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Low B12 despite just having an injection?

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Posted 5/12/2017 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been experiencing some dizziness the last few days. My doctor said it is most likely the prednisone taper, but wanted to run some labs to check and make sure everything was stable. She ran a B12 test and it came back that I have low B12.

The funny thing is, I've been on monthly injections since October and gave myself my monthly injection 3 DAYS before that bloodwork was done. I didn't know it was even possible to have low B12 with injections. My injection dosage is 1000mcg. They tested folate too and didn't mention it so I assume the issue is not folate deficiency.

Has anyone ever had/heard of low B12 even with injections? I just don't get it.

The doc's recommendation was 1 x 1000mcg injection monthly. I said, "if you look at my chart, you would see I already do that" rolleyes The nurse was all flustered and said she'd check with the doctor again and call me back...
Posted 5/13/2017 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure. Anybody else have ideas? Bump.
Posted 5/13/2017 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I could have this all wrong, but I looked at my bottle of B12 and I take 1500mcg EVERY DAY that's what it states you should take on the bottle, and yet you say that you have an injection for 1 x 1000mcg injection monthly which doesn't seem much? especially if you are naturally low on B12.
Posted 5/13/2017 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Poppie - B12 is like almost all other medications and vitamins - you would never inject someone with nearly as high of a dose as you'd give them orally. This is because you usually only absorb into your bloodstream a fraction of what you take orally. 1000mcg is the standard intramuscular dose. 1 dose weekly for 4 weeks and then 1 dose monthly seems to be the standard dose for pernicious anemia (which is what I did). When I was on oral supplementation, I took 2000mcg per day. The reason I switched from oral to injections is because I couldn't absorb enough orally.
Posted 5/13/2017 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Just an update: my GI doctor told me to up my injections to once every 2 weeks. She did not address why my levels were low just days after an injection.

They did confirm my folate was normal - so not a folate deficiency issue.

I see my PCP on May 25 so I will ask about this then, but it's just so peculiar.
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