HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

B12 Injections

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/21/2007 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone getting B12 injections more than once a month?  I get so exhausted the week prior to the injection, it reminds me of how I felt prior to getting B12 injections.  If more than monthly is an option I was to ask the doctor about it.
Posted 11/21/2007 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
I just got my primary doc to up my B12 shots to twice a month. My B12 levels are normal, but I was having the same problem as you. about two after I would get my shot the fatigue would hit me so hard. It took some talking, but he finally agreed. You really can't OD on B12, so I don't see why not.
Good luck!
Posted 11/21/2007 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I take my VitB12 Shots every 2 weeks. My friend is a nursing sister, so I buy the stuff and she does the injections and it works like a charm. My doc is okay with this arrangement.
Posted 11/21/2007 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have been doing these 2 times a week at home.

I don't have my illeum(spelling); the part which absorbs B12.

I will soon move to once a week, as twice a week seems a bit much.
As far as I know there is no harm in twice a week though.
Posted 11/22/2007 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
I also give myself B12 injections IM 1 cc every 2 weeks and have been on this same dose since July 1984.  If I forget to take it as scheduled, I can always tell by my lack of appetite and lethargy.  I still have to mark it on my calendar to keep track of it --  when I feel crappy, I just look at the calendar before trying to "self diagnose".  Never fails!  Even tho my levels are still plenty high at the end of the 2 week period according to lab work, I can certainly tell a difference when I push my injection longer than 2 weeks.  I have labs done bi-annually to check B12, folate, etc and always time the lab draws at the end of my 2 week period to be sure I am not deficient at that point.

Posted 11/22/2007 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
I go to get labs done Friday to check my b12 and if it's low, I'll start with b12 shots. Judging by what you guys are writing, getting these shots can be life changing. I feel like I could sleep for days at a time (though I can't because I have a 2 year old, a job, and grad school). My gastro said she recommends I get it checked because my ileum is so inflammed and ulcerated, there's no way it's absorbing B12. Should I start on one shot a month or should I beg to start on 2????
Claudia
Posted 11/22/2007 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
They might start you on 2 a month or once a week in the beginning Smrtgrl. They did me that way. I started off with one shot a week for about a month then went on to once every two weeks. Hopefully it'll help you feel better :)
Posted 11/23/2007 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I also started with one shot a week for a month, then every month, but the nurse told me I could get it every 3 weeks if I needed or wanted. I will warn you, it didn't help with my fatigue at all for several months, even though the bloodwork said I was fine. Recently, I can tell the difference for about a week after I get the shot. Also, I can always tell if it's been over a month since my last one because I get toe cramps really badly.
Posted 11/23/2007 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
I don't notice any difference in fatique from the B12 but the tingling goes away. I upped my shots to every 2 weeks over the summer after several years of once a month. the tingling would start a couple of weeks after the shot and wouldn't go away until the next shot. My regular doctor kept telling me my levels were fine, but I knew they weren't. My specialist increased it. My husband gives me the shot. We have a great system. I give him a buzz hair cut every 2 weeks and he gives me a shot, that way we never forget!
Posted 11/23/2007 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
Three times, I've been on weekly shots for 6 weeks, then go to monthly.  My primary doctor will make me wait for 1 month (after the 6 weeks of weekly) to check my levels, then either keep me on weekly or go back to monthly.   I never thought about twice a month - maybe I could talk her in to that.....!    I've been on shots for about 4 years now.   At first, it seemed to make a huge difference, but now, it doesn't seem to make that much of a difference, unfortunately....
Posted 11/24/2007 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Same here I give myself b-12 injections twice a month
Posted 11/24/2007 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on B12 twice a month for a year now,.my doctor has told me it will be lifelong...
Posted 11/24/2007 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, if you inject yourself, how and where do you do it? I would love to do it, but not so sure how.
Posted 11/24/2007 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
It is injected into a muscle.

I use my leg muscle, the top of it; Push the needle down into the muscle and then push the Top of the syringe to push the B12 in.

It does take some practice.

It is also a good idea to use alcohol and clean the area first, then dispose of the needle in a plastic 2 liter jug, or a sharps container.

I take the 2 liter jug to my g.i. docs office.
Posted 11/24/2007 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

Ditto for me too HomeBoy.

But I have a question along the B12 line....  do you "feel" a difference within an hour or so of the injection... ie. not being able to get to sleep at night if you take it in the evening?

Posted 11/24/2007 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
It seems to be about 2-3 hours for me, and I can feel it working.

When I first started doing them I had problems sleeping from having so much more energy.
I moved them to earlier in the day, before noon, and no more problems.
Posted 11/25/2007 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Well I'm glad to hear I'm not imagining things.   I've been taking this dose for 23 years.  The docs recommended that I take it before bed... they said it would give my body a chance to absorb while my metabolism slowed down while I was asleep.  (I've always had issues gaining weight too).  If I don't get to sleep, or if something wakes me up after I fall asleep, I'm up for hours.  Feels like I drank an espresso! 

Posted 11/26/2007 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all for your repsones very interesting. First I need to inquire if twice a month is an option for me and second I am going to ask about doing it myself or having a family member give them. It would be nice to wipe out another co-pay!
Posted 11/26/2007 11:54 PM (GMT 0)

want_2_be_well said...
Thanks all for your repsones very interesting. First I need to inquire if twice a month is an option for me and second I am going to ask about doing it myself or having a family member give them. It would be nice to wipe out another co-pay!

With my insurance coverage, and with the RX,  I bought the b12 in a bottle to last a year for less than $6 the last time... and syringes I buy in a large box, I think 100 in a box.  They are more reasonable that way (with the Rx of course).  Money made the difference for me in deciding I would learn how to do it myself - and I was scared to death of needles at that time.  Go think -- here I am giving myself shots now!!!  What we can do when the dollar is involved.  Let us know what you find out.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply