b12 after effects

[gpw61]

Hi 6 weeks on from b12 loading injections im feeling nervy jittery and have

muscle aches i was expecting to feel a bit better than this ,also constipation i was

wondering if this is normal im due to see my GP at the end of the week

many thanks

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

A lot of forum members mention that symptoms get worse for a while before starting to improve.

You could keep a daily symptoms diary that tracks changes in symptoms over time and when you get your jabs.

This could be useful evidence of improvement or deterioration in symptoms.

Sometimes the rate of improvement is very slow. It can be hard to see any improvement from day to day but may be possible to see positive changes from month to month.

This link mentions possible side effects of hydroxycobalamin injections.

BNF

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

Adequate treatment?

I note from your previous threads that GP planned to give you 6 loading injections then I'm guessing an injection every 2 or 3 months?

1) UK recommended treatment pattern for B12 deficiency without neuro symptoms is ...

6 B12 loading jabs over 2 weeks followed by a jab every 2 or 3 months

2) UK recommended treatment pattern for B12 deficiency WITH neuro symptoms is ...

A B12 loading jab every other day for as long as symptoms continue to get better then a jab every 2 months

If you have any neurological symptoms, my understanding is that you should be on second treatment pattern.

Many forum members in UK get given maintenance jabs every 3 months. Both patterns of treatment allow for maintenance jabs every 2 months but GPs may not know this.

If you are on the wrong treatment pattern, it may take much longer to see improvement in symptoms and if you are unlucky there could be some deterioration in symptoms.

Neurological Consequences of B12 Deficiency

PAS news item

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Make sure GP is aware of every neuro symptom you have; I gave my GPs a written list of all my symptoms.

N euro symptoms associated with B12 deficiency include ....

tingling, numbness, pins and needles, burning sensations, insect crawling sensation, tinnitus, muscle twitches, muscle fasciculations, flickering eyelids, restless legs syndrome RLS, vertigo, migraine, clumsiness, dropping things, bumping into things, strange gait (unusual way of walking), word finding problems, forgetfulness, confusion, balance issues, brainfog, proprioception problems (problems with awareness of body in space), strange behaviour eg car keys in the fridge etc.

See links below for more neuro symptoms associated with B12 deficiency.

Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society....

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/admin/healthcheck/...

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

nhs.uk/conditions/periphera...

Letters to GPs about B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

Point 1 in above link is about being under treated for B12 deficiency with neuro symptoms.

If under treated, there are letter templates in above link that people can base their own letters to GP on.

Support for people with PA and other causes of B12 deficiency in UK

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS tel no 01656 769717 answerphone

PAS support groups in UK

pernicious-anaemia-society....

B12d.org holds support meetings near Durham, UK

b12d.org/event

There is a thyroid support group in West Scotland that also welcomes people with b12 deficiency and other auto immune conditions.

See link to Thyroid UK thread below.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I wrote a very detailed reply on another forum thread which has links to B12 books, B12 websites, symptoms lists, more UK B12 documents and other B12 info.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I hope you'll find some useful info in it.

I am not medically trained.

[gpw61 in reply to Sleepybunny]

thank you for your reply this helps a lot its just a lot to take in at first

again thanks

[Nackapan in reply to gpw61]

It is a difficult time. It can take a while. Stick with it . You will find ways of coping. Hope things improve soon as your body repairs.

[deniseinmilden]

You may need more B12 injections or these could be symptoms of magnesium deficiency. It would be good to have a blood test to check this, plus folate, potassium, iron and vitamin D.

Once you have had your blood test you may well benefit from taking a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement plus extra folate, potassium, magnesium, iron and vitamin D, ideally from your diet.

Well done for noticing your symptoms - they are your body's way of telling you that something is wrong and needs fixing.

I hope you feel better soon.

[MoKayD]

Try increasing your calcium, magnesium, and potassium intake. Make sure you are getting your potassium from food sources, not supplements.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to MoKayD]

Please note - many people experience diarrhoea as a result of taking magnesium supplements (though it is possible that the form of magnesium might make a difference).