If my B12 has risen from 315 to just over 1000 after a single B12 injection does that mean I can stop the injections now?

I don't really know how all this works? I thought I would need lots of injections but it's risen very well after just one injection which is a relief.

Sorry I seem to be asking a lot of questions recently.

[Hidden]

You must be very low to receive injections - this means you can't absorb B12 by mouth/gut.

Have you been diagnosed with pernicious anaemia? in which case the treatment will be life long and also common with a vegetarian diet. Doesn't matter if it's high B12 - the body will be excrete excess.

Have you seen this little film from 1934?

bloodjournal.hematologylibr...

B12 questions? I suggest you have a word with Hampster1 - Jane

or have a peek here b12deficiency.info/

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh I can't get the little film to play! My endo just thought that when my B12 was 315 it was too low he told my GP to give me a B12 injection. (Hydroxcobalamin). My endo just wanted it at about 1000.

I thought I was going to need loads of them but after one injection it's climbed right the way up.

I wasn't diagnosed with PA . Intrisic factor was negative as was another test but I can't remember the name of it. Might be parietal cell?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Joesmum - yes I posted it awhile back - you may need to download 'quicktime' if you've not got it - 'tis def worth watching...

even if you realise it's not just you sweetie, and docs should have learnt these basics by now! I so wish I could send it to ALL GPs! J x

[Clutter]

Joesmum, no it just means that the injection has topped you up for now. If you're scheduled for 3 monthly injections you may feel it wearing off long before then.

You need to be off B12 supplements/injections for four months to get an accurate blood result as it takes 4 months for the red blood cells to renew and replace.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

To be honest I didn't feel much different after the injection and still don't! My endo said that there is a delay, a bit like the thyroid before feeling any benefits from the injection.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

b12d.org/b12-injections-wha...

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Great link. Thank you.

[Heloise]

Hi mum, don't worry about questions, that is how we all learn something. I'm wondering why they would test for B12 right after receiving an injection unless you requested it. But the tests are somewhat questionable. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Hidden in reply to Heloise]

Well about a week after my GP injected me I was back with the endo having thyroid bloods and he just said we might as well check that B12 too! It was just coincidence really and that's how I know the level one week after the injection. I don't feel much different. I thought I'd suddenly start cart wheeling down the street......!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

lol!

seems like if things are wrong for a while it will take quite a while (plus who knows) to fix.

Also seems like at least a quarter of us roidies are affected with low B12/PA - I'm wondering why and looking at which way round this is... my bet's on stomach first J x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I think you're probably right about the stomach thing. My stomachs never been the same since my thyroid went wobbly!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

We do tend to look at the horse before the cart here, - sadly not the same way round in most cases - actually I've not met a GP that looks at the cause, or seen any posted evidence here either - you're lucky if they look at signs/symptoms, and even luckier if they treat them!

but then some are scared if they do - for fear of 'reprisals'... 'tis a sad world sometimes.

I may be getting cynical after 4 years... meanwhile have you considered cutting out bread & gluten for a while - just to see if there's any difference? (takes at least 6 months I think, but benefits huge) J x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I tried cutting out gluten very recently and lost 10lbs! Sadly I reintroduced again through lack of discipline and put it all back on again. But it was an incredible response. I even started to get worried about the weight loss even though I NEEDED to lose weight!

[Heloise in reply to Hidden]

lol, I'll take that injection.

You know serum tests although this one is intramuscular, are just the beginning of the road. I don't know if it's the krebs cycle but any nutrient has to go through checks and balances before it gets to the intended target into the tissue inside the cells.....except for alcohol which works immediately, teehee.

[Hypopotamus]

If you are deemed to be B12 deficient then you should have a course of six injections over two weeks to build up the tore in your liver, and then a 'top-up' injection every 3-4 months.

Is your GP giving you the injections, and if so, was that because your serum levels were low?

[Hidden]

Giving someone just 1 injection of B12 is like giving 1 drop of water to someone dying of thirst. Absolutely pointless. Testing someone's serum B12 levels immediately after an injection, also absolutely pointless, of course it will be high. If they're going to treat you they should do it right, and that means a loading dose followed by maintenance injections at a frequency that keeps your symptoms at bay. And only symptoms matter, not blood test results.