I'm hypothyroid, self sourcing T3 since the NHS took it off me, and now it seems my B12 'is a bit low.' That was the receptionists considered opinion anyway. My doctor has asked NO questions about symptoms, there are a few that could be thyroid or B12. I assumed thyroid as they have been messing my meds about for the last 3 years.
No advice was offered on what I could do to raise my B12. She just arranged another test, so we could see that miraculous cure everyone experiences after doing absolutely nothing!
A bit of investigation has convinced me the restless feet and painful, tingly toes are more than likely B12, not just age related or arthritis, but my doctor didn't even know I had them, as she was too busy attributing everything to the T3 I've happily taken for over 20 years & taking my T4 off me as a result.
So, I started taking an otc B complex & eating lots of cornflakes. Test 2 = 130, and test 3 = 182. Da da! No problem! Cured.
Everything was 'going in the right direction,' so no need to do anything else. Again the receptionist's professional opinion.
I have now changed my GP, so no access to medical records at the mo. As soon as I get everything in place I will check previous results to see how long my B12 was falling for, to try & see a pattern, and get the ranges used, but while I wait...............
I've had 3 privately sourced injections, with some success (restless feet all but gone away, ) but after reading, reading, reading I don't think that I'm going to get very far at a month apart.
I want to folllow the recognised protocol of having a loading dose, but this isn't realistic using beauty clinics, so I need to learn how to self inject.
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I voted with my feet, and changed GP. Any comment question was taken as 'abuse' of staff, which says more about the receptionist in question than my manner. I am putting in an official complaint.
I'm hoping for better things with my new GP, but I really can't be bothered begging for teatment any more. In my initial conversation with the pharmacist, she was interested in all my symptoms & what I'm doing, and immediatly spoke to the GP. Initial bloods next week, followed by a consultation.
The oral B12 increased my levels but had no effect on symptoms, so may be the way for maintenance but not repair.
I've ordered some ampoules, so will gather as much info from this site as I can while I wait for them to arrive.
Thanks for replying, it's helpful to know others have managed without training.
Hi debra_bill, many of us have learned from youtube to be honest 😂 A few have been lucky and learned from GPs/nurses with their blessing. A pharmacist taught one of my relatives.
I cannot understand why Dr Myhill describes injecting into “ the muscle of the leg between the knee and the hip” , when she is describing a sub-cutaneous injection, which goes into the fatty layer of the skin , not the muscle. That does not make sense . I don’t approve of the multi- dose vial of Hydroxocobalamin that she sells . As we know , single use ampoules are safest . But I suppose that it is a life-saver for people who find it too difficult to order the safer single- use ampoules from German online Pharmacies .
I learnt by watching YouTube videos of drs and other medical professionals self injecting.. you could try subcut first to get confidence up, a small 5/8 inch needle into belly fat, make sure it’s at least two inches away from your belly button..
there are also cofactors to take alongside injections.. 5mg folic acid daily if doing every other day injections, b complex with no more than 10mg of b6, magnesium malate or glycinate and the recommended daily allowance from food of potassium..
Ensure your iron levels are good too as treating a b12 deficiency draws on iron in the early days..
Check your vitamin d level is good too as it seems common to also have low vitamin d alongside b12 deficiency and thyroid problems
Thanks. I take vit D & B complex, B6 content is 6mg, it contains folic acid & I eat lots of beans, lentils etc so think I'm good on folate?
I probably do need to add iron, as we mostly avoid iron rich foods for my partner who has haemochramotosis.
I can't wait to get back on the bananas which I dropped due to the sugar content and my increasing belly fat, which I think would need a much longer needle than suggested.
I was in the same position as you Debra but in reverse. B12 deficiency identified, 6 loading doses and 3 monthly injections- woefully inadequate. I joined the Pernicious Anaemia Health Unlocked Society and now happy self inject whenever I feel the need. It’s a brilliant group and you don’t have to have PA to join. I am now a member of this group as a result of hypothyroidism being discovered which may have resulted in lack of B12 in first place. Hope this helps. Message me if you like.
Thanks. Not sure if it's autoimune or if it's just diet. I've never been a big meat eater, and since my partner's haemachromotosis diagnosis we eat even less. Once I get access to all my blood test results I'll see if I can spot a pattern
b12 182 is still very low. Monthly injections will work very slowly. Try weekly for a month followed by gradually lesser frequency OR when/if you feel the need. Monthly injections or orals are for maintenance.
I agree that you following the b12 is helpful. I have been self injecting b12 since March 22 and have found a significant benefit. My daughter is also following the b12 protocol and her improvement is remarkable. I will be posting to the B12 forum re her progress. Self injecting - you can find YouTube advice. If you are already supplementing with b12 this will give you an elevated b12 result. It will be interesting to see your results. Good luck Debra-bill
They're not going to do my B12 levels this time, just thyroid. Once I feel that no more progress is being made on symptoms, I'll stop the B12 so they can get a better reading.
My mum (B12 level 182 with serious sysmtoms) will be joining me, once I get to grips with self injection, I'll help her. She has had 1 injection so far & is taking a B Complex. Maybe one of those auto injectors would be useful.
Do you have Pernicious Anaemia? I have this condition and my mother also had P.A. but her GP told her that she didn't need any more injections as her blood test was fine.
The decision by the doctor caused my mother to develop cancer in stomach which caused her demise.
My GP has stated that I can have as many P.A. injections I think I need, so am having a monthly injection instead of quarterly B12 injection.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, they play god don't they! I'm fed up of bl**dy numbers being more important than symptoms. Saying that, my mum has bad numbers and bad symptoms and still doesn't warrant a cheap injection. Why don't they just admit they're not experts and let you speak to someone who is!
I have no idea what the cause is yet and I'm not sure how long it took to get here, so need my test history. Once I'm stable, I'll request a test and l'll monitor how I feel against bloods. Any decline in blood or how I feel & I'll inject again.
My symptoms are not too bad compared to what a lot of people struggle with, and I'm not sure which is thyroid & which B12, tbh. I won't let it slide again
A family doctoe taught my husband how to inject B12 into my arm. It's very convenient to have him do it instead of having to see my doctor. I live in BC, Canada and the B12 is not expensive here and a prescripton is not required. It's about $1.30 Canadian dollars per dose.
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