Wellness

[cherry]

My usual nurse didn't administer my shot today. So I asked her if I had to return. She said the office would get in touch with me

My regular nurse called ,and told me the Dr wants me to remain on B12 shots, for the rest of my life..Is anyone here taking them forever?

I don't mind, and I am not afraid, just curious

[proudlyfromNJ]

I have bloodwork done every three months. I think twice in the past nine years my Dr. said I needed the shots. The first time I had to go once a week for three months. That got a bit played running to her office that often. Next time I needed them I said no I'll take a vitamin. Took Nature's Plus Shot-o-B12. They worked.

[ceekay]

My mother in law got them monthly for years and years.  We could always tell when she did not get one as she would get really forgetful and spacey.  When she moved to a retirement community she got them on schedule since the nurses there would give the shot and we did not need to make a trip to the doctors office.  She had pernicious anemia.

[cherry]

I know my labs were very low. I was also put on massive doses of Vit D..I take metformin, and it stops the absorbtion of these vitamins, and I also take a PPI, and it does the same thing

[RedTop]

My B12 bottomed out after my first knee surgery.  I needed shots twice a month for 3 months, then monthly for about 6 more months to raise my level where it needed to be.   I made sure my vitamin levels were high enough prior to my second knee surgery, and now maintain my vitamin and mineral levels with oral OTC products.    

Only my first shot was given in my doctors office; after that my RN brother gave them to me, or I gave them to myself.   

[kitcat51]

My body can't absorb B12 the normal way so I've been giving myself the shots for 16 years & will need to continue for the rest of my life. Like you said @cherry, not a big deal. I wish you well.

[hckynut]

@cherry

Even after I guit  Coumadin (warfarin) my Hemoglobin numbers were barely over 10.0, not a good reading for a guy like me that loves physical fitness so much. After about 9 months off the thinners, I asked my Hematologist what might help.

He suggested trying the B-12 regimen, which was 1 shot per week for a month, and monthly there after. Took about 3 months but my Hemoglobin numbers were moving up. That was back in 2009, and since then it has stayed around 14.0-14.5, except when I had another colon bleed and it dropped back into the 8's.

After getting that fixed it took a few months, but it did eventually get in the 14's, sometimes even a 15. I still need Iron Infusions when my Iron Ferritin numbers get below 40. Just had 2 of them, 1 yesterday and 1 the prior Monday. They are 4-6 hours, sometimes even longer. Without my B-12 monthly injections, I would probably need them much more often, and I am not taking that chance over a monthly B-12 shot.

This is all because of chronic colon bleeds starting back in 2007, and at least 130+ blood transfusions. Without this monthly injection? Not worth it to me, and I pay less than $7 for them. Yes, I plan on them for the rest of my life, because Anemia does not go with my 2 hour ice skating sessions 3 times a week, or my other 2-3 day 1.5 to 2 hour workout sessions. If I "ain't moving, I am not living, I am existing". BIG, BIG difference in my quality of life.

hckynut(john)

[juliekb]

I get a shot everymonth and do not want to go one with out. I can feel when my time is getting close. i call it my drug of choice. I found out i was B-12 deficient too late and some of my numbness wont go away. I will be taking it forever. 

[BirkiLady]

@cherryBetween diabetes, lupus and a history of anemia, I tried the OTC B-12 vitamins. Didn't work for me. Have lab work done every four weeks for lupus and every three months for diabetes. The shots are easy and covered completely by Medicare and BC-BS. Yes, I'll be on them forever. Part of my DNA.   

[Mama Mia]

Cherry, I am taking the shots once a month now, for at least a year. My levelsl were pretty good when I started but the doctor is having me do it anyway. Had chemo three years ago, so things got messed up then. I can't feel any difference yet..

mm