I've just been down to the G.P. for my freebie B12 jab. (s.i. at home weekly) I told her that I've been feeling really tired lately, like I did before my P.A. diagnosis, when I was very anemic. So she says, ah, go and buy some B12 tablets from the chemist, that will make you feel better! Cue the lecture about how people with autoimmune P.A. won't get much, if any benefit from taking tablets. Tried pills before I bit the bullet and started to s.i, as the 3 monthly NHS regime left me on my knees - they didn't work!
I told her I need iron tablets, not B12 tablets, as my Ferritin and HB are on a slow downward slide and have been for years. No, no, she says, they're still within normal limits. Well they are - just! I despair sometimes. Why wait until they are off the bottom of the range when there is obviously a problem and treating it would make me feel so much better.
In the meantime, I've put myself on gentle iron and indulging in liver pate and liver sausage on a regular basis to try and get my Ferritin somewhere decent, as its now down to 33.
OK, rant over, I'll just crawl back under my rock now and eat pate on toast 🙂
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topazrat
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Hi topazrat, I have been using Better you sublingual iron, I don't think it's helping much but will know soon as I am having bloods done next week. My last ferritin Dec 23 was only 11 and the GP said satisfactory. I am really tired have lots of headaches my hands are always freezing cold and I have restless legs, she knows all this so I don't know what you have to do to get some help. It's looking like I will have to pay £700 for an infusion done privately. It makes you so angry when you know we have to source our own B12 injections, syringes and needles as well. That's my rant over as well. Hope you enjoyed the pate on toast 🥴
I've never heard of sublingual iron - I'll have a Google 🙂
My Ferritin was 5 before my diagnosis and they STILL wrote satisfactory on my notes! But as my hb was only 7, they thought they should do something about it. Ferritin went up to 66 after a course of iron tablets from the Doc, which still wasn't great, but they just left it and its been drifting down ever since!
As I'm on antiplatelets and have numerous autoimmune conditions, you'd have thought they'd keep on top of it, but no 😒
Yes, the pate was lovely thank you, although Doc says its bad for my cholesterol. Can't win sometimes, can you. 😆
My Ferritin was 5 before my diagnosis and they STILL wrote satisfactory on my notes. ( Excuse me whilst I bang my head on the wall ).
So, you talk about Iron Deficiency Anaemia and you are recommended oral cobalamin. Wrong diseases/conditions. topazrat, I had to explain the difference between endoscopy and colonoscopy to one Health Professional. It may be that this is the level that we are working at.
You know what you need. Gentle iron, enjoy your pate and sausages.
I bet your GP gets a bit of money for prescribing statins for high cholesterol though. 😉
Oh yes, of course they get paid for statins, and lots of other medications, and treatments/tests, but not for P.A, which is why we tend to get ignored - no money in B12!
A computer generated algorithm sends you texts for cholesterol with a link to healthy eating.
Last night, I was listening to an obstetrician talking about how pregnant women were ignored during COVID. Albeit, it was with respect to vaccinations. ‘THEY’ had dehumanised one of the most vulnerable groups.
The biggest problem then is the aftermath. topazrat does state why wait until results are bottom of the range ? Money is more often than not the answer.
Maybe a trip to the vets is warranted. They seem to understand the logic of a B12 deficiency & the need for ferratin ! I told my Dr I would get better treatment at the vets she wasn't amused.
Hi Jillymo, you are so right! Trip to the vets is likely to result in a far better understanding of B12 and Ferritin etc. I'd be happy to hop up on the vet's table, but I'll draw the line at where they might want to put the thermometer!
I had the same problem with tiredness despite regular B12 injections. Started taking Spatone semi regularly and energy level is back up. I prefer liverwurst on white bread with yellow mustard, yummy!
Had the same conversation with the GP I saw about 2 months ago for my blood results - ferritin at the lower range, but still regarded as ok and no additional supplementation. I now have B12 jabs at surgery once every four weeks after nearly a year of 'begging' and drawing their attention to the NICE guidelines regarding neuropathy, but to no avail.... Was told 'it's just a vitamin, if you want more you can buy it cheaply in the chemist next door' - How can they be qualified at GPs and still spout this opinion and lack of understanding about PA. Now I'm ranting too!! 😂
At last you can have 4 weekly injections, JanCymru. 😅
It is quite simple, AstraZeneca are up +111.68 (1.12%) today on the Stock Exchange.
Yesterday, I had a very interesting conversation with a 5th year medical student. Most of her fellow students did not actually want to be doctors. (Lacked the compassion whilst they did). They just choose between law, politics, medicine and engineering. The person I was speaking to was one of the only people who had not been to public school.
The person, like topazrat, gave a lecture. They told their peers, Just get over yourselves. I will take the vet’s thermometer and swap it for a silver spoon. I have no problem shoving that where the sun does not shine. On whom ? Well everybody gets ill even rich people.
A string of pearls and a set of scrubs is a major faux pas. Anna Wintour would have a field day.
Ugg Topazrat! So infuriating. So sorry they refuse to look at your slightly high and low results. I don't get that. it is a sliding scale, too far one way or the other, the worse you feel. why question us? I don't get it. I wish I had something useful to offer. Just a hug is all I have🫂, and to wish you the best. 🫂
Not fine at all, GP hasn't a clue. Private testing and treatment if necessary's the only way forward. I had a significant iron deficiency and an infusion when mine had dropped to 30. Only a full iron panel will give you that info.
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Reaction to injections and tablets
B12 injections swapped for tablets!!
Sublingual B12 tablets
Shall I start taking 1000mcg lozenges, or should I give it a bit longer? 
Reaction to B12 tablets 
