B12 levels in the elderly

[Boo222]

My 93 year-old mother has recently moved into a care home in a different county, obviously resulting in a new GP surgery. There had been a discrepancy regarding the date her last prescription was dispensed. Her previous surgery says 2018 which is ridiculous. The district nurses have been supplying the ampoules and we have the signed sheet they are required to fill out at each visit. However, the new GP has taken 2018 as gospel and ordered blood tests. Result was "over 1,000" which was deemed too high, don't want to overdose, and suggested retesting in 3 months! Her next scheduled injection is due in 5 days and she won't be getting it. I'm increasingly worried now that coronavirus is causing lockdowns, that she's going to slip through the net. What do we have to do to educate GPs? It's beyond frustrating.

[Ritchie1268]

I feel your frustration, it's beyond ridiculous!

I'm a member of the PAS & I know people have contacted them to intervene in situations like this.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Have you considered joining PAS?

In some cases they can intervene directly on behalf of their members. At very least they can pass on useful info.

There may be some disruption to helpline during pandemic.

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....

Unhappy with Treatment (UK info)?

Letters to GPs about B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

Lots of useful B12 info on above website.

Have you considered writing a letter to your mother's GP expressing your concerns?

Letters could contain symptoms, date of diagnosis, recent treatment given, test results, extracts from UK B12 documents etc...

CAB NHS Complaints

citizensadvice.org.uk/healt...

Suggest you read following UK document which makes it clear that retesting of B12 levels is irrelevant once treatment has started.

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

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

English Articles from Dutch B12 website.

Units of measurement and reference ranges may vary from those in UK.

Testing B12 during treatment

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

Treatment with high dose vitamin B12 been shown to be safe for more than 50 years

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

"The district nurses have been supplying the ampoules and we have the signed sheet they are required to fill out at each visit. "

Perhaps you can copy this information and show it to manager of care home and perhaps send a copy with any letter to her new GP?

I wrote a detailed reply on another forum thread with links to B12 deficiency symptoms lists, B12 books, B12 websites, other UK B12 documents and other B12 info which might be of interest.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I hope you find something useful in it.

I am not medically trained.

[Boo222 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Many thanks for your reply. I am a member of PAS. I've been contemplating the best way forward. I think a letter of concern to the care home manager might be my first step. After all, it's in her interest to keep her residents in the best health possible. She'll probably have more influence where the GP is concerned. Thanks again.