Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

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Needcoffeenow
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Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Needcoffeenow » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:52 am

Alarmed to discover that due to Covid 19 measures my GP is not only closed for face to face consultation but is not providing a practice nurse service so not giving B12 injections. Explained to receptionists that I have pernicious anaemia, can’t ingest B12 in any form so am completely dependent on the injections but she seemed baffled and asked me to call back today. Are any other pernicious anaemia sufferers having the same problem? I’m hoping to speak to a GP today but feeling alarmed.
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Goldhawk
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Goldhawk » Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:35 am

Which GP practice?

you should be able to book a GP call back and they can then triage you and book an appt
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Hanz
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Hanz » Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:37 am

I am now hunting about trying to get it as well! Have you found a way? Ive now self quarantined as I'm totally exhausted with the injection due next week. Immune system wouldnt be good at fighting anything atm.
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Hanz
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Hanz » Sat Mar 21, 2020 9:38 am

Lincoln House Surgery, Hemel Hempstead. Its just saying its closed and t ring 111 in an emergency on the phone.
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Needcoffeenow
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Needcoffeenow » Mon Mar 23, 2020 8:26 am

Thank you both and good to have that Hemel surgery contact - presume private so will be willing to do it for cash? Have now phoned my surgery (which is in Richmond) 5 times. Every time I explain the problem and ask to speak to a GP they say a GP or nurse will call me back but they never do. They’ve now asked me to call back on Tuesday. Like you, Hanz, am due injection this week and exhausted and very down. Since last writing I checked the Pernicious Anaemia Association website and they suggest a number of possible stopgap solutions. As I can’t ingest B12 at all I have bought a spray that delivers the same B12 injection stuff but through cheek tissue, which is supposed to absorb it into the bloodstream. I might be kidding myself but did the recommended 4 sprays yesterday, didn’t fall asleep during the day, slept well last night and and feel much brighter this morning. However I will press the surgery for an injection or at least some advice. I got the spray (Better You Boost) from Holland and Barratt and they also had sub-lingual lozenges in stock, also listed by the PAS as a way to get B12 into bloodstream (worth joining if you haven’t as they have useful info and a dedicated members’ helpline). Will report back how I get on. Must say whole situation highlights how little-understood PA is and am shocked that surgeries don’t have any protocol for dealing with it.
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dudette
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby dudette » Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:10 pm

Have you tried your pharmacist? If that doesn’t work can you get a prescription from your GP and get the dose yourself? It’s really not difficult to self-inject. You don’t need a nurse to do it. In the first instance I would speak to your local pharmacy.
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Needcoffeenow
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Needcoffeenow » Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:22 pm

Update: spoke to GP today and they are now running ‘clean clinics’ for infant vaccination, B12 injections etc. You and your family have to be completely free of C19 or any symptoms etc. I can apparently have an injection tomorrow.

I will take along the ‘Better You’ methylcobalamin spray and see what the doctor thinks of it. Unfortunately no clinical trials done on this product.

But will be relieved to have the injection as very up and down and stupidly went for a walk yesterday so paid the price today.
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Needcoffeenow
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Needcoffeenow » Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:14 am

Final update. Had injection - was only patient there! Had to go through verbal check for C19 symptoms before being allowed in, GP in scrubs and mask and apologised for being a bit over the top. V relieved that they now seem to have a ststem for dealing with it. Discussed the Better You spray. GP offered to help me ascertain whether it worked for me once we are over C19. Said I could try it out and they could check B12 levels after an agreed period of, say, a month. Interested in doing this as the spray would deliver a constant top-up whereas I find with the injection I get a huge energy ‘high’ for a few days but start feeling tired again pretty quickly. Anyone out there tried self-injecting yet? And can you buy the B12 from a pharmacy or is it only by prescription?
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Sausages
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Sausages » Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:42 am

