MHRA Double standards on vitamin B12 ... - Pernicious Anaemi...

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MHRA Double standards on vitamin B12 injections by Tracey Witty | Dec 31, 2020 | Petition |

EllaNore profile image
37 Replies

This is very interesting.

How a beautician or salon can distribute b12 no prescriptions no license.

b12deficiency.info/mhra-dou...

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EllaNore
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37 Replies
Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

Yes a good information sheet.

I signed the petition.

Wrote to my M.P

One of her 'staff' gave me a short dsmissive reply wgwn pushed for a reply .

Disappointing

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Nackapan

Thank you Nackapan. I'm sorry the reply was dismissive.

We could start a movement. Protest, and picket.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Oh what a great artical.

Thanks for posting. 👍

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Jillymo

You're very welcome Jillymo.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support

Yes. Tracey Witty is clever, gutsy, funny and tenacious. And right.

The authorities adhere quite vehemently to the frequency restrictions - even though these have been changed (injections reduced, naturally ) over the decades in the UK with no reasons, no acknowledged research, no traceable responsibility. Tracey Witty tried to get to the source of these changes, and was sent round in circles. Appears that nobody who should know has a clue !

This surely makes a complete nonsense of B12 injection restrictions.

Also interesting are the messages/responses at the end -especially this point:

Why aren't patients who still appear symptomatic after failing to improve on the one-every-three-month "maintenance" dose started again on one injection every other day until no more improvement can be gained ?

In fact, why even start to maintain a level that does not first address and manage the symptoms ? Why doesn't the patient get a say as to whether they have yet reached a quality of life that they would be willing to accept ? Even if not "as was".... ?

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Cherylclaire

Thanks Cherylclaire,

I hope she doesn't give up. Eventually something has to work.

How can any medical foundation look at all of this info and still say with a straight face, you can't have more than one shot a month? when health spas are dolling out more than that?

If we keep making waves and showing proof that b12 is life for us and we need more, maybe one day it will stick. If not for us, for future B12 sufferers.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to EllaNore

Don't give up on self yet ! She won't give up if we don't.

EllaNore - keep being a wave maker.

The proof that B12 is "life for us", for some of us - that moment might be gone already.

But my advice would be not to allow it return, just to prove it will. Not for anyone: not a new doctor, nor a consultant, no matter how long the wait to see him/her.

I once read about an experiment in B12 deficiency, where the subject (who had a vitamin B12 deficiency -possibly functional) again depleted himself, this time deliberately, of B12 "until significant metabolic disturbances were observed" - and then had bloods monitored weekly. Bear in mind that this was a 2yr study.... all in the name of research !

Here was the result, although sadly, I don't imagine anyone but us would understand what this guy gave up and risked, or acknowledge research results from just one subject :

By reducing B12 intake - in diet and witholding treatment:

His B12 was 606 pmmol/L at startpoint, reducing down to 171 pmol/L on day 728 (almost 2 years)- which was the lower range limit.

MMA startpoint : 0.17, upper range limit exceeded on day 386 and at day 658 reached 0,90 . It therefore took over a year for MMA to rise above range - and yet this was the first indicator by over 7 months.

TH (total homocysteine) : 8.4 increased to 14.2 on day 609 (maximum reached)

HoloTC ("live" B12): 128 pmol/L reduced to 33 pmol/L (the only day when below lower limit) on day 742 : taking over 2 years !

This was from 7thspace.com. Not likely to be repeated - or recommended to do so !

What we can't know is how long he took to feel okay again - which must, after all, be our common goal. Does make you think, though.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Cherylclaire

Wow. What a sacrifice indeed. People like that are why there is more understanding of these things. Im afraid to go without for a day. One would need to be supervised for sure. If i didn't have animals to care for, I might consider going a few days under strict supervision in a hospital, if it would prove to doctors that we need it daily. But man would i be scared. Two years this guy went without. That is brave and selfless. Its down right heroic!!

