In terms of history, a GP stopped my mum's B12 injections for 2 years when she asked for more B12 because of feeling so poorly based on a blood test result of 600. My mum sent a letter with information on correct course of treatment (maximum interval 3 months etc) and links to PAS information. The doctor called her on Friday and she missed the call, my mum called back and was told she couldn't speak to GP til Tuesday but she would need to phone at 8am Tuesday to ask for a call back.
The outcome - the GP didn't budge in her view, told her to take tablets but that she would need to buy them herself rather than have them on prescription. My mum held her own with the GP and asked to have her May injection (next one due) reinstated. GP said my mum would have to have another blood test to see her levels at the time.
So, frustratingly, the GP clearly hadn't read/absorbed the letter or any of the enclosed information from PAS and the irrelevance of testing once injections have commenced. My mum was fit for nothing on Tuesday after worrying all weekend and then getting up early to make the call and preparing herself for a callback. Days in isolation are so long anyway for her.
The GP also talked of injections stopping now because of COVID-19 so my mum has since forwarded an email I received from PAS saying this would not be the case in Wales as confirmed by Public Health Wale - injections may be delayed if the recipient has COVID-19 symptoms at the time the appointment is due.
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Colb53
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"The GP also talked of injections stopping now because of COVID-19"
Have a look at these two links which both have ideas on what to do if jabs cancelled because they are seen as non essential during pandemic. Apologies if I've already posted these in an earlier reply to you.
Many on forum source their own supplies and self inject. My personal feeling is that this is a last resort but many are being forced by current circumstances to consider this.
Some people get injections from private GPs and some find that high strength oral b12 eg tablets, sub lingual lozenges, sprays, drops help a bit. I think most people on here find that injections are more effective than other methods.
My mum has her ampoule in the fridge from prescription. Not been informed if nurse doing it . She is 90. Darnt touch it as nurse knows it's there waiting. Will see.
Not a good time to change GPs and no guarantee that any other GP would understand B12 deficiency any better, or trivialise it's effects any less. Your mum should not have to deteriorate in order to prove that tablets won't provide what she needs.
The World Health Organisation model list of essential medicines 21st edition (2019) has, under the heading "medicines affecting the blood: anti-anaemia medicines" on page 34: hydroxocobalamin injection: 1mg in 1ml ampoule.
Is this not exactly what your mum has just requested ?
nano2 had a post (yesterday?) with a link to BMA Guidance for GPs, which might help you. Have a look.
My levels, I would expect, are above the top of range still (at over 2000ng/L), as I self inject every 3 days. The last time my GP tested my blood for B12 levels was in 2016, and was the second time it had been over the top of the range. At that point, she was satisfied, stopped testing B12 and concentrated on folate, ferritin, vitamin D and thyroid. It took me 2 years of self injecting every other day to get to a stage where I was well enough to reduce the injections. It took about the same length of time to get folate and ferritin to stabilise at a level that stopped my hair falling out and my gums bleeding. I don't yet know how my osteoporosis of the spine is doing, as it was due to be tested this month and unlikely now to go ahead. I've never yet had a completely symptom-free day, but I'm surely due one soon. This is the best I have felt since 15/1/2015, when I first went to the doctor about everyday fatigue, diarrhoea and joint pain.
I have written to the Practice Manager at my local practice to ask them not to stop B12 injections as being "non-essential" during this crisis. I don't know what they are doing currently, as they have already stopped my injections (due to honesty about self injection).
I wrote out of a growing sense of horror after reading on here about how others have been treated. I ended the letter by saying that I did not need a reply, and that if there was anything I could do to help them, to contact me.
I suggest anyone concerned about what might be decided regarding B12 injections write and ask for self-injection / family member or partner's help under guidance, B12 and sharps supplied: this is already happening elsewhere and is I think the most reasonable remaining option if PPE for nurses is in short supply and so practice nurses unable to administer injections safely.
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