hi
I’ve started running but start to struggle when I get to about 9 weeks post injection.
Had my jab yesterday so hopefully will start to feel better in a few days.
Had to abandon a run two days ago as I felt awful, struggled to walk uphill yesterday.
My GP isn’t keen to reduce the timescale of injections from 12 to 8 weeks.
Any suggestions?
I also have take levothyroxine and don’t absorb Vit D very well so take daily VitD with K2
I cycle rather than run but had the same experience as you when I was having monthly injections from my GP. Great for 2-3 weeks and then dramatically tailing off for 1-2 weeks until the next injection.
The only way to deal with it in my experience is to self inject at a frequency that suits me. After some experimentation, I ended up giving myself twice weekly injections but the big plus is that my energy and fitness levels are constant.
Guidelines say that you should be given injections every 2 to 3 months by your GP so I’d suggest your starting point would be to ask your GP to move to 2 monthly injections to see if this solves the issue for you.
If your doctor will not allow 8 weekly injections, I would start self -injecting like all of us do on this forum . The thought may horrify you , but you can be assured that you would get used to it very quickly , and enjoy feeling so much better and not have the return of symptoms. Life is too short to endure that , Cost is not high - cheaper than the bus fare to the doctors . About £2.00 per injection, everything included .
How to obtain Vitamin b12 single use B12 ampoules ( Hydroxocobalamin) from German online pharmacies which are strictly controlled by the health authorities .
The following pharmacies will deliver to U.K.
apohealth.de ( obtainable in English , bottom left , Union Jack , on my device )
versandapo.de ( use Google Chrome to get translation )
shop.apotal.de ( use Google chrome to get translation .) Use the drop- down box to change country to VEREINIGTES KÖNIGREICH GROSSBRITTANIEN. ( German for United Kingdom of Great Britain) when filling out address form .
juvalis.de “ “ “ “
I recommend that you register with the pharmacy . It makes life easier for subsequent ordering . Just take care when filling out your address. FIRST OF ALL ENTER YOUR COUNTRY by clicking on the drop-down box . Usually U.K. but can be. Vereinigtes Königreich Grossbrittanien. or Grossbrittanien. This is so that your post code and the rest of your address will be accepted . This is important . If you don’t do this your address will not be accepted by the computer . 😱 and you will tear your hair out !
You can also order b12 depot from amazon.de. ( German Amazon ) Obtainable in English . But they do not sell Panpharma , only Pascoe and Hevert brands . You cannot use the reference numbers to order . Use the brand names and type of B12 required ( DEPOT ,which indicates Hydroxocobalamin,the B12 of choice with NHS .)
The following are different manufacturers of vitamin B12 depot .obtainable from the above pharmacies . Depot means Hydroxocobalamin, which is the type of B12 that is used by the NHS . It has superceded Cynocobalamin.
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Panpharma 1mg x 1ml ampoule B12 depot in boxes of 10.
Use the pharmaceutical reference number for ease of ordering. —— 16199653 This is a popular choice .
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Pascoe. 1.5 mg x 1ml ampoule B12 depot box of 10 ampoules.
Ref no 07568672
Pascoe 1.5mg x 1 ml ampoule B12 depot— 10 boxes. ( 100 ampoules ). Ref no 07568695
——————————————————————————Hevert. 1mg x 2ml ampoules. B12 depot Box of 10 ref no 06078368
Hevert . 1mg x 2ml ampoules B12 depot 10boxes ( 100 ampoules ) ref no 06078380
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Bear in mind that single boxes of ampoules are 2x more expensive than if you buy 10 . BUT the use- buy date is about 2 years hence ………
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Single use ampoules of Methylcobalamin can be obtained direct from Arnika, a manufacturing homeopathic chemist in Munich , Germany . They only sell direct. You need to get in touch with them by email — manufaktur@arnika-apo.de
to get prices and different sizes of Ampoules .
Or phone them 089 452 468 468 . They speak good English . Methylcobalamin is much more expensive than Hydroxocobalamin.
