quite weak most of the time but the muscle aches, dizziness, palpitations and weakness were the worst I have felt! I’m getting twitching in my arms and legs too, beginning to wonder if there’s more going on than B12 problems! Don’t be afraid to be firm with your doctor, that’s what they are there for, to help us feel better, trouble is half of them just don’t know, where we go from here I’ve no idea! Take care!

[jonnylongton]

Hi Marrob, thank you for your reply. Im going to have to make it clear to the dr that this is making me worse and not lasting the 12 week. My whole body seems to have the shakes all the time, worse if i get stressed, some days i cant even sign my signature when i go get my prescription that they do it for me as they know me. Sorry i cant help on your absorption issue due to high output of ileostomy as i havent an idea what that is.

But your shakes could be due to something as well as PA, i have also been diagnosed with a "mylonic tremor" , but i still think its my PA what has a lot to do with my shakes, palpatations, twitching, and deffinately my depression and anxiety. Since ive had it i find when im alone its worse, but if i see my partner it eases alot, when she goes it returns again , sometimes when shes not here my head gets the fog, i get the shakes i feel my world has crashed, ive explained this to her and she doesnt really understand, she hasnt even read into PA to see the symptoms, and if i tend to go tired or fall sleep cause im absolutey shattered she has a go at me and tells me it was a waste of time her coming see me, and i tell her its not me its my illness, or if i get a little irritable , which ive told her i can do now ive got this, she doesnt listen, she will say "why have you gone moody and picky" i apologise and say please try understand. Im so loving to her 95% of the time but the 5% i arent because of my anemia shes onto me straight away, i beg her to read this site but she wont.

Ive seen so many people on here who say their partners are supportive and understand and i think "i wish mine was like that", she knows not seeing her makes me feel not right i dont know why, ive never had this before, but she should of come over and stayed, yet she text and said she was too tired as she was up late the night before. I was gutted i just put the phone down. I text her after and said im fed up of not being understood we might as well finish it, which i didnt mean as i love her to bits, ive text today saying sorry but she should not of let me down and i asked in the text are we still together, not had a reply since 4 hours later.

How ive wrote this i will never know and im very sorry for harping on, but i dont have no one else to talk to as all my family have passed away. So i get a lot of loneliness amongst all my pain due to a degenerated disc problem where every disc in my spine have collapsed. So a mixture of pain, diabetes, PA, anxiety, depression, mylonic tremor, and cirrhosis of the liver (non alcoholic cirrohsis) as i dont drink.

Days like today take me to dark places, need i say more.

I do hope you get your problems sorted Marrob, and once again so sorry for my auto biography .

Take care

Jon

[Marrob in reply to jonnylongton]

Hang on in there Jon, we all have good and bad days, it can be hard when a partner doesn’t understand but it can be difficult for them too, it’s not easy watching a loved one in pain! The main thing is to make sure your doctor listens to you and you get as well as you can be, everything else will fall into place! Look after yourself!

[jonnylongton in reply to Marrob]

Thank you so much Marrob, that is a really nice positive reply. I know im down for pain management in Jan, i do my best not to show it, or my PA, but im making sure the dr hears me next time i go.

Thanks again Marrob

Take care

Jon