Self administered B12 injection

[dancemom]

DP is really suffering fatigue and low energy. I’m working on improving his diet but in the shorter term he’s looking at B12 injections.

because he previously had weight loss surgery his GP won’t help him but blood tests did show he’s low in B12

does anyone order their own online and would recommend ?

Can’t he just take oral B12 supplements? Would save you stress/hassle! Injections are really only necessary with pernicious anaemia (when the body physically cannot absorb B12).

You need to have the first one done in a medical setting as there is a small risk of anaphylactic shock.

If blood tests show he is low in b12 then you need to go back to gp to discuss it.

I’ve been doing it for years. I used to get them done by the practise nurse but they wouldn’t do it more than 10 weekly and I was having an awful slump the last couple of weeks so I started doing it myself in between then stopped bothering going to the nurse.

I don’t absorb it orally, both of my parents have issues with it too and injections are a life saver.

There's a great FB group

Vitamin B12 deficiency group UK.

Because of his previous weight loss treatment his GP won’t help. They say any side effects of his surgery he needs to speak to his surgeon about. We are pushing back on this but meanwhile, this is the path we are on.

he has difficulty absorbing things orally again due to the gastric surgery.

@annelovesgilbertcan I ask where you order from and did you need specific needles etc?

please PM if you don’t want to discuss on here

much appreciated

If he struggles to absorb it due to stomach issues can he use a mouth spray one? I use the Better You mouth spray which is available in Boots, H&B, Superdrug, or online on their own website etc. They do loads of different ones (I use their Vit D, Iron and B12).

https://www.boots.com/betteryou-boost-b12-oral-spray-25ml-10262460?srsltid=AfmBOopZ6dIEcUOHUpNKv5SnSguldWzZSCEBZzrCnjBWdQOe1LbhLEwC

Don't you find they burn like a mf?

I did have a course and it was done in a clinic, but I had a bit of a walk to the car after. Although she injects into the butt, my whole leg went lame for a while after.

I just don't think I could inject myself with one of these. And I don't think I am too much of a woosy most of the time 😀

I did feel great after a day or two though.

They’re notoriously stingy injections - DD has pernicious anaemia and is therefore on them every 3 months for life. It’s a necessary evil but doesn’t stop them being bloody painful!

If you buy the Pascoe B12 it doesn’t sting at all. Also, warm up the vial by holding it in your hand or shove it in your bra whilst you set every thing up.

as others have said, the first injection needs to be under medical supervision due to the risk of anaphylaxis.

those recommending supplements or sprays - these are useless for someone who can’t absorb from their diet (and with the surgery he’s had, it’s known this causes absorption issues).

He will need correct cofactors for how often he’s having them - eg 5mg folic acid daily for every other day injections. He may also need iron, vitamin D (plus K2), magnesium, B Complex (make sure there’s no more than 10mg B6 in this and only take for 4 months before a 2 month break).

the equipment is fairly cheap - a few quid for a hundred needles for example. I use cheapest needle to draw up, then the finest needles I can get to inject. At least 1” long for IM, potentially 1.5”. If going for scouts injection, make sure it’s a tiny needle! You’ll need a sharps bin and syringes too. No need for alcohol wipes. You might want plasters and cotton wool in case of bleeding if he hits a blood vessel.

Thank you everyone for your input so far

If he's had gastric bypass/sleeve he should be on them every 3 months for life anyway, given by the GP

The gastric surgery was private and his GP is refusing to currently

My surgery is too stingy to provide them for anyone borderline so I looked up a local nurse (NHS) who provides them on a private basis. The cost is reasonable (£25) and I go every 7-8 weeks or whenever I feel I need a top up. Might be worth seeing if there's a private practitioner in your area (just be careful and I suggest you use a RN)

Our chemist does it on production of blood test results. Superdrug used to do it but again they want bloods and I think they made you get them from Superdrug too.

Why is GP refusing? I’d change GP

Another one to say the spray which is absorbed in your mouth. They work really well.

https://www.versandapo.de/vitamin-b12-depot-injektopas-1500-g-injektionsloesung-100x1ml-pzn-07568695?objectID=07568695&queryID=ff6da7da85b8b2113cce8050a9bf7c7f&query=b12%20injektopas

i buy these ones from Germany and inject subcutaneously, there are different types of b12 with different protocols so he needs to read and understand what he is getting, how to do safely, and cofactors.

the b12 wake up Facebook group has lots of great advice in their files

I did it myself during COVID, they do hurt like a bugger.

There's loads of places that sell them, they're quite popular/trendy now.

I think I used somewhere like this

https://www.skinbrighton.co.uk/b12-injections?srsltid=AfmBOor2YWAy5vUoxIEZgHsYezukoIj0m_HiN07SuEPnhV4Sod2oG8B_

I use sublingual tablets from Igennus, but as up thread Superdrug will do them for £29 a pop. I got most of the way to booking an appointment and wasn't asked for test results but that might be at the final stage.

those recommending supplements or sprays - these are useless for someone who can’t absorb from their diet
Fair enough. I thought I would mention the spray because I struggle to absorb via tablets or diet due to IBD/stomach issues but I'm doing okay on the spray.

Good luck OP.

Depending a bit on what the operation was/when it was done then this sort of thing should be being managed by the bariatric team rather than the GP (there are clear guidelines re this), particularly if the GP doesn’t feel they have the experience/expertise managing this sort of thing (there’s a bit more to it than just prescribing b12 usually).

I SI monthly. The vials are from Amazon Germany, about £20 for 10, and then £4 or something for the needles from SHD Medical. They do a specific B12 kit with everything included. The difference for me is very quick - I can feel when I am getting low, the fatigue really starts to set in, but I’m back to normal within 48 hours of injecting.

I also do my own, I was on them for years and my GP stopped in covid and would not restart. I felt like I was dying, I was nearly a year off them. I also order from Germany and get syringes cheaply online, I did a fair bit of research to make sure I was getting the exact same stuff the GP was giving me and what size syringe to buy, etc. I do use alcohol wipes first, cheap off Amazon. I do it every 8-10 weeks. It does sting a bit and I had to watch loads of Youtube tutorials the first time I did it, my DH helps me and have got it down to a tee now! All done in 5 minutes, I inject midthigh

@doodleschnoodle@bottomfeeder would you be able to provide a link of the ones you use?
do you take folic acid also?

It won’t let me do the link but Apominga is the seller on German Amazon. You have to click on the ‘4 options from £XX bit’.

I did take high strength folic acid when I first started. I don’t specifically now, just whatever is in multivitamin.