High B12 in blood 8 months after last injection

[Gill567]

I wonder if anyone could help please? 8 months ago a different doctor decided to send me for a blood test after I had been having monthly B12 injections. I tried to explain it would be of no use as my levels would probably be high but she wasn't having any of it . Anyway test came back over 3000 (range 179 - 883) anyway that was it and B12 injections stopped. It is now 8 months since my last injection and another doctor has sent me for another blood test which has come back at 2071 so still really high so probably no chance of reinstating my injections as my next appointment tomorrow is with the doctor who stopped them 8 months ago. Is is normal to have this sort of level though after it being 8 months since my last injection? I don't eat meat or dairy as I'm vegan so it's defo not that. I'm really tired all the time and down but at the moment no pins or needles or sore mouth that I had last time after they were stopped. My iron has come back low so maybe they will put it down to that and give me tablets or something. I've also got Sjogren' s Syndrome so the time I had the same hassle with them they said my symptoms were due to this. I've had enough of it to be honest and I'm in France which doesn't help as most doctors are like god. My next appointment is tomorrow and I'm so not looking forward to it.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

GPs really should be aware that the initial studies on retention of B12 from injections showed an enormous spread in how long B12 levels were maintained - and in some cases that meant levels stayed high for more than a year. Unfortunately the studies didn't actually look at whether the individuals involved were symptomatic.These articles may be of interest

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m13...

The reasons for variation in retention aren't understood though there is some investigation going on.

You might also want to point your GP at the area of the PAS website particularly aimed at helping medical professionals improve the diagnosis and treatment of PA (and other B12 absorption problems).

[Hamayeshguy in reply to Gambit62]

This article says excited excretion of cyanocobalamin is completed in 24 hours. But there are other sources saying cyanocobalamin retention us 5 days and hydroxycobal amin is six days. Which one is correct? In the meantime why cyanocobalamin along with zinc tannate have such a long hours if retention. Can we use the same to increase retention? It's saying efficacy of hydroxycobal amin SI has not been investigated. And administration for PA patient is just every 2 months.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Hamayeshguy]

Hamayeshguy, the conclusion from the study is that you can give some averages but people vary a lot so blindly applying the average to an individual isn't going to work. I suspect the study you were referring to was looking at much lower doses than the normal 1000mcg. I remember one had much lower doses.

[Litatamon]

stichtingb12tekort.nl/engli...

Note information between #4 and #5.

[Litatamon in reply to Litatamon]

stichtingb12tekort.nl/engli...

So frustrated for you.

[Gill567]

Thanks for your replies. Well I went to the doctors and she said she can't understand why my B12 level is still so high after 8 months and wants me to have a full blood test in Jan to see if anything shows up. To her high level in blood means you've got too much and defo not getting anymore full stop! I don't feel wonderful but low in iron and vit d which she's given me tablets for so maybe they will help. Just have to wait and see what the blood test comes back with in Jan. All this hassle wears you out as much as the illness I think.