New to Self Injection

Hi All

First time posting! Hope everyone's OK.

How often do folks self-inject? I'm struggling to get a diagnosis for a B12 deficiency but all the signs are there - brain fog, confusion, neuropathy and burning in feet.

If I tried daily injections, what would you recommend as a protocol? Any advice on where I should inject safely, and how often, to avoid causing myself harm?

With thanks and gratitude

SotS

[Sammyo23]

I've always done it in the fat on my stomach. The people here who do IM often use the thigh.

There's tutorials by nurses on youtube that show the proper technique, and other guides online. I watched videos to learn how to do it.

[Hamayeshguy in reply to Sammyo23]

And also don't forget to mark injection site by small piece of bandage in order to haver better recycling if injection site if you don't want lumps and slow absorption.

[Hidden in reply to Sammyo23]

Thanks for the reply. How about the deltoids? Do people inject there? Is everyday possible? Im keen to rid myself of all this asap!

[Hamayeshguy]

Also watch your ferritin and take iron in small dose along with methyl folate ( better in b complex). Keto diet makes healing process faster.. at the beginning is a little bit challenging but through time you get used to it. Also mark injection site with small piece of bandage in order to have injection site recycling to avoid lumps. In B12/b9 cycle to methionine by methylation just methyl from methyl folate can be used so active form of folate like methyltwtrahydrofolate is recommended. By trial and error you would find which form of B12 suits for you. But hydroxy like cyanocobalamin is stable but since easier to breakdown is more bioavailable and is not toxic but maybe have antibody problem in high doses. Methylcobalamine should be made maximum one or two week ahead of injection because it's unstable. But hydroxycobal and methyl cobalamin are more bioavailable to our body cells. But it depends on the gene and enzyme of the person since mutation make cyanocobalamin unusable for some people.

[Parlay]

I wouldn’t advice taking any b12 or iron without blood tests from your dr first. If you take iron when your levels are ok you risk heamochromatosis plus if you are deficient in b12 you should have first injection with a medical professional.

[Hamayeshguy in reply to Parlay]

heamochromatosis feritin level is 300ng/L and if the person take couple of iron pills for couple of years may reach that level but it's so important to watch feritin level and recommended level of feritin is over 50 ng/L . In the meantime muscle recovery and material balance requires feritin so if your feeling is lower than 50 it's important to take iron but should watched closely by frequently testing. Otherwise it causes worsening of symptoms and people with extensive muscle neuropathy should take iron pill but by constant monitoring ferritin level. I think there is balance in feritin level of muscle which due to related nerve damage can't function normally. This happened to me and now I know clearly iron should be taken for muscle neuropathy but should be watched closely. Without proper level of feritin all of B12 deficiency symptoms multiplies more than million times and muscle lose completely their strength and the person can't even know what's wrong just live in pain. There us delicate balance. I think even whey should be taken but in very small amount.

[jimmel196]

Have you ever had your b12 tested prior to supplementing? If so, what were the results and range? If not, I would have my b12 and other tests prior to beginning injections. You will have a difficult time getting a diagnosis of b12 deficiency from a doctor if your b12 is elevated from supplementing. There could be other causes for your symptoms besides b12 deficiency. Good luck to you.

[Hidden in reply to jimmel196]

Thank you. Not tested prior supplementing, sadly.

Things had got quite severe though. I managed to speak with a Dr who suggested b12, but with a long wait list for a test I couldn't help but supplement to try and get better. They were sublingual drops. Not the best idea Ive had as my result came out at 650 (197-771pg/ml) which is obviously very normal.

Symptoms persist, though. So with the door pretty firmly shut at the Drs, it seems SI is the only hope to get some kind of life back.