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to EllaNore

Also as you know, someone who had had their injections stopped would find it very difficult (if not impossible) to get an MMA test a year on - or HoloTC two years later !

The supervised reduction you spoke of - this was suggested for me in a report from an oral medicine consultant who was worried about me self injecting frequently (I think then every other day). Nothing came of it, but it might have helped the practice to see for themselves that some of us just need more in order to control symptoms.

How I wish that wasn't true.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Cherylclaire

Right? I wish I did not have to inject everyday. which brings up the point, we don't' WANT to do this. it isn't like B12 is some kind of drug that gets us high or addicted. The only reason we want it is to survive and function. it doesn't do anything else for us so what is the big deal? We don't go around saying, man I really want to inject B12, where can score some? 🤪

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply to EllaNore

Not our fault that Madonna, Simon Cowell et al are promoting it to all their followers as the elixir of youth - if so, makes you wonder why they spend so much on unconvincing plastic surgery. I'd be furious ..... Besides, who on Earth would have an operation they don't need ?

An injection that you need to try to get your symptoms under control ?

A whole other thing .

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Cherylclaire

100%

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500

Thanks for sharing this article - it expresses alot of what was spinning around in my mind when I had to run around the clinics to get injections.

Where I believe the problem lies is with science and math. Doctors look at numbers. If your numbers are 'under range' you're deficient and the numbers need to rise.

If you're not deficient then anything else is a placebo. And therefore the clinics are selling a placebo injection. Therefore it cannot be a medicinal drug if there is no ailment to fix (deficiency).

If there is a deficiency, then it is a medicinal drug as it's needed to make you feel better.

In effect, they apply a binary protocol to an extremely complex illness and recovery process.

Dr's are morons 😜

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci

The majority are indeed morons. However, there seems to be more to it. Based on this forum, everyone is getting a standard response from their Dr. Refusal to treat optimally. That cannot be a coincidence. Instead I think it comes from NHS policies. I believe the pharmaceutical companies own the NHS managers. Look at Truss, the puppet, and she's PM. How easily bought are the invisible, idiots making decisions. They want to do away with anything that cures, brings real benefit and healing. Instead you are to be kept ill and weak and denfenceless, at the mercy of harsh drugs that you're virtually force fed. And these drugs must go on forever where possible. E.g statins, anti depressants, steroids, diabetic drugs, etc...etc. Never a drug that actually cures anything. Off course never a cure for cancer. Too much money to be made from 'research'.

I think once you see you cannot unsee.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Yahaci

Besides, it's easier to control the masses, if they can't fight back.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to EllaNore

I don't think it's a secret order or anything cult like. But I have experienced terrible gaslighting by many doctors. Extreme egos, not just towards patients, but by male doctors, towards female colleagues. Let alone female patients. Just recently, I was treated by a very Egotistical hemetologist that put completely false information in my records. Setting my progess back. It took 38 years to get a diagnosis and he took it away from me in 5 minutes. He also saidi didn't have cancer. It was pre cancer. Tell that to my right breast!! Now i have to deal with other doctors that read what he wrote and believe him. Just another fight to fight. I'm tired. We are definitely controlled by them and if we say anything, we lose another doctor. I have been here 100 times. We look to them, most times desperately, for an answer and we trust them. Then we later find that the meds they gave us are killing us literally! I believe doctors gave me PA, by injecting me in 1985 with experimental Lupron. It wasn't FDA apprived until 1993. They have no right to push the kind of drugs they do it like opiods, but not give us B12. That's insane! I'm sorry. It just is. Doctors ruined my life in many ways and many times. And have literally almost killed me with medications 3 times.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to EllaNore

I just have to say this one last thing and I'll shut up. How many of us were prescribed Metformin and Omeprazole and other drugs that killed our IF? They made us sick and now they don't want to give us what we need to make us function. I'm sorry. I'm very upset. This has been very hard to accept. 38 years I've suffered. We've all suffered for decades to no fault of our own. Some were born with it, but some got it from prescribed drugs. Unsuspecting and trusting. Not to mention the decades of telling us there is nothing wrong with you. It's all in your head, your just fat, your depressed. I feel like I'm definitely a victim of the medical community. I'm sorry to blow off steam, but this has been very hard to accept. They created a problem and now they don't want to fix it. So we suffer. And we accept our lives will never be the same. What else can we do? They control us. Look at us all desperately trying to fight for the right to live.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to Yahaci

I see your point. But Im reluctant to completely agree that it's an oppressive or secretive order where the masses are at the mercy of greater powers.

