Head Pressure! Please help!

[CDALY474]

Anyone have pressure at the base of their skull? I think it coincides with when I get an injection. I am currently on loading doses every other day of hydroxocobalamin. Is there any relief from this pressure? It’s so awful! (Also when people say symptoms get worse before they get better 1. I don’t think I had this pressure before the injections deff had lightheadedness but not this pressure and 2. Then when do you know you can stop loading doses?)

[Sleepybunny]

Hi

Has your GP/doctor checked your potassium levels?

Some people experience a drop in potassium levels when they start B12 treatment.

If you're in UK and you have neuro symptoms, BNF suggests every other day loading injections until symptoms stop improving then an injection every 2 months.

There is no set time limit in BNF for the every other day loading injections if neuro symptoms are present.

They could continue for weeks even months although count yourself lucky if you're in UK and get more than 2 or 3 weeks worth.

It's my feeling that in UK, doctors often don't give loading injections for long enough if neuro symptoms present.

I think some UK GP practices are more concerned with the cost of getting nurses to give them.

If no neuro symptoms are present then usual UK treatment is 6 loading injections over 2 weeks followed by an injection every 2 or 3 months.

BNF Hydroxycobalamin

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

Patterns of treatment and type of B12 used vary from country to country.

If you're not in UK, your doctor may use a different pattern of treatment to that in the BNF.

Link below has Dutch treatment info.

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

I am not medically trained.

[Litatamon]

Hi,

Some people do get new symptoms with injections. Not everyone, but some.

Unless you are in some kind of medical distress do not stop your loading doses.

I have a strong belief about some things that occured during my loading period. I had the craziest symptom come and it was serious enough that I honestly didn't know whether to get medical help (everyone should err on the side of safety and never assume). I didn't get help but if someone happened to be home with me I am sure they would have called someone. Telling you that fact to show you how extreme it was. I truly believe pushing through was beneficial in my healing - the body refiring, so to speak. I must have had over thirty b12 symptoms and about twenty-five of them disappeared during loading or not long afterwards.

Please look after yourself. And never assume you know better, surrounding immediate medical care. But at the same time know the healing period can be that bizarre.

---------

(I had your symptom for about a year before getting the pernicious anemia diagnosis)

[Leils]

I had this yesterday after my jab.

Think may be as I was dehydrated from being in the sun ... and after drinking a bottle of smart water (added potassium and magnesium) I felt better.

Are you ensuring you get both electrolytes?

[CDALY474 in reply to Leils]

I’ve been having way more potassium than usual and just ordered magnesium. Hoping that will help. It’s not even a headache it’s like a weird really bad pressure at base of skull into ears. Just want relief!!