Hi,
I was diagnosed with a B12 deficiency about 5 years ago and have since been receiving injections every 12 weeks. I have always struggled with tiredness, and thought receiving the B12 injections would solve this. I am still feel very tired, often needing to go to bed straight after work and sleeping through the night. I rely on the weekends to catch up on sleep as well - meaning i don't like to plan much on my days off.
Has anyone else experienced this? Could there be another reason for me being tired all the time?
Hi Eleanor, do you feel any better at all in the weeks just following your injection? Or is the tiredness constant? I used to feel as though my batteries were running down once I got past 8 weeks. So I asked my GP if she was prepared to let me trial more frequent injections. She was happy to do this, and I now get my B12 injections every six weeks. It's made a huge difference to me. The other possibility is you are missing other vitamins, do you take a good quality B complex tablet? Have you had your VitD levels checked too? Mine was found to be low. You may be anaemic, or low in ferritin or folate, these are important in converting the injected B12 into something the body can use?
If you GP is unwilling to do further blood testing, there are private labs that you can use. In the first instance try your GP. More information can be found on The Pernicious Anaemia Society website. Best wishes Marion
Hi Eleanor, I had much the same problem and finally managed to convince my GP to allow me to have my injections every eight weeks instead of twelve. It did take some time and a lot of persuasion to get this result. I pointed out the website of the Pernicious Anaemia Society to her and it was the advice they give which finally convinced her. I have been much less tired since starting the new regime. Good luck. Jean
Hi there,
It is not uncommon for some neurological symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better as the B12 begins to work repairing the damage done to your nervous system caused by the deficiency.
What is vitally important is that you have a healthy Folate (B9 a.k.a folic acid) level as this is essential to process the B12 you are having injected. The two vitamins work together and the Folate gets "used up" by the B12.
Can you check with your doctor for the latest serum Folate test results as this will give you an indication of whether you need to supplement with folic acid.
I am not a medically qualified person but one who has had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 Deficiency) for 45 years.
I wish you well
Have you checked your iron and magnesium levels?
Hello Eleanor , i have the same problem , get b12 shot everty three months ,all my symptoms , cracked corners of lips , tiredness , pins and needlles , tinnitus ,light headiness ,constantly yawning / tired all day ,even black marks round my wedding ring ( possibly old wives tale , dont know ) remain. Convinced some ongoing b12 problem.
Docs just says plain and simple that if you get b12 injections you are not b12 difficient. Im not convcinced as all my symptoms put down to b12 problem remain.
Got to the stage wont go back to docs as i am embarrased.p.s all other bloods seemingly ok ruling out annemia ect.
I know how you feel, I don't want to go back to the docs becuase I get made to feel like a time waster.
This group has been excellent and I think my next plan of attack is to gain as much information and evidence as I can and ask for the tests I think I need.
It is a long process but we have to keep trying!
Hi Clive,
Thank you so much for your very helpful reply. I will be asking the doctor for some further testing and I have been taking supplements to see if I notice a difference.
These haven't been tested, but I think i will need to the doctors to ask for specific testing.
Thank you! I will be going to the doctors armed with all sorts of information when I next pluck up the courage to go. I am convined I need the injections more than every 12 weeks.
Went to docs the other day with the possibility of debbys plan of action , to be met with full blood count wont tell those levels and told to just take a multi vit.Once again left with my tail between my legs.As far as i am concerned as a 56 year old male who has out lived his father who passed at 54 , all i am trying to do is spend as much time on this planet with my grand kids by trying to head off any medical issues apart from the age old "getting older " issues. Becoming cynical now with the attitude if i get the tap on the shoulder then i can in the knowledge i gave it my best shot as opposed to the " i should have went to the docs " God forbid you waste the NHS time by being concerned.As you say Eleanor we have to keep plodding away at least knowing i am better off than most folk and continue to count my blessings every time i get up in the morning.But the frustration ....ugh !
