Need my B12 injection but GP closed for Covid 19 Post Reply

[Needcoffeenow]

Or got to say yes, H and Barrett Richmond is open today (Mon).

[Pentneyprincess]

Haven’t read all the replies but my dad has PA and he can inject at home? Maybe this is something that can be discussed?

[Beancounter]

I spoke to my community nurse daughter about this who said the GPs were ‘naughty’ and had left a lot of people to sort themselves out. The community nurses would visit and give injections but only on referral from the GPS. Not satisfactory.

[Davy21]

That sounds like Methylcobalamin which I don't know much about , I'm a p.a sufferer and I only take hydroxocobalamin which was explained to me to be exactly what I should take or anyone who has pernicious anemia and this was from a specialist and a doctor, the other forms might be for just a b12 deficiency but hydroxocobalamin is what you want, hope this helps. My injections have been cancelled just now in Scotland and I have to do it myself.

[Davy21]

My response was for the person who said they were given methylcobalamin by the way.

[Runner]

Two weeks before my B12 injection was due and concerned about going to the surgery during the Coronavirus outbreak, I asked about self injecting. After four telephone calls and two conversations with different practice nurses I was refused a prescription but told to come for B12 injection the following week. Then received a call telling me all B12 injections were cancelled until further notice and that I "would be ok for a long time" - this was despite the fact that I was already suffering with severe symptoms of deficiency. I asked again about self injecting and explained how bad I was feeling and concerned about how it would effect my immunity levels. I also asked to speak to a GP about it. The GP didn't call me back.
Eventually after researching and asking advice from medical friends, and joining the PAS Pernicious Anaemia Society, I bought B12 Hydroxocobalamin from Germany (cost about 90p per ampule) and picked up needles, syringes, alcohol wipes and a sharps bin, from local needle exchange pharmacy (no cost). I self injected with no problem at all (did watch a few YouTube videos that helped).
I only wish now that I had gone down the self injecting route much earlier rather than waiting (over a month in total - for the surgery to reply initially, for the GP to make a decision, to wait for a GP call that didn't come). In that month my symptoms were making me feel desperate - I had headaches, extreme fatigue, brain fog, vision distortion, numbness in limbs, burning in feet and other symptoms. I felt anxious about going against what the GPs said and was of course unsure about how to buy the B12 etc but really it does not compare to how extremely concerned I am that the damage done to my neurological system will not recover fully after such a long delay.
It took 3 days for the B12 to arrive from Germany, 1hr to source the supplies of syringes and needles and at such a little cost. So for anyone else in the same situation - please don't hesitate.

[Angjones]

Hi
Would you be able to share with me where you got your B12 jabs from in germany please.

Kind regards

[Runner]

Hi, Of course. I bought them from ... (sorry I have been told to remove the website name?!) Perhaps search for the brand available in Germany ... But The ones to get are Hydroxocobalamin 1mg and the brand is Rotexmedica depot 1mg/1ml
(don't know why to look for the word 'depot' that was the advice I was given. It's very cheap but apparently things will change after Brexit unfortunately. You can buy them in multiples of 10 or a pack of 100.
The needles I got from a local needle exchange pharmacy - That was on the advice of the Pernicious Anaemia Society. There is no charge, get wipes and a sharps bin too and they are guaranteed sterile ( apparently not always the case if you by from Amazon etc!) They will help you with choice of needles etc. depending whether you are injecting intramuscularly or subcutaneous.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any further info.
Good luck.
Anny. VERSANDAPO

[Missmitsi2001]

hi my b12 injections were stopped in May given tablets instead I don't feel the same as when I have my injection,gp states doesn't know when b12 injections will be given .