B12 deficiency symptoms but levels within NHS guidelines. Is it safe to self inject?

[MyheartgoingBoomBoomBoom]

For some time now I appear to have some symptoms of B12 deficiency (tingling finger tips on one hand, digestive issues, tiredness and no energy, sore tongue and in the corners of mouth, extreme anxiety, depression, vision issues, awful digestive issues, light headed especially from a crouching to standing situation).

Had lots of blood tests last summer and all came back ok. I looked on my records and note that some of my results came back as normal but on the low side, b12 being one of those with low normal.

It came back as 289 and the NHS range is 180-1000. GP insists it’s all ok.

However, I joined a few FB b12 deficiency support groups and they all tell me that my levels are very low and in other countries this would be classed as a deficiency. They say oral supplementation will not help and I should really be self injecting.

Anyone know much about B12 deficiency? Would I experience symptoms with these numbers?

I have never done anything like this before and wouldn’t know where to start and would be concerned what the hell I am injecting into myself, if I buy online. I know I can go to clinic offering this service but they are not cheap.

Has anyone done this? Where would I even start?

Personally I wouldn't be injecting anything I'd bought off the internet!

This is my concern as to why I may be deficient as my diet is quite restricted due to my ongoing (25+ years) of gut issues. I am under a NHS specialist dietician but really struggle with many foods. I’ve kept a food and symptom diary for many years and have come to know many of my food triggers yet still have issues unfortunately. I follow the low fodmap diet.

I can not tolerate eggs or chicken (weird family thing as my dad has this issue and my nan was the same), all dairy upsets me, I do eat dairy free yogurts and cheese.
I can tolerate many other white fish so will eat cod, haddock etc.

I am actually ok with oats, have removed them for some time and reintroduced and had no major change in symptoms as a result. Wheat is definitely an issue for me so I keep that to a minimum as I do with sugar as it causes me issues too. I do also have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth which causes me a lot of gas issues especially if I eat too much sugar/wheat/fatty or high fibre foods.

I do have treats from time to time but sadly they don’t love me, had some dark chocolate and cashews yesterday (cashews are high fodmap) and was awake until 4am with raging gut pain, nausea and gas and still feel horrible - deep joy 🙄

I do also have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Urgh, that's horrible 😢I confess I'm scared of getting this, as I'm on Omeprazole. It will be causing nutrient malabsorption, as you doubtless know, so supplementation is important and transdermal or mucosal delivery's probably helpful. It's a double-bind as weak nutrition encourages SIBO.

It can cause a lot of your troublesome symptoms.

I've already decided that if I get it (there's a 53% chance) I'm going to ask for ALL the antibiotics, try to kill everything!
SIBO study

It is a horrible condition. Sadly the antibiotics made me feel very unwell and haven’t had much impact on eliminating the bad bacteria, it’s an ongoing battle.

I’ve tried various ways to try to kill it off but not having much luck atm. Giving up gluten/wheat has helped a little as too does the low fodmap diet.
I follow several FB support groups for SIBO and it takes many sufferers around 2-4 years to kill it off permanently- urgh!

Hopefully, you won’t succumb to it. Do you have to be on PPI’s for long? Many on the groups say they caused their SIBO. I believe mine is caused by endometriosis for which I am having ongoing investigations.