Drs do not learn anything about vitamins in medical school. The majority view them as 'placebo' and that all nutrients can be obtained from a well balanced diet. Malnutrition is a thing of the past thanks to fortified foods and a plethora of available food.

B12 and folate are somewhat of an anomaly in the mix of vitamin deficiencies since they can both cause severe anemia and potential hospitalisation in some cases. The only other thing that does that is iron deficiency.

B12 is also an anomaly because it requires injection.

So all of it is unknown to Drs. I believed my GP when he told me 'I don't know much about B12'. He seemed a more humble and supportive person.

So if no medics really know much about B12, how will they know how to treat it? Only by numbers.

What we need is for Drs to learn intensively about nutrition, gut microbiome, vitamin interactions and ways the body absorbs them. For example, do any Drs understand how the body absorbs Vitamin D? They certainly KNOW that it happens, but do they really understand how? Im not sure they do.

Doctors have egos. Everyone has an ego. And if, in our work, we're faced with something we don't understand we may start getting defensive, shirty, arrogant. Or, we may admit we don't know anything about it.

I think it's possible Big Pharma exploit this knowledge deficit. But I dont believe its a BiG Brother system of which no-one has control.

We are all fallible humans. None of us really know what were doing.

If we reform medical training, we may all start to live better lives based on healthy eating, living, and finding ways to reduce the balances in a toxic, aggressive, overstimulated world.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to Pickle500

Where did I say or imply: '' it's an oppressive or secretive order where the masses are at the mercy of greater powers.'' If that's what you've understood then it goes under the conspiracy umbrella. Which has a remarkable ability to shut down logical argument.

I think the power, and influence of pharmaceuticals is well known. The only secret part is the hidden corruption. Or does that not exist?

It's also how Drs are incentivised to prescribe certain drugs. This is hushed up. I would like transparency about these incentives. Indirectly, they are steered away from something that doesn't pay a bit extra.

As for ''None of us really know what were doing''. Dr's are among the best educated and trained so are expected to know what they are doing.

I disagree they haven't been trained in B12, they have. If they don't know about it in depth, they can find out. Like we do. They are also expected to keep up to date with their learning.

It seems they want ever increasing income for ever decreasing work.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to Yahaci

Drs don't have time to find out. They see thousands of patients each week. GPs cannot be experts in every area, its just jot possible.

So general knowledge of B12 doesn't exist in the medical field. Sally Pachaloks book testifies to that. Plenty of people's stories testify to that.

Dr Rangan Chatterjee has got out of the system to try and help raise awareness/consciousness of the need for lifestyle medicine. And this is to help avoid prescribing unnecessary medicines and focus on the pillars of sleep, relaxation, diet and exercise. And GPs are not trained to advise us on those things. So they are out of their depth.

Politicians are some of the best educated people too. And look at the state of that.

Do they know what they're doing?

Zelensky seems to be doing pretty well in the fight against Putin and he's an actor. Does he know what he's doing?

More our own fault for believing that a Doctor has all the answers to our problems. They don't. They just have more medical training. We are responsible for our own health and are expecting a system that's not fit for purpose to help us.

B12 is simply not considered as a cause by GPs because they don't get trained in it.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to Pickle500

Seeing thousands of patients a week?? Really have you got evidence of that?

B12 is an ''essential'' vitamin. Deficiency of any vitamin, the basic building block of life, can have severe consequences. A fact known for hundreds of years. If a Dr doesn't know they must start with basics, they are beyond help.

