Just done my first b12 injection. I hate needles so that was terrifying. Having a few stingy sensations in my tummy, I hope that's normal
That was scary: Just done my first b1... - Pernicious Anaemi...
That was scary
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Popcorn12345
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Well done. 👋
It will be interesting to see if the B12 helps you. Yes the injections can sting but at least you have taken the first step to recovery. You might get some reversing out symptoms but try and stick with it.
Pm me with any improvement. 😘
Congratulations, brave Popcorn! 🏅 The first was definitely worst for me. But the feeling of taking some control over my own health was really positive, so hope you have that satisfaction too.
When shoukd I start to notice any change fir the better? Weeks or months?
Some people experience 'reversing out', which seems to be where healing nerves wake up and cause unexpected issues such as migraines, random shooting pains, fatigue, or a temporary worsening of some existing symptoms. Personally it's taken me about 5/6 months to say I definitely feel better, but I noticed positive changes alongside the reversing out from very early days. We are all different, people here can offer great support and reassurance, as between us we've probably had everything going! Wishing you swift improvement.
Did you have other deficiencies along side b12?
The usual co factors of iron, folic acid and Vitamin D were low so I now supplement them. Started with quite high amounts, then blood tests in April after 3 months showed levels were good/slightly high,so I've cut back and will review after next bloods in October.
Do you know the reason for your deficiencies?
I learned from folk here that poor/no absorption of those 3 nutrients often goes hand in hand with the inability to absorb B12. When you start supplementing with B12 you may use up folic acid stores very quickly, and you need all 3 co factors to make the best use of B12. Then saw a specialist who checked my gp's blood test results and advised me to supplement them.
If you have malabsorbtion how come supplements help raise your levels?
Hi Popcorn, as far as B12 is concerned, I have Pernicious Anaemia so I lack the Intrinsic Factor in my stomach that's needed to absorb it from food or oral supplements, and can only get it by injections, With iron, I believe it's the low stomach acid element of Pernicious Aneamia that interferes with absorption from food, but doesn't stop it completely, so I can raise my levels enough with oral supplements. As mentioned before, folic acid is still absorbed but can be used up more quickly when you start injecting so you may need to supplement, but apparently that may not be permanent. As for Vitamin D, I don't know why it's low, but again I can raise levels with supplements. It's all to do with the different pathways the body uses to absorb different nutrients. One can be wonky but others can still work partially or completely! Thank goodness.... And of course everyone is different in their requirements. Hope that rambling reply makes sense!
Yes it does. My problem is I don't know why I'm not absorbing! Going for endoscopy and colonosvopy soon
Oh that does make it trickier to know what you are and aren't able to absorb. Hopefully the tests will give you some insights x
Unfortunately you may never know. I don't.
Just know I can't absorb b12 in the normal way anymore .
Other nutrients like iron either used up quicker or absorbtion slowed .
I tried b12 tablets / sublinguals in high doses but didn't work for me .
Also on no other meds and nothing else found to date going on .
A process of elimination as no conclusive test for half of us at least.
Good you are having every test to try snd find the cause .
The menopause was my trigger as gradually got ill over 3 yesrs when eventually first ever B12 test done.
That was after a brain CT scan !!
It can creep up with many and dismissed by G.ps as stress ,menopause , anxiety, depression as often 'presents ' with the same symptoms.
G.ps do not study B12 .
Some take an interest to understand it.
Initially 5 out of 6 G.ps put me down as the above with ? MH ( mental health) on my record .
None had witnessed such severe symptoms and didn't believe it could
'Just be B12 deficiency '
As on no drugs to blame side effects.
No other conditions to date .
Not a vegan not supplementing ect.
So don't be suprised if your tests ,bloods don't show much .
Go by your symptoms .
Hoping you get improvements soon.
I'm low in b12 iron folate and vit d.How do I raise all the levels?
Surely taking iron supplements etc won't wirk.
A stool sample showed low pancreatic enzymes.
