needle size for IM injection?

[Gobbozoid]

just wanted to know what needle size I should be using? I am not sure what size the gp was using and was concerned the ones I am using may be a bit to short. I say this as although I am using the same b12 they do, it’s seeming less effective than when I had them through my gp.

[clivealive Forum Support]

The needles we use bought from medisave.co.uk/pages/contact

307727 - BD Emerald Hypodermic Syringe - Luer Slip Concentric - 2ml x 100 - 1

UB - 23G 1" (25mm) Needle (Short Blue) - Unisharp X 100 - 1

ND432 - BD Microlance 3 Needles Green 21g x 1.5" x 100 - 1

And it is the shorter "Blue" one for the actual injection the other one for loading

I hope this helps and I wish you well

[Gobbozoid in reply to clivealive]

That’s actually shorter than what I am using…. I really do not understand why this time round my b12 isn’t seeming half as effective as the first time. I really feel so fed up with it all.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Gobbozoid]

You are injecting into a muscle I take it?

Have you changed supplier - are your vials in date?

How long have you been having B12 injected? Have your folate levels been checked?

It may be that the amount of "noticeable improvement" levels off after the initial loading doses.

I am not a medically trained person but have had P.A. for over 52 years.

[Gobbozoid in reply to clivealive]

Same supplier as I was getting originally. Sadly my gp was giving me only loading doses but previously they sorted my bladder out.

Today I feel like I am living in a nightmare. Folate and iron were both ok. Just b12

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Gobbozoid]

Can you increase your frequency of injections? You cannot "overdose" on B12 as any excess is excreted via your urine

Do you know the cause of the B12 deficiency?

Hopefully someone on here will come along with some useful help.

[Gobbozoid in reply to clivealive]

Dr Klein over email said it’s pernicious anaemia.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Gobbozoid]

Ten why is your GP not treating you????

[Gobbozoid in reply to clivealive]

Cos they don’t want too. At first it was all your b12 deficient and need b12 jabs. Had six and then they didn’t want to know and all my symptoms returned. God I am miserable

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Gobbozoid]

Please go back to your surgery and demand treatment per the NICE guidelines,

[Gobbozoid in reply to clivealive]

Already had and they said there’s no evidence I am deficient as I had 6 loading doses and in their words that will do me for months. I even printed off nice guidelines for them….

[Hockey_player in reply to Gobbozoid]

Go back to EOD until you get rid of the symptoms. Then figure out how often you need them to keep the symptoms away. I get symptoms after 3 weeks so I inject once per week. I am so sorry to hear your doctor is not treating you effectively!

[Gobbozoid in reply to Hockey_player]

I was doing every other day this time when it started up again. I was on my fifth when it started. I am peeing far to much and just like before there’s blood in it when I do the dipstick test again.

Just went to my gp because of this and without saying she’s hinting it could be cancer. I went through all this worry before a couple of years ago when they said it was cancer and they couldn’t find anything.. Just a red raw bladder inside. I had mri scans etc as well. So now I have the addition worry of that diagnosis again.

I just don’t understand what is happening to me. Every other time the b12 has helped.

[Hockey_player in reply to Gobbozoid]

There is a lot of possible causes of blood in the urine. If it is cancer, the sooner you catch it, the more treatable it is. I hope things go well for you! With the dipstick it sounds like it is blood. Colored urine after B12 shots can be cause by the B12. Some causes of blood in the urine: pennmedicine.org/for-patien...

[Noelnoel in reply to Gobbozoid]

My husband is seeing Dr Klein next Friday so he sent him a link for the type of needles and syringes he recommends

Husband is away at the moment but I can forward link tomorrow when he returns, if it helps

[Gobbozoid in reply to Noelnoel]

Please do as something isn’t working for me. I feel so bad.

[Noelnoel in reply to Gobbozoid]

Husband responded rather quickly, so here it is

Colour photo

[Noelnoel in reply to Gobbozoid]

Just realised photo won’t work for links

Needles

medisave.co.uk/25g-5-8-16mm...

Syringes

medisave.co.uk/bd-discardit...

[wedgewood]

I personally use Luer Lock Syringes , because the needle is screwed onto the syringe and it is really fixed .

Also it’s possible to get 26G x 1 inch injection needles , which are finer than 23G . As B12 is a water based injection, it flows easily through a fine needle . The higher the G rating , the finer the needle .26 G needles are brown. Unless you are very overweight , you don’t need an injection needle longer than 1inch ( 25mm) Inject into the Vastus Lateralis muscle , which is nearest the surface in the outer , middle third of the thigh. ( look it up on Google ) If you are very overweight use a 1 1/2 inch needle .

To withdraw the B12 from the ampoule , you can use a blunt needle with or without filter .

all obtainable from medisave.co.uk

[donnabrain]

Are you taking co factors?