Feeling lightheaded even with normal B12 levels/injections

[annagaia06]

I've been treating my B12 deficiency with injections every month since June 2020, and I seem to not go higher than 550 pmol/l in my serum tests (which is "normal" but still kinda low for someone who gets injections, no?).

Also, I'm quite lightheaded despite the normal levels... Does anyone else experience this, especially 1 or 2 weeks before their injection is due? I just had my monthly injection yesterday, so hoping I feel better in 2 days or so.

I'm also treating low Ferritin levels with iron supplements almost every day, which is slowly increasing my levels, so I would have a hard time thinking that's the reason for my lightheadedness since I'm actually improving my numbers for this, too. Also, all my other iron serum levels and blood cell levels are in the normal ranges. It's just low ferritin in this case.

Any thoughts?

[deepocean]

What was your initial B12 level before you ever started treatment/injections? Just curious.

[annagaia06 in reply to deepocean]

Yeah, I guess we'll see if I feel better in a couple days! Then I'll know if it's B12 or Ferritin... but yeah, my level was like 148 pmol/l in 2017, then I got injections and was told it was fine. And again in 2019, I was at 263 pmol/l. So I was treated for a few months. But when injections stopped after a few months, I began feeling crappy 2 months later. So have been getting monthly since June, ongoing, since the hematologist said I have PA.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

after the injection your serum B12 levels will be off the scale. They will then reduce over time - how quickly varies considerably - average 1 month (cyanocobalamin) but can take year or more in other people.the normal range reflects where most people who haven't had injections are okay.

on average patients on injections report needing levels around 1000 but there is considerable variation so for some the 'normal range' works but for others it doesn't - mines permanently off the measurable scale now.

All of this means that serum B12 levels can't be used as a guide to whether or not frequency of injections is right - following symptoms is a better option for deciding frequency that is right for you.

Suggest you keep a diary as a way of determining the right frequency for you

[annagaia06 in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you for sharing your experience! So you think lightheadedness is a possible effect to needing more frequent B12?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to annagaia06]

its a possibility - keep a diary of when and how bad in relation to the timing of injections

[olicana1949]

How do you monitor your B12 levels on a monthly basis? I presume the GP/Surgery will not do hat for you.

[annagaia06 in reply to olicana1949]

I don't test every month, but I tested 2 months ago, about 4 weeks after one of my injections