Vitamin B12 Deficiency

[Makeafamily19]

Hi all

I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency about 5 years ago now and get 3 monthly injections.
I know B12 deficiency can cause infertility if left untreated but mine has been treated. I do however get very low again when my injection is due; extreme fatigue as well as other symptoms.
Anyone else out there that gets injections had any issues conceiving?
Only on cycle 3 so far but just wondered if it may cause an issue.

It can cause issues.

3 monthly injections aren’t enough for a lot of people. Take a look at the pernicious anaemia society website, or at the PA forum on health unlocked.

Either will be able to give you advice on how to get more frequent injections - if you are noticeably fatigued when you are at 12 weeks then you should try to switch to every 8 weeks if possible.

Bear in mind pregnancy and breastfeeding will both use up a lot of your B12 so best to get more frequent injections.

@8by8 thanks for the advice. I have tried to get switched to 8 weekly in the past and told them my symptoms but they tested me and said my levels weren't low enough to switch me. Hoping that is a good thing! I have made a GP appointment though and going to tell them about TTC and push for more frequent injections.

I was tested and apparently don't have pernicious anaemia, but I do think this might be wrong as my mum and brother also have B12 deficiency and I know there's a genetic link.

@Makeafamily19I’d really encourage you to look at the websites I mentioned as they can give much more detailed advice!

The key point to remember (which most GPs aren’t aware of) is that there is no test to tell you how much active (ie usable) B12 is in your blood, or how efficiently you use it.

The B12 levels they see in your blood test results are actually pretty meaningless.

So they should be treating symptoms, rather than assuming you’re ok based on blood test results.

So if you’re tired by 12 weeks you should get injections at 8 weeks.

I found as soon as I told them I was having tingling in my fingers they were happy to say that’s a neurological symptom, and according to the British National formulary (prescribing guidelines) that means you can have your injection every 8 weeks. I’d spent years complaining of exhaustion and being ignored, but tingling fingers got me what I wanted straightaway!

There’s no evidence that having too much B12 is harmful (your body will just excrete what it doesn’t need) so really worth pushing for the injections.

Good luck!

Hi there, I get 3 monthly injections and I have had 4 miscarriages. I get exhausted around 2 months after my last injection too, barely functioning levels of tiredness

I have three monthly injections and have had a few chemicals. I've always wondered if there was a link.

Thanks, I've read all the info in the past on the pernicious anaemia site and I know a fair bit about it just not bothered me enough to push before TTC. I'm definitely going to push for more injections now though as I don't want it to harm my chances. I do get tingly fingers near the end of the 3 months sometimes and I know that's a symptom. Good to know that might do the trick convincing the GP. Some months are worse than others though and sometimes I'm ok.

Can't get a GP appointment till 18th September but I'll update what they say.

@Makeafamily19 I also have a deficiency and have the injections every 3 months. I’ve been able to get pregnant twice in the space of 8 months however both sadly ended in miscarriage. I have had levels checked through these pregnancies and they have been normal so if that’s the case then b12 cannot cause miscarriage or stop you from getting pregnant if it’s at the correct level. I was sit apprehensive about the b12 thing and worried it caused my miscarriages so I paid to see a leading specialist who deals predominantly with miscarriage. She advised that b12 is not a factor of miscarriage or infertility if your levels are where they should be. I asked about still feeling tired and she said that it wouldn’t be related if the blood work shows everything is where it needs to be. You have only been trying for three months and they say a year is normal
So try not to worry or put too much stress on yourself xx

@Claire78564 thank you that's really helpful x