How long will it take for the B12 jab to work

[Pammy7]

I had my B12 injection about 4 days ago and feel even worse than before it, B12 deficiency the same as pernicious anaemia? I was also diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia, together with fibromyalgia I am feeling rubbish. How long will the injection take to work, please?

[Nackapan]

Depends on how long you were deficient. How bad your symptoms are How low your b12 got.

Was your folate low as well as symptoms overlap.?

Low iron wol make you feel ill too.

In the UK you start with loading doses

I was alot worse before any improvements.

[Pammy7 in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you, they didn't tell me how low it was or if my folate was low. I take lots of vitamins anyway, but wonder why when I lived in London they stopped the B12 jabs after I can't remember how long it was about 30 years ago. I live in Nottingham now.

[Pammy7 in reply to Nackapan]

What is a loading dose? I got one shot and was told the next is in 3 months. My daughter has her shots every 3 months. I won't be around to reply to any messages for about a week Thanks for your help.

[Nackapan in reply to Pammy7]

Loading doses in the UK are 6 b12 injections over 2 weeks.

[Pammy7 in reply to Nackapan]

Ok I only had one jab next in 3 months so maybe mine isn't too low.

[Nackapan in reply to Pammy7]

Depends on your Gp.NICE guidelines set this protocol.

If you are 'below range ' or with symptoms it should trigger this treatment.

Then maintenence 2-3 months.

Having only one b12 injection very unusual

[lynxis]

Many of us felt worse before we felt better. Do they just plan on giving you the one jab to start off with, as opposed to loading doses, i.e. every other day for a week, once a week for a month?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

PA is an autoimmune disorder that affects the gut and destroys the mechanism that allows you to absorb B12 from your food. It can also affect absorption of other vitamins and minerals - mainly iron and folateThis results in a B12 deficiency.

B12 deficiency can be caused by lack of B12 in the diet or by an absorption problem like PA.

One of the symptoms of B12 deficiency is a type of anaemia in which red blood cells are larger and rounder than normal. Iron deficiency causes and anaemia in which red blood cells are smaller than normal - and you can have both at the same time. There are many other symptoms of B12 deficiency and anaemia isn't always present when diagnosed. B12 is also used in cells to mediate some processes relating to nerve function and people may have neurological symptoms without anaemia. Fibromyalgia is more of a label for a cluster of symptoms than a diagnosis of a cause of a problem and the cluster of symptoms could also be explained by B12 deficiency.

Because the body stores B12 in good quantities in the liver and uses this store to regulate blood levels it usually takes years, possibly even decades for an absorption problem to develop into a deficiency. Because the mechanism for releasing the stores depends on the same mechanism as you use to absorb B12 into the blood the symptoms start to snowball as a deficiency really starts to manifest.

In the past people thought it was possible to manage a B12 deficiency using serum B12 levels - we now know that this isn't possible so it may be that your GP either thought your deficiency was dietary or they thought you were 'cured' because your serum levels were good.

[Pammy7 in reply to Gambit62]

My iron stores are low too. Thanks.If I don't reply it's cos we are away.

[LittleA]

When I was first diagnosed with PA I was low on Vitamin D Folate and B12. When I started treatment on all of these I felt better but I do remember feeling really sleepy after my loading doses and slept a lot for about 2 weeks or so, but it was a gradual for me took months maybe a year to get to the point I could function properly because I was at rock bottom with my results.

I can always feel when I’m due my b12 after years being on the injections for my PA too.

Some GPS stop injections because your levels have reached good results for your b12 if your just on the replacement for so many weeks and you don’t have an issue absorbing it.

Though some GPs have been trying to get people off the injections and onto pills even though they have PA or a long term deficiency which is wrong.

I would find out what your levels are from your GP, they can print them out and post them to you so you can keep a reference your self but really they should be telling you where you are.

[Pammy7 in reply to LittleA]

Hi thanks so much is B12 deficiency the same as PA? I will ask my GP for an appointment hmmmm won't hold my breath lol.

[LittleA in reply to Pammy7]

Hi, as Gambit explained

PA is an autoimmune disorder that affects the gut and destroys the mechanism that allows you to absorb B12 from your food. It can also affect absorption of other vitamins and minerals - mainly iron and folateThis results in a B12 deficiency.

B12 deficiency can be caused by lack of B12 in the diet or by an absorption problem like PA.

If you don’t get any where with your GP it is worth asking to be referred to a specialist for your B12 deficiency/ PA and seeing if your low on anything else that maybe contributing such as life style and any underlying health issues.

Really your GP should tell you if you have PA or B12 deficiency and what the reason is to why you have it.

I know it can take a while to get an appointment but you can request this information in an email or a letter to your GP and if they want more information to why you are concerned with anything detailed in the letter then contact you directly.

Things are harder than they should be sometimes, totally get it.

Hope you find what you need.

Wish you well x