B-12 Shots & Side Effects

I have been getting B-12 shots for two years for very low B-12 numbers and feeling so bad. Now my Iron Level has dropped to a number 3 and my doctor said my red blood cells where not sending enough oxygen to my brain. I now can't stay awake very long, so weak & dizzy and my brain just isn't functioning. right. I was told I could have a aneurism. .,,, so my doctor had me start taking Iron. Sulfate Drops daily but he forgot I have negative side effects to sulfate and get sick to stomach. I am trying to get information to find out if the Vitamin B-12 Shots can severly lower your Iron numbers since I had NO iron issues until recently after 2 years. of B-12 Shots???!???

[Technoid]

Unsure from the post whether you have Pernicious Anemia but if you do, absorption issues with Iron do also seem to be common, according to research, even appearing some years after diagnosis/treatment: jamanetwork.com/journals/ja....

As far as I'm aware, B12 does not deplete iron in and of itself, but in early treatment (which has passed for you), red blood cell replacement can draw on and deplete iron stores.

There is also some research indicating that B12 deficiency may mask iron deficiency and the iron deficiency is typically only found after B12 levels are corrected: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

High doses of iron frequently cause stomach upset for many people. My personal opinion (I am not medically trained) would be to try and find a iron bisglycinate form with a lower dosage you could take several times a day instead of a single high dose once a day since that approach often causes GI issues (but obviously check this with your doctor).

[Nackapan]

I have not got a PA diagnosis.

parietal antybody test negative.

Although this shoukdbt be used to diagnose PA .

IFAB nevef done and not as reliable on b12 injections

Havent pushed for one as csn be used to stop injrctions if negative !! Very wrongly

I eat varied diet including alot of b12.

Am on no medications ,had no ops.

Not got a woirm infextstikn ect ect

Was not anaemic when my first evef b12 done and was 106(200-900) so low

I had a bad reaction to one brand of b12 . It was the additives.

Ive also never needed iron before .

My iron also dropped on b12 injections.

Level fine before first injection on same test as low b12 found .

I continue at present to need a low dose iron supplrment .

I go by blood tests

I alternate forms i take.

Have vit c rich foods with iron rich food .( meat)

Somewhere read every other day good.

Have no answers to why?? just thats whats hspoened to me.

Mind is definitely an absorbtion problem.

Triggered by hormonal changes in the menopause

I really hope not an anurism but good to get every invrstigation

[Littlelodge123]

B12 does not cause iron depletion but it often associated with it in the same way folate and Vitamin D absorption is also affected.

With a ferritin levels of 3 and an absorption problem you’ll never get your iron panel to a good level. My ferritin was 10 and I got an iron infusion - it was the only way to get iron into my system quickly. That said it still took a good 6 to 8 weeks to feel well again. Insist on an infusion. The process is painless and takes about 90 minutes with some resting time in top.

[TigerTea in reply to Littlelodge123]

Hello Littlelodge123,

I wonder if you could say where you had your Iron Infusion done please?

I have 3 monthly B12 via good GP 🤞🏻but I had major op earlier in year, & without a long rambling story, I think my iron has tanked as I have lots of iron deficient anaemia, possibly due to over zealous physio...

I know there is a private clinic in Cambridge but I am in Northumberland and can't find anything anywhere near me 😥 Many thanks xx

[Littlelodge123 in reply to TigerTea]

I got mine via a referral from my gastroenterologist. I got it done at Bupa at their hospital in Murrayfield in Edinburgh. I was fortunate to have private health care but they will do it via a GP referral if you can pay for it, or if you have private health care.

[TigerTea in reply to Littlelodge123]

Oh thank you, I actually live in north Northumberland, so Edinburgh isn't such a bad option! I have just approached a haematologist who works privately around Newcastle, he has an interest in anaemia and from his "iwantgreatcare" listing his patients all give him 5 stars for all the ways he helped/dealt with them (I have paid to see some right 🤡s 🙄) He works at a cancer centre so you'd hope that means he is really compassionate and a good listener. I will let you know how I get on, hope he's prepared to help me, I did phone GP today as I felt really breathless and my heart was racing but she started to intimate I nad anxiety 🙄 but when I mentioned I'd had a major operation recently she said 'perhaps an up to date full blood panel would be a good idea"! Fingers crossed x

[Littlelodge123 in reply to TigerTea]

Good luck! Sounds promising and let me know how you get on. Yes I get anxiety when I talk to professionals who have a fixed mind set. It would be funny if it weren’t so serious. All the best.

[yagoubs]

I was having B12 injections for almost 3 years and my iron level was High above normal!