B12 injections stopped by surgery : GP stopped my... - Thyroid UK

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B12 injections stopped by surgery

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5 years ago•10 Replies

GP stopped my B12 injections after nearly 40 years

I am told I have pernicious anemia and have been having B12 injections every 12 weeks.

My recent blood test shows that my B12 was “normal”

Folic Acid - low

Iron - normal

White Cells - low

GP has prescribed folic Acid tablets but when I went to book my B12 injection, the receptionist wouldn’t let me as “you don’t need it”.

I had my thyroid removed in 1976 and had too much removed resulting in my taking 100mg levothyroxine daily and B12 injections.

Our surgery is having a clampdown on prescriptions. I live in Braintree Essex

Will not having my B12 affect me

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10 Replies

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SeasideSusieRemembering5 years ago

My understanding is that once on injections then further testing is pretty useless as the result will tend to reflect that you take B12. You might be better asking on the PA forum, I expect they've come across this before

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

• in reply toSeasideSusie5 years ago

Thank you so much. I have posted it on their site

SlowDragonAdministrator5 years ago

This is happening to others too

b12deficiency.info/blog/201...

martynhooper.com/2014/07/22...

nursinginpractice.com/perni...

waveylines5 years ago

Am afraid that sounds like GP ignorance. Once diagnosed eith PA injections are for life. Its pointless of them testing your b12 level as the injections will skew the results and is unnecessary. Waste of meny too as clearly theyre in a money saving exercise!!

Stopping your injections will make you exceedingly ill over time and ultimately will cause you harm. You cannot absorb b12 via your food that is why you are on the injections. B12 is minimal in cost but the effects of not having them can end up being permanent. Lack of B12 causes damage to multiple systems in your body. One cannot survive without it. Ultimately having no b12 in your body will kill you. many GPs are extremely ignorant over the importance of b12 and treat it like it some extra rather than vital to your well being. Its a bit like telling a diabetic that they dont need insulin any more because their blood tests were fine!

In your shoes I would write to the practise manager asking for your b12 injections to be reinstated as you have PA. Ask for an explanation and warn them that failure to have the injections reinstated will cause you irreparable harm. Refer them to the NICE guidelines. Ask for a reply within two weeks and for your letter to be put on your file.

The ignorance of doctors just astounds me!

Anke885 years ago

Also try not to use folic acid which is useless. Take methylfolate. With B12 issues you probably need something that is much better absorbed.

Anke885 years ago

This doctor is irresponsible. I would put them on notice that they will be responsible for any health damage

endomad5 years ago

It seems the trend 'prescription clampdown' while i agree that too many prescriptions are written, my last surgery 2018 started not doing repeat prescriptions to see who noticed!! anyone who didnt call and chase within 10 days automatically had prescription stopped and had to have appt and 're apply' for medication after a review, meds were removed from repeats as appt needed if run out. My chemist told me they were also checking to see if people collected on time, collected in person. It saved them a lot of money, of course people are guilty of stock piling, having prescriptions but dont take and it is good this is cracked down on HOWEVER medicines that are for life and are life saving it is irresponsible and causes anxiety. I changed GP.

waveylines• in reply toendomad5 years ago

Absolutely.....now GP surgeries are private business they are trying to keep their costs down.....hence the clamp down on scripts... before the cost of scripts was not attached to thr surgery so it wasnt a worry for them.