Some MP's are educated, however, they have no formal training in politics. You cannot compare them to Dr's who do have significant education in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and clinical training.

No one said we aren't responsible for ourselves. However, when a problem arises, often due to medical incompetence or laziness in the first place. It needs to be acknowledged and treated. In my own case, my own suspicions were flatly rejected by the GP. At the time results were not given to patients so I closed the door on that cause. That led me down a rabbit hole.

I agree the system is not fit for purpose. But a public that accepts the broken system, because they're fallible humans or because 'they work so hard', doesn't help improve the system.

Instead if more people asked for tangible facts: How many patients does a GP see, what medicines are prescribed, what bonuses do they get and for what... instead of blindly believing the mantras chanted by the NHS perhaps we'd have a more objective view of reality.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to Yahaci

bma.org.uk/advice-and-suppo...

In this piece it suggests each of the 36,000 GPs in the UK is responsible for over 2,000 patients.

Of course, not all will come at them in a week. But an average London GP practice will see 500-1,000 patients in a week.

My own journey started with agonising stomach pain and a salivary gland tumour. The stomach pain went on for months and tool me to my GP when it ruined my holiday. I had five minutes to explain before a referral for colonoscopy. But there was more to it, since the gut can set off multiple health issues. So, I had to return for each of those health issues. Even when I raised the issue of pins and needles and neuropathy with my surgeon, pre-op, he had NO IDEA what I was talking about. This is a leading endocrine surgeon in a top London hospital.

B12 is not looked for because Drs do not get trained in it. They panic every time its mentioned. Their lack of knowledge is a brutal truth regardless of B12 being essential. We all have enough B12 to eat so there should be no problem.

Right?

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to Pickle500

Again can you show evidence for ''But an average London GP practice will see 500-1,000 patients in a week.'' Given the size variation of GP practises its quite a statement.

I failed to mention before, but its also relevant to your latest reply. No one fully knows the mechanism of action of anti depressants. But it didn't stop GP's prescribing them, did it? Or overlooking suicide as a potential side effect. But then who cares because dead people can't complain!

By contrast the action of B12 an ''essential'' vitamin is fairly well known. If a Dr doesn't know this they need to educate themselves. Claiming ignorance is not an excuse.

I believe they do know, but there just isn't any money in it.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to Yahaci

I think your point reinforces my point.

Drs prescribe antidepressants because that's what they're trained to do. They've just recently discovered that depression is not solely a chemical imbalance. So GPs have, in many cases (not all), been doing more harm than good. But that's what their training has told them to do.

Similarly, their training in B12 extends to recognition of symptoms followed by blood test and then following a protocol. They don't think anymore about it than that.

If they did understand depression, they wouldn't give antidepressants. If they did understand B12, they wouldn't withhold it from us.

Its an essential vitamin if enough of it is in the blood. And that's the measure they use in all circumstances.

There are no B12 specialists because it has a multisystem impact. So who would specialise? Hematology? Gastroenterology? Neurology?

B12 is a major anomaly in medical training since our body functions are interconnected. So it gets lost in medical practice.

And sure, there isn't much money in vitamins, only expense. So we're both right. All Im saying is that it is a very difficult picture worsened by ignorance and lack of training.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to Pickle500

This topic has gone full circle from what I said to start with ''Instead I think it comes from NHS policies'' and you judged as something else.

You say they prescribe anti depressants and don't prescribe b12 because that is their ''training''.

By training I think you mean the NICE/CCG guidelines they follow. If that's what you mean, how is that different from what I said to begin with?

How is it ok in a civilised country, that guidelines allow prescribing dangerous mind altering drugs but not an essential vitamin with no known side effects?

I've yet to see evidence of the actual number of patients GP's see. As you were in Insurance, I don't know what you did as its a large industry, you know first hand the importance of numbers and statistics.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to Yahaci

Training is not the same as NICE guidelines. Medical training is medical school. Its what they're taught.

B12 injections cost their nurses time. Prescription drugs don't.