The cost of delivery varies from pharmacy to pharmacy . Also the cost of the ampoules . Best to check before you order .
ALSO. Best not to order more than £135.00 worth at a time . This includes the cost of delivery . Over the value of £135 .00 you will be charged duty and the Royal Mail charge £8.00 for administration!
Good luck 🍀
Injecting requirements from medisave.co.uk —
For I.M. ( Intramuscular ) and Sub-cut ( subcutaneous)
2.5ml syringes ( for 1 or 2 ml ampoules )
My favourite syringe is the luer lock type. You can “screw” the needle onto the syringe , which makes it really secure .
Withdrawal needles- Coarse long needles say 19G x 1 1/2 inches or blunt withdrawal needles - 1 1/2 inches
———————————————————————— For I. M. Injections. - 26G x 1 inch needle or 25G x 1inch needle . ( injecting into the Vastus Lateralis muscle. Into the middle outer third of the thigh , where that muscle is nearest the surface )
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For subcutaneous injections. 30G x 1/2 inch needle into the tummy fat , or the front of the thigh .
Or use 1ml insulin syringe with a fixed needle , if you are able to withdraw the B12 from the inverted ampoule .
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Also a yellow sharps disposal bin and some alcohol swabs .
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G.ps can prescribe more frequently. 8 weekly should be easily obtained as stated in NICE guidelines.
Tell them your neurological symptoms as that's the criteria
Any more frequent a consultants advice is required it seems.
I've just had mh NHS prescription of 2 weekly 'reviewed '
It's been santioned again.
I also buy my own.
i’d discuss NICE guidelines with your GP as it does recommend injections every 8 weeks .
Have you also had your iron levels checked? This was the final part of the jigsaw for me. There is a condition called runner's anaemia, which results in the destruction of red blood cells through foot strike. The technical name is foot-strike haemolysis.I discovered this after I became very unwell following a very active holiday in the Alps. I'd fixed everything health-wise, felt great and was able to do the outdoor pursuits I love again. I couldn’t understand why my health crashed on returning home. Absolute exhaustion and the return of most of my old symptoms.
You'll need a full iron panel, not just ferritin, before starting any iron supplementation, as too much iron is a bad thing too.
Hi, I have to self inject once a week to enable me to run. I've tried varying this but once a week to support my exercise seems to be the sweet spot. I currently run 10K four times a week. I know that on your regimen, I would have to abandon my running. My GP knows I self inject and doesn't comment but having access to my records via the App now and seeing his comment on this, I don't think he approves, so I have had to go rogue. I am awaiting an appointment privately via Bupa to see a Dr with a special interest in B12 and iron infusion and note my Ferritin is low. Running can also affect iron levels generally. I hope you can find a solution. All the best.
Frequency should be based on alleviating yr symptoms totally but rarely is
Main issue is nurses appts really ie if everyone wanted them more freq then Gps surgeries wdnt cope. My surgery said most of what they do already is b12 injections so the answer teach people to self inject which is what I do myself every other day and without this freq I feel v ill and fatigued . Appts at gps were cancelled changed etc and it really started to affect my mental health so now I am in complete control
I am fortunate that my Gp supports my freq thus far even haematologists may not agree to what I do but it's my body and my life and it's so awful to feel ill and fatigued and tachcardic when it isn't necessary . Also on a more serious level it is damaging if not treated correctly on so many systems in the body as I've had all these issues due to not being treated for 11 yrs affecting blood pressure, heart, nerves, brain, dry eyes, inflammation I'm eyes, joints so I for one will never not treat myself according to debilitating symptoms and if necessary buy them from Germany
Also v important is to ensure yr blood potassium is around 4.5 and your ferritin is above 50 . And check vitamin d is above 60 . B12 pulls on iron stores and potassium to make red blood cells Mine was constantly dropping on injections so now take coconut water bananas and avocados daily and potassium is now 4.5 consistently so managed to get it level.
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