Going To Self Inject -Questions

[B12again]

Hi, I’ve had 4 inputs over several months from GP’s and consultants with hope being built up then crashed. I am on 3 monthly jabs, as with so many others, is no where near enough. I’ve had the loading doses which returned me to normal functioning half way through 2nd week. Took bloods after last jab for IF antibody test 😱, I was ignorant then, you guessed it….negative. 😏 That is when I was put on 3 monthly. (I’m really only at the very beginning of my B12 journey but looking back over my diary I realise that my health blips, re B12 symptoms, has been building for several years with slow but increasing frequency until recently becoming constant). I’m now on my 5th and he seems to be listening. I first saw him a couple of weeks ago after which he booked me in for bloods again for IF test (4wks since last one and no B12 in between) and after that a B12 jab. I did point how pointless it was, I think he just wanted to start somewhere. The jab may have had a slight effect on my waking with head pressure but the other symptoms rolled on, to some degree or other. Anyway, I recently sent a text as was agreed, pointing out the above and what treatment I would like going forward…a repeat of the loading dose, then twice per week until we find the ‘sweet’ spot. (If you don’t ask for the sale you don’t get the results). I have a phone consultation for 3 weeks time. I was disappointed, I would like to be on the road to some normality now, I’m sure many understand that frustration. So to this moment, because of what I’ve gleaned from this wonderful group, I’m preparing for self injecting and I need some advice. I have two types of B12 ampoules, cyano and hydro (don’t ask 🙂), can one be taken after the other (not in succession)? I plan to have a dose every other day to start with. Is there one considered more effective than the other? Would it be sensible to wait for the GP consultation? Lastly, is the subcutaneous injection as effective as IM. Thank you. 🙂🙏

[wedgewood]

I can only answer one question. I have found that after injecting Intra-Muscularly for 9 years , that I’ve found that sub-cutaneous injections work just as well . That might not apply for everyone . As we all know , we are all so different! But we see on the packets of B12 from Germany , sub-cut is a recommended method . Thinking it through , a sub-cut injection is released more slowly into the blood - stream because the fat layer of our skin is provided with a much sparser amount of blood vessels than are the muscles .

So when one is first treated and very deficient of B12. I.M. seems a more appropriate method . A quick boost is required . After that, sub-cut will do the job . I use a 6 mmm needle for sub -cut . Really not intimidating at all . Ideal for someone thinking of self-injecting !

In USA , cynocobalamin is thd commonly used B12 . Hydroxocobalamin is said to stay in the system longer than Cynocobalamin. Your GP might not approve of Cyno or Sub-cut injections . But I don’t know . Might not approve of any S.I. at all

!

Good luck with it all ! 🍀

[Narwhal10]

I subcutaneously inject hydroxycobalamin.

The needle is placed at a 45 degree angle and pierced about 5 mm into skin.

Press plunger slowly, at your comfort.

I have used cyanocobalamin, just ordered wrong stuff. As my German is not that great.

A person needs good ferritin, folate, vitamin D levels too.

In 3 weeks, ask GP about those. Whether an iron panel was taken and could you possibly be deficient in other vitamin B’s ?

Please note, I have coeliac disease. It was found far too late, so I have to take every supplement which has to be gluten, dairy and with minimum fillers.

I know some stuff but every day, I am still learning and brain fog, what’s that word again ?

Yes, pathognomonic (path no mon ic). A pathognomonic sign is a particular sign whose presence means that a particular disease is present beyond any doubt.

🐳

[wedgewood in reply to Narwhal10]

I inject at 90 degrees because the needle I use is only 6mm long , so there is no likelihood of the needle going past the fat layer

[Narwhal10 in reply to wedgewood]

Great. I agree with whatever works for people.

When I was a teenager, mother burst into my room to find me piercing my own nose. At first she was horrified then asked if I had used ice. No (of course, I did not need it). I had recurrent ear infections as a child, I never cried. I was so quiet, my parents would see me holding my head to my shoulder and ask did I have a baddie ear. I’d nod and they’d take me to the GP, and needed antibiotics.