I think the heart of the answer to your question is ignorance. Ask anyone on the street what they know about B12. Ask if they know it causes nerve damage. No-one will know. If they do, they've either had it i know someone who has. So its not only medical ignorance but general ignorance. Plus, society is conditioned to trust Doctors. So they never question it.

I shared a paper on there being 2,000 patients per GP. I can't find the other one that says about London GPs but some of them see around 60 per day. So if there are 5 GPs working 5 days a week its 1,500 patients in a very busy week.

Our pesky little vitamin deficiency is of no concern when Gps are trying to diagnose life threatening diseases. Its not like we're going to die, right?

Only in the last 20 years has cancer had the attention it deserves. Before that, you could go to ten doctors before one of them diagnosed it. That's because they weren't studying it or didn't know what to look for.

Same with B12 D

Ignorance is endemic with B12 Deficiency. Thats why the Daily Express have to feature it in their paper so often. Its not scaremongering, it doing the public a service. Because no-one knows how bad it can be. Not even your common or garden GP.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to Pickle500

Medical schools do teach about vitamins.

Do they teach about anti depressants? Unlikely. But that lack of training doesn't stop them prescribing.

You must have an NHS propaganda paper, the one they used to hike GP salaries perhaps? Because I assure you no GP in London sees that many patients on the NHS. They probably do so privately, now there are so many online GP's, whilst also getting their NHS salaries.

You call it ignorance. I call it willfull ignorance at best, based on policies.

As for the person on the streets knowledge. What relevance is that? Do you stop people on the street when you want medical advice? Slightly absurd to even make that comparison.

I've tried my best to respond, but its difficult to keep up when you seem to shift goal posts. You are entitled to believe whatever you want, as am I. Our opinions aren't going to change so its best to leave it here.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to Yahaci

I would spend some time thinking about the bigger picture than your personal view or experience.

I used the person on the street as an example to demonstrate that general accepted knowledge of B12 deficiency is scarce. And this translates to the Medical practice too.

insider.com/diagnosed-with-...

Look at the experience of this young woman. Her Doctors recognised she had B12D but after treating her they couldn't understand why her symptoms were worsening and needed help from others. That's because they don't get trained in medical school beyond the treatment protocol, where they can refer to NICE guidelines (although many don't).

And I'm sorry but I sense that you are potentially gaslighting this forum by suggesting London NHS GP's do not see thousands of patients in a week. Perhaps you can share your evidence of that???

Of course there is variation, it's a huge City. But the pace and volume of GP's in London is in the thousands. This leaves them with little time to go and do homework. They have lives too. They're working 12 hours a day and many of them are leaving the system or even taking their own lives in extreme cases because of overwhelm.

What we can do is spread the word about B12 deficiency more widely. To be honest, I found B12 deficiency awareness week to be a damp squib of social media posts on the same forums. That is not going to be effective. It's preaching to the converted.

We need a sustained and collective effort that draws on everyone's experiences of B12, not just PA sufferers. Sure, they are arguably suffering more than others, but it is not in isolation to B12 deficiency. A deficiency is a deficiency regardless of the cause and the same symptoms are felt.

We need active campaigns that draw awareness to the numbers of people suffering so that GP's are forced to reconsider their knowledge of B12 and the impact on people. Change only comes from the outside, never the inside.

Complaining here on a forum helps us to vent and heal but it doesn't change the system.

I refuse to accept that it's solely NHS policies that suggest we should have less B12 - it's ignorance of the impact of B12. It is lack of awareness, training, and our experiences subvert their accepted training and wisdom. A neurologist told me my symptoms 'weren't possible'. So are they wrong? Or gaslighting? Or somewhere in between? B12 opens another world into the human body that is not covered in medical training because it has a multi-systemic effect. It affects your mind, thoughts, mood, body, everything. Literally everything. And I'm not sure there's really another condition that does that. So it remains a dark anomaly, a disgraced child banished to secrecy. Doctors do not understand it and do not WANT to understand it.

