Side effects of B12 injections

[Hayley31]

Hi. I had loading doses of B12 about 10 years ago after several years of fatigue and neuro symptoms. I felt amazing afterwards and when I went onto 3 monthly injections I found that my symptoms would come back long before my next injection was due so I started self injecting. I found I needed it once a week or once every fortnight and I was okay. Recently I stopped injecting for several months to see if I still needed it (as my GP doesn’t think I should be having it at all) my symptoms came back and so I had another injection. I find if I have it after not having it for a while I get a slight pressure sensation in my chest which obviously really scares me. Why is this, I’m now scared that self injecting is dangerous but my low B12 symptoms come back if I don’t so not sure what to do. Is it to do with a drop in potassium levels. I drink coconut water to combat these side effects which seems to help. Still scared though.

[Nackapan]

Anxiety is yet another symptom of b12 deficiency.Try and get back on track with what works for you .

Alot of us need 1-2 weekly b12 injections.

Hos have very little understanding.

I've had 2 neurologists agree for 2 weekly to be prescribed.

Gp wanted their backs covered.

[clivealive Forum Support]

There is no such thing as "one size fits all" Hayley31 Try telling that to a diabetic. We are all different with different levels of need.

I wish you well

[pitney in reply to clivealive]

Lovely to see you Clive hope you are👍 keeping well

[ssiddi2]

i've been on a very similar trajectory as you. i stopped for a few months to see if the symptoms would come back and of course they did. i've been on weekly injections ever since and have noticed a pressure sensation in my chest, although i cant say for sure if it was the b12 shot, a symptom of the deficiency, or just heartburn or something. it went away on its own. yet to hear of anyone on here complain about negative long term effects of b12 shots so i'm going to continue on my weekly dosage because the alternative is unmanageable.

[Wwwdot]

Hayley I am new to all this but I would trust your instincts and change GP. I am lucky to have found a GP who listens and supports her patients. A big difference to my previous GP. She’s not the nearest practice but it’s worth the travel. Good luck and best wishes

[Hayley31 in reply to Wwwdot]

Thanks. I’ve found the NHS GP’s sing from the same hymn sheet. They have to because of the NICE guidelines so not their fault. I took it into my own hands as the one every 3 months just wasn’t working for me. Some say if it helps go ahead but don’t really think you need to, other’s act like you’re injecting crack cocaine and the rest are somewhere in between. I don’t really like doing this without medical supervision, it scares me, but I would be that run down between injections I was left with little choice. I’m not one to take risks normally the complete opposite but I just knew I needed regular B12 as it’s the only thing that helps with my fatigue etc if I let it run too low for too long I can barely function, my lips become really sore, I have brain fog, memory problems, dizziness and pins and needles if I don’t.

[Wwwdot in reply to Hayley31]

it sounds like you a brave and well balanced person who listens to your body. Self injecting is scary and I have friends with Type 1 diabetes who have self injected since being quite young. I suppose it’s harder self injecting when you only do it once in a while rather than daily.

I am giving my age away here now when I say I remeber watching The Angels (a medical soap) and the trainee nurses practising injecting an orange! I hate needles but I can just about inject my sheep! I am full of admiration for you.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

"as my GP doesn’t think I should be having it at all"

Has your GP explained why they think you shouldn't be having B12 injections?

Some GPs have wrong ideas (misconceptions) about B12 deficiency.

See links below.

Misconceptions about a B12 deficiency

(From Dutch B12 website - units/ref ranges/treatment patterns may vary from UK)

stichtingb12tekort.nl/engli...

UK blog posts that mention misconceptions about B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/a-b12-se...

b12deficiency.info/your-ser...

B12 Institute - Netherlands

Diagnosis and treatment pitfalls

b12-institute.nl/en/diagnos...

[Hayley31 in reply to Sleepybunny]

cos apart from when I was first diagnosed with B12 deficiency several years ago, my B12 levels come up high in blood tests (because of the injections) so they can’t diagnose B12 deficiency or justify me having it. I didn’t test positive for intrinsic factor antibody or anything like that either.