Thank you for the great advice. I have started taking supplements and I will see if this helps
Have you tried asking for your vitamin injections closer together? E.g. every 8 weeks instead of 12? I am yet to ask for this, but just wondered how the doctor took this?
I really do feel your frustration - I am 26, and I want to enjoy my life to the max, but feel held back by fatigue and the need to sleep a crazy amount.
I am new to this forum, but have already found it so helpful knowing people understand how it feels and have been through the same struggles. I'm not sure when I will be brave enough to go to my GP again, but I hope you don't give up either!
It took me nearly six years to get the frequency of my injections of cyanocobamalin to be increased from every four weeks to now, every three weeks as my then doctor refused to vary the prescription.
The reason I am on cyano and not hydroxo is because I was started on cyano 45 years ago when diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia.
You may need to ask if your Folate level was checked as this gets "used up" processing the B12.
I wish you well
Thanks Eleanor and Clive , I was put on injections aprox three years ago . After initial loading dose was put on three month cycle but started to hit a wall about 8 weeks in and without even working out dates new i was low.
Then GP put me on to every 8 weeks which helped , but due to revamp with surgeries in Scotland regarding catchment area / post code changes had to find another surgery.After all documents were transferred and we were up and running the nurse , yes nurse overuled old surgery 8 week recomendation saying it has been proved no difference bringing it forward and therefore would not lose any benefit going back up to quarterly shots.To say she was adamant is an understatement.Classic case of a lottery with regards GP , surgery and whereabouts in the country you are. Sad that having worked for forty years without a doctors sick line the entire period i now feel like a malingerer when i go to make an appointment , even to the stage where i spent / used up all my holidays , sick over christmas with that horrible virus not calling for appointment to check if i needed an anti biotic, in fear of that "not him again" look.God help those who go undiagnosed with more serious issues.
What exactly is your diagnosis?
Is it P.A. of B12 Deficiency?
Do you supplement with folic acid?
Good morning Clive , b12 difficency was the only thing that flagged up on initial bloods. All symptoms therefore put down to that.As regrds PA , i could tick off 90% of the symptoms . I have started some over the counter multi vits but other than that take no additional supplements . I do have moderate high blood pressure and take calcium channel blokers and pottasium (Losartan) . and althogh this has been tweaked in the past been on bp medication for over twenty years.I assume the folic acid reading would be apparent on full blood count but i did not ask.Will ask chemist if it would be worth while maybe taking additional supplements.Thanks Clive for your point.To be honest i think i may have to bite the bullet and get a private blood test done to see once and for all what my basic levels are. Thanks again Clive , have a giood day.
Pernicious Anaemia is another form of B12 Deficiency the main difference bring that with P.A. it is virtually impossible to absorb B12 via the stomach due to either Intrinsic Factor antibodies or Gastric Parietal Cell antibodies.
If you have "just" a B12 deficiency you should be able to absorb it from food or supplements, However there are many other causes other than diet such as medications, excess alcohol, autoimmune diseases etc which can deplete levels of B12.
I am saddened to read of your catch 22 situation and hope you manage to resolve it soon.
Take care now.
I am 27 years old and I have been diagnosed with vitamin b12 and D deficiency. My b12 level is 120 and D is 9.8. I have taken 6 injections in 1 month. I also have taken D rise sachet which is 25000. I am vegetarian but I have improved my diet. I also take sun bath for half an hour. But still I feel weak after doing little or some physical activity. This makes me frustrating and losing self confidence. How much time it takes to recover from this? I did a whole body check up. CBC, thyroid, liver tests, urine tests are OK.
I am 27 years old and I have been diagnosed with vitamin b12 and D deficiency. My b12 level is 120 and D is 9.8. I have taken 6 injections in 1 month. I also have taken D rise sachet which is 25000. I am vegetarian but I have improved my diet. I also take sun bath for half an hour. But still I feel weak after doing little or some physical activity. This makes me frustrating and losing self confidence. How much time it takes to recover from this? I did a whole body check up. CBC, thyroid, liver tests, urine tests are OK.