Oral vit b12

[Annajw75]

Hi, I have Vit b12 injections every 3 months. So Do I have PA as no one has told me outright I do. Plus they have stopped my injections because of the Coronavirus. I will be taking oral tablets everyday instead. I did question that if I don’t absorb vitb12 how are the tablets going to be of any benefit. I was told I will absorb a little of it, but I have enough vit b12 in me to last 6 months, and I will have more vitb12 taking a tablet every day over the 3 months than I would with the injection. Is all of this correct. Thanks

[Nackapan]

If you look through the posts it's a hot subject.

PAS also has an information sheet.

High doses of b12 may work for some.

Keep ringing for a telephone consult with your doctor.

Write a letter.

Consider self injecting

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I copied this from a reply I wrote on another thread.

Injections stopped due to pandemic

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.

From PAS website

pernicious-anaemia-society....

There are lots of comments under the posts as well.

From B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/blog/202...

Blog post below asks for people to leave comments if their injections have been stopped due to impact of pandemic.

b12deficiency.info/blog/202...

Most recent blog posts/news items about stopped injections

b12deficiency.info/blog/202...

PAS statement published 11th April

pernicious-anaemia-society....

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. Some on forum source their own supplies and self inject.

Have you considered joining PAS?

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

There is a telephone helpline for PAS members to ring.

PAS support groups in UK

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Have you also considered putting any concerns about treatment into a brief, polite letter to GP?

In UK, letters to GP are supposed to be filed with medical notes. Letters could contain symptoms, test results, personal and family medical history, extracts from UK B12 documents/articles, info from PAS etc.

Keep copies of any letters written. It is useful to have a paper trail in case there is a need to complain in the future.

People whose injections have been stopped/delayed may want to think about drawing GPs attention to the potential for permanent neurological damage if a person is under treated.

If people start to suffer deterioration in symptoms due to injections being stopped/delayed/swapped for oral tablets I think it is important to keep GP informed.

If I need to do this I will be writing brief letters informing GP of any increase in/return of symptoms.

Neurological Consequences of B12 Deficiency

PAS news item

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS article about SACD, sub acute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, access to PAS members only.

pernicious-anaemia-society.... See Page 2.

At the moment, GP surgeries may argue that these are exceptional times and they cannot offer injections at the surgery. Some on forum have asked their GP surgery if they can be taught to self inject.

WHO (World Health Organisation) classifies B12 as an essential medicine so in my mind, people should not be denied treatment.

Unhappy with Treatment (UK info)?

Letters to GPs about B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

Point 1 in above link is about under treatment of B12 deficiency with neuro symptoms.

CAB NHS Complaints

citizensadvice.org.uk/healt...

MPs

May be worth informing local MP of any difficulties in getting treatment and contacting AMs in Wales, MSPs in Scotland and MLAs in Northern Ireland.

B12 article from Mayo Clinic

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Suggests

1) No proof that oral b12 is a good at treating B12 deficiency as B12 injections

2) Many current diagnostic tests eg serum b12, active B12, MMA, Homocysteine, are not totally reliable

3) Successful treatment should not be stopped

Symptoms Diary

I think it's worth keeping a daily symptoms diary which tracks changes in symptoms over time and when any treatment is given. It could be useful evidence of deterioration ( or improvement) in symptoms that could be shown/copied to GP if necessary.

I wrote a very detailed reply on another forum thread with links to symptoms lists, causes of b12 deficiency, B12 books, B12 websites, UK B12 documents and other B12 info which you might find helpful.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I am not medically trained.

[briarhillcat]

I have pernicious anemia so my stomach does not asbsorb B12 in any form. I need the injections. So fed up with all of this. So worried.