B12 help

[B182]

Hi everyone!

So 4 years ago i started having 3 monthly b12 injections. Wasn’t told if I was deficient or not. I was pregnant at the time and was told to book in for an injection. The nurse said book in for another one in 3 months so that’s what I’ve been doing since. Recently had bloods done as I felt anaemic and I was. Doctor told me b12 was high enough for me to have 6 monthly injections. Can b12 be high and still be deficient? I only ask as I had my injection 4 weeks ago and I feel like I’m having symptoms already instead of a couple of weeks before it’s due. Tiredness, headaches lack of energy etc. I had iron tablets for 3 months due to anaemia. Had a blood test with my last injection and my iron is back up. I wondered if my iron could have gone back down since I stopped taking the tablets? Can it go down that quickly? I had a haemorrhage and transfusion 14 years ago and it seems since then I’ve always had a problem with anaemia! Think I will make an appointment with the doctors but wanted to ask her until I can get one! Thanks

[Harhun]

I have been advised the same today... wanting to stop my injections or go onto 6 monthly at best ... what’s going on? Cost cutting ?

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Have you had folate and vitamin D checked as well as ferritin ? If I was you, I'd ask for a copy of test results, so that you can see what is happening and compare against later results to for direction of travel. Some like folate and ferritin seem to be helpful at higher levels - so not necessarily out of range but low within range can give you symptoms ( eg: ferritin below 60 ug/L).

If you were B12 deficient originally, and I can't think why they would give you 3-monthly B12 injections otherwise, then there would be no reason for retesting your serum B12 level. It would be high. Isn't that the point ?

I know of no existing guidelines that recommend 6 monthly injections as a viable frequency. 2-3 months is usual after loading dose, and some find even this difficult to cope with.