New self injector what to do? - Pernicious Anaemi...

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New self injector what to do?

Louise234cats profile image
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Ordered b12 to self inject. What else will i need and how often should I inject? I have my last loading doeage on Monday so I've currently been having them every other day. Tia x

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Louise234cats
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pvanderaa profile image
pvanderaa

There are some good YouTube videos to learn the jargon and where in inject. Then talk to your public health nurse to show you the latest techniques.

Get alcohol swabs to clean the injection site.

Get 1ml insulin syringes. For IM, use 25 gauge x 1 inch needle ( 0.5 mm x 5 mm).

For cyano B12, inject weekly to start with. For hydroxo B12 it is monthly.

Keep a logbook of everything you do.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

They should continue every other day if toh have neurological symptoms by your doctor until no further improvement. Bnf guidelines.

Go by your symptoms

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood

I hope that this helps a bit Louise234cats . You need to inject often enough to keep your P.A. symptoms at bay . This will involve a bit of trial and error.

Help for U.K. Pernicious Anaemia /B12 deficient patients and others wanting to self-inject B12 .

ALWAYS MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE HYGEINE WHEN SELF-INJECTING .

B12 ( Hydroxocobalamin) ampoules can be obtained from some German online pharmacies . These pharmacies are strictly controlled by the German Health authorities , so no cause for concern . No prescription needed in Germany for B12 ampoules ( how enlightened !) Many members of the forum obtain their B12 ampoules from these pharmacies, and they are very reliable .

bodfeld-Apotheke.de ( in German , but can be obtained in English from a drop-down list on the top right-hand corner of the site .)

versandapo.de ( in German only so you might need a translation app. Or use Google Chrome . )

These pharmacies use a courier for deliveries , and take about 4 working days .At the moment a delivery costs about €9.00 , no matter how many you order .( I order 100 at a time with a use-by date of 2 1/2 years hence . )

You can pay with a card , PayPal or Amazonpay .

I register( anmelden)with the pharmacies that I use . It makes it easier when you re-order.

amazon.de ( German Amazon ) available in English ) The disadvantage here is that the several pharmacies who supply B12 ampoules through amazon.de ,do not all deliver to U.K. You need to trawl through them till you find one that does .

Search for Rotexmedica vitamin B12 depot . Don’t forget “depot” because you could otherwise order Cynocobalamin accidentally, which Rotexmedica also produce . Cynocobalamin would work for you , but the NHS uses Hydroxocobalamin. Cyno is cheaper . These ampoules are 1mg x 1ml .

Hevert, another company produces 1mg x 2ml ampoules

Pascoe manufactures 1.5mg x 1ml ampoules .

Needles , syringes swabs and sharps disposal boxes can be obtained from medisave.co.uk Always buy 100 of every item ( no , not the disposal boxes !)

I buy long withdrawing needles 21G x 1 1/2 inches . The withdrawing process makes the needle blunt when it reaches to the bottom of the glass ampoule ( ouch!)

I use a 25G x 1inch needle for injecting .

Open the ampoule using a swab wrapped around it , to avoid nasty cuts . The weakest place on the ampoule is marked with a spot on the neck . If you have a problem with this , a device called an ampoule opener , about £3.00 , is obtainable from amazon.co.uk

exchangesupplies.org also supply needles and syringes .

I use a 2ml syringe , although the ampoule is 1ml . This ensures that I get every last drop of precious B12 out . I pull out the plunger on the syringe, after having broken off the top of the ampoule ( having first flicked the ampoule to get all the B12 into the bottom) I inject the air in the syringe SLOWLY into the ampoule .Then when the plunger is pulled out again , every last drop of B12 is sucked into the syringe . Now the injection needle is put onto the syringe , and all the air in the syringe is expelled by pressing the plunger carefully, until a tiny droplet of B12 appears on the tip of the needle. Now you are ready to inject into the middle outside third of your thigh, where the muscle is nearest the surface ( vastus lateralis ) Inject at an angle of 90 degrees .

If you are needle-phobic , there is help in the shape of a device called an auto-injector , costing about £100. This is available from a Danish company unionmedico.com . If you intend using this device , you need to use the equipment that the company supplies for the auto-injector . So don't order it from medisave .

I don’t use one but I’ve heard good reports on them .ok

The above method is called Intra -Muscular . ( I.M. ) you can find videos about it on Utube Some are good , others not so .

You can also inject Sub-cutaneously ( sub-cut) A shorter needle is used . I know nothing about this method , except that it is an accepted way of injecting B12 .

If you are injecting B12 fir the first timer, you should have someone nearby , in case of anaphylactic shock . This is a very rare reaction , but I feel obliged to tell you.

Do not worry about overdosing on Vitamin 12 -You cannot . That’s a proven fact.

I have been self-injecting for 4 years now , but I do remember how very nervous I was the first time . I was shaking like a leaf🌿! . I don’t turn a hair now .It has changed my life . Don’t be impatient .Also some people feel worse before they start to feel better .

Remember to include vitamin 9 in your daily diet ( also known as folate in food )found in green leafy vegetables , peas etc .In tablet form it’s called folic acid . A modest 400mcg tablet daily would be good .It cannot be stored for long in the body .B9 works synergistically with B 12 .

Very best wishes .

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