B12 Shots?

Hello everyone.

The hubs had his first appointment with our LLMD today.

Well, let me correct that... he was SUPPOSED to. They called early this morning and cancelled and then informed us the doc was going away for 2 weeks. Of course I flipped out (oops). My husband is not on meds yet and we were supposed to go over his IgeneX results. Every day he is showing more symptoms so I am desperate to get him treated.

They got him in with our LLMD's physician assistant. I was unable to make it to the appointment because of work but he texted me and said his IgeneX came back WAY positive.

But also that the PA is prescribing him B12 shots. And when he told her I was never on them, she was shocked, and wrote a prescription for me too.

Do these things help?

Just to be clear, my husband and I have never had fatigue with this. We go to bed around 11 every night, sleep soundly (most nights) and wake up for work about 6:30 AM.  We never had joint pain either. Mostly just neurological symptoms.

We take B complex supplements now, don't know if they are doing anything either.

Any opinions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Hi Elleon,

When I started B12 shots, I took them every single day, for at least 2 years. Then when I felt I had enough reserve, I started taking them twice a week.
For me personally, I don't feel any difference in my fatigue, it helps with the neurological symptoms like the numb feeling in parts of my body, the creepy crawlies under my skin, that electrical feeling just below my skin.

There are 3 different kinds of B12 - be sure to take methylcobalamin or hydroxocobalamin, not cyanocobalamin.
I can't get methylcobalamin in Belgium, so I use hydroxocobalamin. I think you can't get hydroxocobalamin in the US, so you'll have to buy methylcobalamin.
It's easy to do the subcutaneous injections yourself. It stings a bit, but nothing to be scared of. A nurse you know, or someone with diabetes can show you how to do the injections.
Many people have problems absorbing B12 through the digestive system, that is why injections are much and much better for us.

Cyanocobalamin: can be given as an IM injection, not IV. However, after injection it will need to convert to methylcobalamin, and then to hydroxocobalamin to be used by the body. Of all the forms of Vitamin B12 it is the least painful for the patient to inject. After introduction into the body it provides a small amount of cyanide. For individuals who are overall very healthy this is a good choice and this is also the least expensive form of injectable Vitamin B12. It is known that some people, such as smokers, are less able to transform cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin due to toxins and heavy metals in the liver. These individuals need to use other forms of Vitamin B12.

Methylcobalamin: is more bioactive and can be given IM, IV and intraarticularly. It is slightly painful to inject into the muscle. This is also a better choice for smokers who are unable to convert cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin.

Hydroxocobalamin: is the most bioactive form of Vitamin B12 and mostly given IV as IM injections are very painful. If given IM it is mixed the local anesthetic procaine. Hydroxocobalamin is retained longer in the body and can be dosed less frequently. An additional application of hydroxocobalamin is that it can be used for patients with cyanide poisoning as it binds cyanide and allows for elimination through the kidneys.

I have been on here for a while, but I'm still not entirely familiar with the Igenex test, so I can't follow the reasoning of your dr saying he has this infection less than 6 weeks. I had one done, came back positive only on band 41. But had another test done (Elispot LTT) that came back positive.
I hope others will chime in to give their advice on your dr's assumption.

Your concern about you not being better, and your husband being better is normal. I don't think it is selfish, maybe you're just scared.
First of all, I think it's a bit premature of your LLMD's PA to express the duration of your husband's healing process. Secondly, I think that if this would be the scenario, it would be better that one of you is better, so he/she could help the other one getting through this. It is a day by day lesson in patience...
I have this feeling that my husband is getting some symptoms, and it's scaring me so much. I know this is a reversed scenario, but I freak out thinking he might be getting sick, while I'm still very sick myself. And he is the kind of man that really is very dramatic when being sick (sorry for the men on here, you're not all like that, I know - lol - my apologies )

Thanks so much for the comments. You guys gave me a lot of good info on the B12 shots. I think I am going to do them, at least for a little bit to see how I feel. I'll try anything at this point.

MarieLS, I remember my husband would call me after work and be like oh I got this weird pain in my leg or felt dizzy for a second and I knew it was the Lyme but he never believed me. Now he has the tests to prove it. It is very scary though especially because he is the "breadwinner" in the family and works a physical job.

I can handle not feeling well and being dizzy because I sit at a desk all day but he is on his feet lifting things for 8 hours a day so I am worried about how he is going to feel. He is eventually losing his job so I think being able to rest while collecting unemployment will be good for him.