B12again has looked at their B12 journey. When people start looking at their medical history, they might be able to start connecting more dots. 🧐

[B12again]

Thanks for all your responses, very helpful and appreciated. 3 weeks is a long time so I am going give myself a weeks trial, injecting every other day into my thigh muscle, scary but will do it😱. Narwhal10….re ordered wrong! Ditto. My 2nd language is double dutch 😉.

[Narwhal10 in reply to B12again]

😂 I am fluent in double dutch, complete nincompoop and flapdoodle.

The important word in your above reply is trial. Often used in medicine, we have found this new medicine, would you consider being part of a cohort as a treatment and we can test its effectiveness ? We will monitor you.

Also used in obstetrics, a trial of labour. 😉

[ClareP5]

I use hydroxocobalamin - my understanding is that this gives the best results (maybe I read that in Dr Chandy's book). I do sub-cutaneous every other day and it's been 3 years now. It does mean now I can occasionally do every 3 days if I'm away and I get away with it. I'm hoping one day that my stores will be fully replenished, it took about 2 years before I could do a 3 day gap without symptoms returning. You should also take methyl folate. For me it was the only way to go and it's given me control of my health and well-being. It's a bit scary at first, but 3 years on it feels very ordinary! And most importantly I feel well - I don't miss any of my symptoms!!! Good luck

[JanCymru in reply to ClareP5]

Hi ClareP5, apologies for jumping into B12 again's post, but would appreciate it if you can elaborate on the methyl folate aspect? I'm about 2 months into my SI journey (and thanks again to Wedgewood, Narwhal, Technoid and many others here who have provided information and support at the start for me), I'm doing SI EOD (due to neuropathy in my foot and no help from surgery - eye roll and what's new!!), have bought liquid Methyltetrahydofolate from Metabolics. Dosage on bottle is 13 drops contains 1000 ug of Folate in water per day. Is that ok to take each day, or should I take that on the days I SI? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[ClareP5 in reply to JanCymru]

I take 400mcg of Methyl Folate in tablet form on the days I inject. Seems to work for me - sorry I can’t help more.

[JanCymru in reply to ClareP5]

Thank you, I appreciate your information ClareP5 - I think I'll take the liquid methy folate on the days I SI too, and monitor how I feel. Thank you again.

[ClareP5]

Forgot to say I rotate sites, due to EOD SI - thigh, upper arm and tummy fat one side and then repeat on the other side.

[B12again in reply to ClareP5]

Thanks for your input ClareP5, much appreciated. Would you please tell me what the abbreviation EOD stands for. Thanks. 🙂

[ClareP5 in reply to B12again]

Every other day. It is trial an error and thank goodness for all the people who contribute on here! For the first 2 years I kept a diary of my well-being, blood pressure and body temperature and physical activity as well as injections and other supplements. That really helped me. Good luck

[Nackapan]

I have both IM hydroxcobalamin at the surgery and sc at home. 5 yeaez n sticking to my regime of weekly .

I also had yogo through 6 gps Initially.

Now on my 14th !! As no choice of who you see .

No continuity just more exhausting .

It takes time

[B12again]

Tell ell me about it! Many GP’s are creating stress rather than alleviating it and in the process condemning sufferers to a life of misery when, it seems, in most cases it is a simple and cheap remedy and even more so if taught to self inject. 😠

[EyesWideNow in reply to B12again]

Just an extra note on top of your already excellent advice-if you need iron then you need copper to make it work. Please take the time to watch the video link I posted earlier today. It is a speech at the EU parliament on the future world takeover bid by WHO on everything ‘health’ and it will affect us all !!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[EyesWideNow in reply to B12again]

Try to read Dr Chandy’s book ‘B12 deficiency in clinical practice’ it shows the perils facing decent GPs when trying to prescribe-even with NICE guidelines etc 👍

[B12again in reply to EyesWideNow]

Ordered. Thanks for the heads-up.