Do I tell my GP

[Sunshine1932]

Morning all

I have moved locations so now have a new GP. I have not told them I was previously receiving a b12 injection every 3 months as I cannot be bothered with what I may be challenged with or if they say no you do not need them.

Therefore I have continued to self inject 3 times a week and hoping I improve.

Would you say this is a mistake not being under the GP now and I should tell them?

It all becomes stressful when trying to convince.

Thanks

[Nackapan]

I personally in that position would start afresh.

See what regime they will offer first.

Its 2-3 months anyway they should give.

I'm still going to Gps

2 weekly fir mine.

Took some discussions but only thing that's helped me.

Test the water and if you prefer to havve what you are doing on your medical notes say you were driven to self inject

Many on here have had negative responses but some have managed to get the treatment they need. Either at the surgery or by prescription.

It really shouldn't be like this.

Doctors should know how many b12 injections people are needing to cope.

Difficult . Hope new surgery are open to reading material from PAS .

My Gp says shes learning from me . Not great as i need direction. She however is trying . I have to push or suggest referrals too.

What I wouldn't do is have a b12 test at new surgery. Start as you mean to go on. They are not necessary once on injections. That may be a good start for highlighting bnf guidelines.

Hope it goes well.

[fbirder]

I may be moved to a new practice soon as I@ve moved half a mile outside the catchment area of the old one. If I am moved I shall fight for my current treatment regimen of one injection every two weeks.

I don't really need it as I self-inject twice a week. But if I should ever need to go abroad and take B12 with me, or get hospitalised for a long period, I'll have official evidence that I need frequent jabs.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

If only to get all your back-up tests and monitoring, I think it's best you tell them.

Folate, ferritin, vitamin D and thyroid - mine are all checked fairly regularly. Folate and ferritin especially took a while to get to a useful level and stabilise, although I started supplements etc in 2016. Last test results were my best in about 5 years.

If you have a Pernicious Anaemia diagnosis, you should not have to convince new practice: it is not a curable condition. If your last GP was ensuring you had a B12 injection every 3 months, what was the reason given for (I'm guessing) initial low B12 test result, and why did they test your B12 in the first place ? There is no reason for a retest now.

When you change GPs, doesn't your medical file go to the new practice ? So won't they know about your B12 injections ?

Whether or not you choose to tell them that you are self injecting - that's a separate issue and involves a level of trust which has not yet had a chance to develop.

I have made a point of being honest with everyone about self injecting - but it certainly distracts some consultants away from the issues that prompted the consultation, which is usually to do with one or other deficiency symptom. Being pushed into a defensive position can be really time-consuming and annoying if you have waited months to see them.

This is also when you need to have a GP who is supportive of your decision, and has seen the improvements gained by doing so and the deterioration on the NHS frequency that prompted this action in the first place. Who can choose to ignore a consultant's advice regarding B12 injections, based on monitored patient response.

So maybe not yet - but let's hope you get a good one !

[Sunshine1932 in reply to Cherylclaire]

Thank you