I'm having a colonoscopy, endoscopy and a CT scan done
As I discovered, you may be able to absorb some of those co-factors through supplements even if you're not absorbing B12. Are you taking any supplements at the moment? If not, it may be a case of trying them, and having the necessary blood tests in a couple of months to see if your levels have improved. If your gp did tests that revealed the low levels, hopefully they will prescribe/guide/retest as required. Or you can get recommendations here on dosage and even brands.
Dr K in Cambridge is treating me. But we live very far away so having to to most of it alone. GP will not listen to me . I'm feeling very unwell and worried that although I have started supplements they will not work.
I'm taking gentle iron snd folate tablets 400mcg.
I cant tolerate vit D so not sure what I'm going to do about that yet
It sounds as though you are doing the right things, it's just a case of waiting to check that the supplements are raising your levels as needed, and of course waiting without knowing is a hard thing to do. This is a very isolating condition and I hear your anxiety. Of course, these deficiencies can also increase our levels of anxiety, so it's sometimes Catch 22. In my experience Dr K will always answer emails and he has so much experience in working with B12 that you have found the right person. I'm about 3 months ahead of you in terms of joining this group, and physically and mentally had some horrible days and weeks when I was first diagnosed, but now after 7 months the light at the end of the reversing out tunnel is much closer.
I'm worried that I should be having an iron infusions. As I'm so lightheaded, sometimes my legs give out, headaches, head pressure. I'm really scared
I would definitely email Dr K and ask him about that tomorrow, he knows your levels and can guide you. Remember too that anxiety can give you those same horrible feelings of lightheadedness and jelly legs, and some of us have experienced increased anxiety as we start increasing our B12 levels with injections. You are doing all the right things, sometimes it just takes a little while for your body to start responding.
B12 injections Iron tablets on prescription
400mcg folic acid daily
More sunshine on your torso and vitamin D tablets.
If B12 not absorbed from food or tablets.
Othef things can be.
Or absorbtion just slowed so needs topping up.
I react badly to vit D supplements but my levels are so low! So I need to do something about it. Will I absorb vit D through a spray?
Yes.There are plenty on the market .
I've used Better you mixed with vitK
Some foods are fortified and there's the sun !
I reacted badly at first to loading doses of Vit D prescribed.
But they worked I went from 19nmol/L to 74 nmol/L
Although just in range tend to stay around that still on supplements of 2000i.u vitD daily
Iron rich food absorbs better eaten with high vit C foods
Iron sometimes works better taken every other day .
I was prescribed too high s dose which made me ill.
I did tolerate ferrous fumarate 210mg prescribed then blood tested 3 months later
Ferritin took over a yesr to get the levels up to 58 ug/L
Even if I have a gut issues? It will work? That's good newsNow I just have to work out how to tolerate it without the stupid reaction I get
We all have degrees of gut issues with b12 def.
Whats moreau shine?
More sunshine
Did you have other defiencys as well as b12?
Please look at the above post stating them.
Bravo! You did it! WOW! Applause!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I have tried about 10 times to self inject without success,
but will keep trying. You give me hope! 
Why wasn't you successful?
fear. can't get the needle in without skyrocketing pulse, and intense sweating.
I even tried a needle that was half an inch long and couldn't do that.
Anyone ever injected without looking?
My husband is doing it for me. However i believe the b12 is causing anxiety which is annoying. Don't know if I'm supposed to just push through that and it will get better or what
It's definitely one if the hardest things I've had to learn to do. Not the procedure, but the prospect of inserting that needle... But I thought of all the insulin injecting diabetics who have to do it several times a day and tried to man (woman!) up. I was pleasantly surprised that subcutaneous injections were for me much less uncomfortable than the intramuscular ones I'd had at the GPs surgery. So wishing you the courage to try again, successfully this time.
Hi Popcorn12345, Well done! I've often found it a bit stingy, but generally warming the vial before using the contents helps, especially in the winter! I can now manage the whole procedure in about 5-7 minutes - the first time it took me nearly half an hour - between shaking and telling myself to grow up and get on with it!! You've officially joined the 'row your own boat' club. 😍
I've started getting Anxiety. I don't know if it's from the shots, the folate, the iron or the situation and the fact I feel so ill
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