Getting ill around injection time

[Teach2706]

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone else gets an Illness every time their b12 is due? Mines due next week and I've got laryngitis and conjunctivitis, 3 months ago before my last one I had a sick bug. I get extremely tired and cranky (awful my husband says) when I'm due my b12 for at least a month. Is it just because I'm so tired that I keep getting sick? Thanks everyone

[wedgewood]

I would say that you need more regular B12 injections . You write how tired you are , and that sounds as though your symptoms are starting to return before your injection is due . Try to get an injection earlier . If your GP will not agree , I would then self inject . Best wishes .

[Teach2706 in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you I will definitely look into it

[Nackapan]

I agree . Get your injections 2 monthly.

Bnf guidelines say 2-3 monthly now.

Write it all down as you have plenty of times to illustrate the problems.

Hope you get them more regularly soon.

[Teach2706 in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you 😊

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Info on UK treatment for B12 deficiency in following links

UK B12 documents

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

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

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...

Do you or did you have any neurological symptoms?

Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society....

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/admin/healthcheck/...

If yes to neuro symptoms then UK guidelines suggest a B12 loading jab every other day for as long as symptoms continue to get better then a jab every 2 months.

If no neuro symptoms present then it's

6 Loading jabs over 2 weeks followed by a jab every 2 or 3 months

GP may not know that above treatment pattern now says every 2 or 3 months; it used to say every 3 months. They may be using an out of date BNF book.

Another possibility is that you are living in an area of UK that has out of date local guidelines on treating B12 deficiency. Worth tracking down local guidelines for your area and comparing them with national guidelines eg BSH, BNF and NICE CKS.

How many loading jabs did you get at start of treatment?

Letters to GP about B12 deficiency

Point 1 is about under treatment of B12 deficiency with neuro symptoms present.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I've written a very detailed reply on another forum thread with lots of B12 info which you may find helpful. See link below.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[Teach2706 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks hun, I had 6 jabs over two weeks when I was first diagnosed in 2013. Now I have one every three months I'll have a read of everything 😊

[jillc39]

Perhaps you need a b12 more frequently?

[Marcieb]

You are having your injections too far apart. Get them down to at least 8 weeks, or. 6. You may need down to 3 like me. If your GP doesn't understand B12 get some of the GP advice leaflets from the Society to him. Still problems, our marvellous Chairman will do a phone consultation with your GP if they agree.. There should be a B12 GP expert in every surgery there are so many with it and so few GP's take time to look into it and learn. My original GP hadn't got a clue, someone else diagnosed me, like us all I was so very ill. He rang me at home in the evening to say see the Nurse in the morning, I need injections rest of my life,, she will explain! She couldn't! Lucky I had that second opinion and new GP. Be strong, keep nagging, inundate your GP with Info. Good Luck, we're worth it. Big hugs Marcelle xx