NHS policies do not stretch to the United States where there are equal levels of ignorance. So is that Big Pharma again? PArtially, yes, as I agreed in part with you.

But we have no choice but to accept that there are major holes in medical training that cannot help us in the way we need to be helped. Just like Dr's did not understand about Cancer which was previously a hidden, disgraceful condition to have. If you had cancer you were considered weak or strange. So no-one wanted to help you.

Only by raising awareness, consciousness about B12 can we make things change. We HAVE to do this so that next time we appeal to Parliament for OTC injections they don't rebuff us with 'it's a woman's problem'. This is EVIDENTLY an ignorant statement. It is seen like cancer - a horrible thing you keep secret.

Progressive countries such as Canada and Germany offer OTC B12 injections because they know the problems can be reversed with regular injections. But there is a loophole in this country and in the US. Two of the leading economies in the world who deny their people a right to their own health.

I won't say anymore but had to say this.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to Pickle500

As I said before I don't want to continue this thread, and respectfully suggested we agree to disagree.

However, you are now resorting to attacks.

1. ''I would spend some time thinking about the bigger picture than your personal view or experience.''

That's exactly what I was doing and you weren't. My main point was that if everyone has the same experience with GP's, its more than coincidence and something 'bigger' is at work. You meanwhile put it down to the poor didums being untrained and too busy with diagnosing cancer.

2. ''I used the person on the street as an example to demonstrate that general accepted knowledge of B12 deficiency is scarce. And this translates to the Medical practice too.''

I already explained how this was ridiculous, but it seems like nothing gets through.

3. ''And I'm sorry but I sense that you are potentially gaslighting this forum by suggesting London NHS GP's do not see thousands of patients in a week. Perhaps you can share your evidence of that???''

You said GP's saw thousands of patients a week. Despite asking for evidence repeatedly you failed to provide any. Now you're trying to turn it around onto me. It had no bearing on my OP anyway. You did send random links, which I've no interest in.

You have been shifting goal posts and wriggling out of direct questions in a highly questionable manner. You now talk about campaigns and the like. What exactly is your purpose on this site? To get ill people to expend their limited energy on pointless actions. Whilst gaslighting the elephant in the room?

in reply to Pickle500

According to International Recommended Nutritional Intakes (RNI)

UK - RNI for vitamin B12 is set at 1.5micrograms a day for adults. NO adjustmentmis made in pregnancy or for breastfeeding.

USA - RNI is 2.3 a day increasing to 2.6 and 2.8 a day for pregnant and breastfeeding respectfully

EU - 4 microgram a day increasing to 4.5 and 5 for pregnancy and breastfeeding respectfully.

So it looks like we have the lowest RNI and the EU have over double U.K.

Does that mean when testing B12 the machines are set at a far lower setting than other countries,

Or our levels at the lower range.

Pickle500 profile image
Pickle500 in reply to

I don't know. But I do think the testing levels are clearly too low in most situations.

Not only that, but GPs aren't very willing to make an effort to give the injections. Perhaps, again, because they cost them money whereas prescription drugs don't.

Sleepybunny profile image
Sleepybunny

Tracy Witty has campaigned for 8 years to get injectable b12 available over the counter in UK

b12deficiency.info/eight-lo...

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Sleepybunny

She's an angel for sure. I wish we had someone in the US like her. I'll support her from here and hope the US will learn from the UK. It seems you all lead the way in B12 medicinally. And the US thinks it's a beauty aid for the rich and famous. 😔

Polaris profile image
Polaris in reply to EllaNore

You do EllaNore 😊 Some years ago now, Sally Pacholok, RN, wrote, “Could it Be B12?”, the first book on B12deficiency I read - regarded by many as the B12 ‘bible’, with paediatric version also available.

A nurse, diagnosed quite young with PA, she and her doctor husband both worked for many years in emergency medicine at a large and busy US hospital and now lecture all over the world.  

