B12 injections stopped

[twoclocks]

My GP has stopped B12 injections using the pandemic as a smoke screen. Blood tests are now required to see if you still need them!! I have injections every 10 weeks, and am now 4 weeks overdue. So I had the said blood test on the 15th June 2020, had to wait a week for results to be told that my FBC is okay and now need a B12 blood test, which is booked for tomorrow. I have had a few conversations with the Practice Nurse and all I keep getting told is wait for the blood results, which I have already told her will come back normal. She wasn't interested when I told her the correct way to test is have the injection straight after the blood test, then a blood test again after a few days to see how much the levels have increased. I have been refused a prescription to self administer (I was previously a Community Nurse so know what I am doing) or someone to administer it for me. I feel reading other experiences that this is a forgone conclusion, so much for the b-s-h guidelines to get everyone back on injections as soon as possible.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

a test a few days after an injection will be meaniningless and a waste of time.

It sounds as if your GP may be following one of the many confusing pieces of information issued by the RCGP during the earlier months of the pandemic rather than following the last guidance issued by the BCSH. The last version of guidance issued by the BCSH that I am aware of can be found here

b-s-h.org.uk/media/18259/bs...

Have you tried sharing this with your GP.

[LittleA]

I suggest you get your doctor to refer you to a

Haematologist and talk to them about it, get them to write to your gp that you need your b12 that is the only way I would suggest.

Also I would get your folate acid and vitamin D checked those can cause you to feel worse off and together with your b12 it’ can feel like a heavy weight is on you

[Coastwalker]

Also, ( I might be wrong,) but doesn’t taking folate or folic acid hide over or mask a vitamin B12 deficiency ?

I suggested a young man get a blood test as he was quite ill.

His finger prick vitamin B12 serum blood results came back as insufficient (sadly not deficient) and his folate was under range, (he never took the folate as I recalled that taking folate/folic acid could mask a B12 deficiency result.)

He went on to have an active vitamin B12 finger prick test for just £25 and that came back as under range. He’s now awaiting blood results from his Dr., that might be interesting. 🤔

[Spirit26]

Do you Live in Gloucestershire ?

[Spirit26 in reply to Spirit26]

Ask this as have had really poor treatment for B12 injections.

[twoclocks in reply to Spirit26]

No South Yorkshire

[Litatamon]

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

How frustrating. And what a waste of funds.

[redkatruby]

My docs have said I need a test now too. So going to wait as long as possible before doing it

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I left a detailed reply about impact of pandemic on B12 treatment in UK in next link.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po.....

I wrote very detailed replies on another forum thread with links to B12 deficiency symptoms lists, causes of b12 deficiency, info about tests for PA, list of B12 books, list of B12 websites, more UK B12 documents, letters to GP about B12 deficiency and other B12 info including hints on dealing with unhelpful GPs, which you might find helpful.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I am not medically trained.

[twoclocks in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thank you i will check them out

[Morgansare]

So glad I found this thread, my B12 has also been stopped, the doctor would not listen to me and said when I had a blood test last may I didnt need them so they should have stopped then! I was so shocked by his aggressive tone I didnt say anything! He then went on to say he had booked me in for a blood test in a communal building which under the current circumstances i didnt visit, I'm now sleeping 10-12 hours a night and am grateful I work at home because most days I dont have the energy to get dressed, thanks for listening, I'm very sad about it.