Cytoplan and Solgar offer sublingusls which melt under the tongue and are high dose enough to be effective if you take one a day. The sublinguals are mentioned in the PAS ( pernicious Aneamia Society) information regarding the recent withdrawal of injections. You can find this information on the internet. Sublinguals are shown to be effective in medical research papers if you look for them. Don’t swallow the tablet, let it melt under your tongue so it goes into the blood stream.
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Sausages » Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:46 am

Cytoplan and Solgar offer sublingusls which melt under the tongue and are high dose enough to be effective if you take one a day. The sublinguals are mentioned in the PAS ( pernicious Aneamia Society) information regarding the recent withdrawal of injections. You can find this information on the internet. Sublinguals are shown to be effective in medical research papers if you look for them. Don’t swallow the tablet, let it melt under your tongue so it goes into the blood stream.

Forgot to say the sublinguals are Cytoplan B12 methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalmin. The Solgar are just methylcobalamin.
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PlanBMotherhood
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby PlanBMotherhood » Thu Apr 16, 2020 4:00 pm

Ditto. I live in Richmond and I’m a pernicious anaemia sufferer too and long overdue my injection and prescriptive folate. Spent the last 4 weeks feeling very poorly, totally numb now on right side, extremely fatigued, diff to swallow, brain fog has set in, and eyes are now struggling too. They needed to put me on hold as they couldn’t be sure whether I had the COVID as also had heavy chest , very mild temp and cough and they deem B12 as non urgent which utterly astounds me considering the damage it can do to us sufferers without it, it’s called pernicious for a reason ! As I’ve had a break in treatment they’ve taken some bloods (tues 14th at Seymour house on sheen road so there is a nurse in action at that practice) and they say that they could possibly do an injection tomorrow as it’s so overdue once the doc has looked at my test results. However earlier this week I spent sometime looking online for a home injecting kit from a private clinic just in case. I’ve ordered from Dr Ayanna based in Brighton but it’s something beginning with an M instead of the usual Hx (there is some debate as to whether M is superior than H anyway) but it is a lot stronger so ordered their lower dosage. Obviously nervous about injecting myself and with a new drug that I haven’t taken before but if it comes to the crunch I’m feeling so utterly wretched that I would take the chance. They are closed however so when I call there is no one to answer questions on my order. I’ve had confirmation through but it’s standard mail delivery and I know that even first class letters are taking over a week to get delivered!! I’m a single mum of one and I can’t spend any more time out of action. Difficult at the best of times let alone given the current situation. Best of luck with it. Hope this helps
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PlanBMotherhood
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby PlanBMotherhood » Thu Apr 16, 2020 4:09 pm

Hi... you mentioned you are Richmond too. Where is this clinic as I desperately need an injection. So glad you managed to get yours done and I’ll definitely try and get this mouth spray you mentioned. Is H&B open at the mo?
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PlanBMotherhood
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby PlanBMotherhood » Thu Apr 16, 2020 4:17 pm

Hi... you mentioned you are Richmond too. Where is this clinic as I desperately need an injection. So glad you managed to get yours done and I’ll definitely try and get this mouth spray you mentioned. Is H&B open at the mo?
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Beancounter
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Beancounter » Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:38 am

My daughter has been redeployed to the community nurses though not in your area. I’ll ask her how they deal with people in your situation and how to get added to a list for visits, if that’s possible.
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Needcoffeenow
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Re: Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19

Postby Needcoffeenow » Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:23 am

It’s just my usual NHS GP practice, Acorn Group Practice in Twickenham. Like others in this thread it took a lot of phone calls to finally get a call back from a GP. After a couple of calls I checked the PA website which advised explaining politely to receptonist that you are 100% dependent on the injections and missing one will also make you more vulnerable to infection. When they did call back was all sorted very quickly. They are holding what are called ‘clean clinics’ which (I think) also cater for infant vaccinations and possibly some other conditions. You go in when there are no other patients around. I suggest to any other PA sufferers out there it is well worth joining the PA society. As a member you have access to more information, advice and a helpline. And they are worth supporting as they are calling for more research,
more efficient diagnosis and better understanding of PA.
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