Video and film about her used to be available on TraceyWitty’s website.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore in reply to Polaris

I didn't realize Sally was American! Yay for her. I watched her videos and didn't realize she was here. How silly I didn't pick up on that. I hope things change for all of us. I will do my tiny part. Heroes like Sally and Tracey are a blessing for sure. Once I know more, I will do more. Try anyway. I've always been one to stand up for what's not right, but I don't know enough about this yet. My mouth has gotten me in trouble but it also has made small changes in my little world. This is a fight I don't mind being in. I just need to arm myself better so I can fight better. Just spreading the word about B12 is something. If we all tell two people, they will too, and word will spread.

EllaNore profile image
EllaNore

Im so sorry, I didn't mean to start a disagreement or anything. We are all in the same boat and I am grateful for all of you. You have ALL given me great advice! I respect each of you very much and owe my progress to ALL of you. I do understand doctors are overworked. Especially with the pandemic the past 3 years. But just like with my job, people expect me to know what I am doing. B12 is not a hard thing to learn about. look what we've all learned. Plus they ahve us walking in regularly telling them. They just aren't hearing it or don't want to.

My doctor was a super sweet guy. I really like him very much. BUT, I am also disappointed because, unlike a huge metropolis area, he has a cushy job in a small town of 1200 people, not all his patients. He shares the office with two other doctors. And the neighboring town of mine that has 187 residents. We are 4 blocks square in the middle of corn and soybean. He is always taking a vacation, he has a nice small office and is not as stressed as big cities. I feel very disappointed that he didn't want to read the info I gave him and learn with me. Reading while you are in bed takes no effort at all. I found all the info and gave it to him. No effort on his part. He just stated he didn't know much and that he had to send me on my way to a specialist, who ended up not knowing any more than him and was dismissive. So I am disappointed that he didn't even want to spend an hour reading stuff to enlighten himself in order to help his largely senior patients. Imagine what he could have learned and done to help his patients. It just makes me feel abandoned yet again. and sad for his other patients. so I printed out my little cards I made and some posters from PAS and some info sheets and I took them to the senior center to help educate them. They are all his patients.

As a graphic designer, if I didn't keep up with the latest technology, which changes very rapidly in my field, I would be out of business and others would surpass me. I do feel doctors should have to take updating courses and learn the latest things. But I have also sat in waiting rooms when drug salesmen come in to sell the latest new drug. doctors do get kickbacks for prescribing meds. It is not hard to see the drug commercials on tv nonstop and suddenly your doctor is prescribing it to you. They took this job and they get paid very well for it. They knew what they were getting into. it is not a job I would want but, if you sign up for a job, any job, you should know what will be expected from you. It is up to you to do that job to the best of your ability. Or find a different profession.

I know what I've been through and I know how I feel and I am more disappointed with the 100 or so doctors I have had than not. As it stands now, the best doctor I've ever had gave up on me. I really liked him so much. he found my PA. I owe him everything! But I'm also very hurt. We are not a metropolis, we are a small rural town in Iowa. I feel there is no excuse for his abandoning me. and the doc he referred me too was exactly what Ive dealt with most of my life. a dismissive egotistical jerk who actually told me I never had cancer!!! After 1/3 of my breast was taken and months of daily radiation treatments, and numerous biopsies. How dare a doctor take that from me. so I am sorry, but I don't have a lot of empathy for doctors. they took the job knowing full well what it would take to do it. and I can never forgive the terrible way they made me feel about myself just because they didn't know I had a simple b12 deficiency for 38 years. My story is not unusual. we all went decades misdiagnosed. who else is there to blame? I am not a doctor and at 23 years old at the time this happened to me, I knew nothing. I was a kid. there was no way to help myself and no internet existed then so researching my issues was not easy. Plus I had a business to run and that was MY job and people needed me to do it right, and the doctors had theirs. I needed to trust them.

Everyone here is amazing and I owe each and every one of you for helping me, so please don't fight. We all have our experiences. We need to respect them. Hugs to everyone!! And thank you again!

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