Newbie here, joined the forum to try new source B12 ampules.
I’m a gastric bypass patient, 13 years post surgery and have never had B12 therapy despite this being in the post surgery guidelines.
I’ve had an eventful post surgery experience which included a further bowel resection in 2017.
My GP has finally agreed to 3 monthly injections of B12 but will not entertain a loading dose.
I’ve seen posts here about people sourcing from Germany but am feeling a little overwhelmed by it and would really appreciate some help getting started.
Thanks in advance x
Written by
MissParkin
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Please don’t be overwhelmed ! You have come to the right place .! Most of us on this forum have been forced to self inject B12 because of the medical professions shocking ignorance about B12/ Pernicious Anaemia . I have my own reasons for this ignorance / disinterest , which I cannot mention here . I am sure that one day this situation will be regarded as shocking. but in the meanwhile ,we have a duty to ourselves to keep as well as possible. The important thing is to inform you how to self inject ,so that you can keep well . It is not expensive and is easy , i was overwhelmed at first when faced with self injecting , but I was totally desperate. It’s not a big deal . Honestly .
I will send you all you need to know . Best wishes .
I am totally new to this too and from advice and information here have turned things around totally, saw my nurse today for intrinsic test, where I told them I self inject, they were mortified which I found totally amusing as I came in recently and told them I needed increased doses vrs the 3 monthly they were offering and I would do this out of desperation when they said no.Honestly UK profession has absolutely no clue what they are doing regarding this type of problem.
I am so sorry to hear you had bowel resection post op. I cannot understand why your doctor won’t give loading doses.
Thanks to Wedgewood and others, I have been self injecting for a year and have to quite frequently. I keep a symptoms diary. I do not declare I SI to doctors or nurses and it best I not comment because of my sarcastic nature. I inject into my stomach subcutaneously.
I ordered I believe it was Tuesday from versandapo. When the delivery man came on Saturday, I posed with a big cheesy grin with my package. I keep my B12 at the bottom of my wardrobe in a box. No need to refrigerate just somewhere dark and cool. The expiry date is quite long 02/2024.
Thank you all for your replies, I feel so much better for joining the forum.
I've struggled with symptoms since around 2/3 years post bypass when my natural stores depleted, but have had a real exacerbation since starting menopause.
I've spent far too long thinking that symptoms were all in my head or that I imagined the post surgery advice after being told time and again that my B12 levels were normal. Although B12 was recommended by the Bariatric surgeons they didn't say why with regards to loss of intrinsic factor and that a normal reading can be misleading. It's been the help of a wonderful private menopause GP that has lead me here.
Hoping that self injections will be the answer to my prayers and I will stop feeling like a train wreck soon!
It’s a sanity saver. Like you, my B12 deficiency is due to gastric by-pass. In my case 15 years of intravenous feeding into small intestine by-passing stomach following treatment for oesophageal cancer. No-one told me this is a normal occurrence when stomach is by-passed. I am going to send you the simplest support I have had in tracking down right needles.
Try medisave.co.uk to buy needles and the like, they're great and a trusted source. I use the BD brand ones: 2ml syringes (even though my B12 is 1ml - I find them easier to hold than 1ml syringes as they're typically long and thin) that come with 23g (gauge) 1" (long) needles already attached (the SKU is 307740). I also buy a separate pack of 25g 1" needles; I use the 23g to draw up, and then swap the needle to a 25g to inject. The length of needle (to the best of my knowledge) is appropriate for IM in either my arm or leg, and either gauge is suitable for B12. I only ever inject 1ml into my arm, although I think you can inject a larger volume into the thigh if your B12 concentration is different to mine. Hope that helps
Welcome to the forum, MissParkin 🌸I don’t know what I would of done without the help of forum members and wedgewoods solid advise and guidance.
I know it can feel a little daunting but if you are unsure about anything please, just post your query. One or even many kind forum members will always try to help x
I am not medically trained but my understanding of UK B12 guidelines is that patients with B12 deficiency with neurological symptoms should get maintenance injections every 2 months whatever the cause of the B12 deficiency.
If you were symptomatic for B12 deficiency before treatment started I would expect you to get loading doses whatever the cause of the B12 deficiency.
Thank you for the info. The private menopause GP I saw sent all of this to my GP who still refused the loading dose.
Ive found that there is a real lack of knowledge/ interest in post bariatric care and an attitude of once you’ve lost the weight you’re on your own.
I really wish I’d known about self injecting 10 years ago, it would have helped me no end. It’s only really now after finding the PAS and then this group that I’m really starting to understand the symptoms, like nodding off at my desk mid afternoon. I thought that was just me!!
Links below are to forum threads where I left detailed replies with lots of B12 info which you may find useful eg more on causes/symptoms of B12 deficiency, more B12 books, B12 websites, B12 articles and a few hints on dealing with unhelpful GPs.
Don't think there's anything specifically about post bariatic B12 deficiency in links.
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B12 very high with normal blood results?. 
B12 - concerned
Nurse Querying My Need for B12 Injections
B12 injections swapped for tablets!!
