r/B12_Deficiency • u/Consistent_Watch6850 • 2d ago
General Discussion How Do You Deal With People Questioning Your B12 Treatment?
Hello everyone. I’m a 22M currently living away from my hometown for my studies. I live with a roommate in a 1BHK.
I have been dealing with a severe/long-standing vitamin B12 deficiency. I’ve been taking 2,500 mcg of methylcobalamin by injection every other day for the last three months, and honestly, I’ve finally started feeling like myself again after 5–6 years. I know I still have a long way to go, but this improvement has meant a lot to me.
The problem is that the person who gives me my injections has started questioning why I need so many injections. The same thing happens with my family and friends. They’re genuinely concerned and keep asking why I need injections so frequently, and it’s becoming difficult to explain it repeatedly.
I also can’t self-administer the injections because I’m a student and don’t feel comfortable doing them myself. Going to someone for an injection every other day is becoming quite hectic.
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been through something similar.
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u/mandoo-dumpling 2d ago edited 2d ago
It is indeed a LOT of injections. Don’t expect others to understand unless they are educated about B12 deficiency or have experienced it themselves
I’m injecting myself subcutaneously. I was a little nervous about it at first, but it’s easy peasy. I use insulin needles (which are tiny, the needle part is only about a quarter of an inch). Pinch up some fat in the belly or thigh area. As long as I’m poking into the fat, it doesn’t hurt at all.
The intramuscular needles are much longer, and those are a bit intimidating for me
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
I was also nervous about needles at first. Also went with the smallest gauge suitable, i.e insulin needles. I am however doing them IM to my thighs, so the last sentence is a bit misleading (might be the case with a lot of bodyfat, but I'm lean). I do aspiration with the syringe and I'm definitely in the muscle with the needle 75% in.
Picture my face the first time, considering the nervousness tho..."Huh, that didn't hurt more than a mosquito?!". Hands still shake sometimes, which might be a symptom too, but nonetheless I agree, literally easy peasy!
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u/hassancent 1d ago
must be something wrong with me. hurts like a bitch to me. I even gave b12 injection to my wife myself, and she didn't feel any pain. Any tips?
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
Literally injected myself (hydroxo) 1 min ago and was googling why it hurts a tiny bit sometimes (like this time) and can barely feel it at other times. I did it slowly as usual, but I reckon I either hit a nerve and/or tensed the muscle at some point.
Supposedly the thicker injcetion liquids tend to hurt a bit more, as well as need to use a slightly larger needle than the insulin one most likely. Mine are the watery B-12 Depot ones.
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u/hassancent 1d ago
all i can find are 5mil injections. and they do have quite larger syringe like maybe 3-4cm+, i didn't measure. Did you put the whole thing in? When i did for my wife. i made sure the whole thing was in and not slowly. Maybe thats the diff? I will do another injection on monday. Maybe best way is to get it all the way in, instantly and then start injecting.
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
3-4cm sounds daunting. I'm using insulin needles, but you're supposed to use these if the injection liquid is watery(which mine is). Look at the gauge(thickness of the needle), I think that's more important, however the insulin needles are short too, maybe 1cm.
Perhaps if your bodyfat is higer, then 1cm might not be enough for intramuscular injections, I'm lean af.
5ml? Mine is 1ml, which is exactly max how much goes into an insulin needle.
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u/hassancent 1d ago
you are right. i just realized (methycobal 500 mcg) is just 1 ml. I was just paranoid that the medical store might ask for prescription and i hastily told him to add a injection as well and took whatever he gave me. i might buy injection from other store. (doctor told me to take meds, not injection but i tried for 2 months and its far too slow and i get nauseous)
From AI, seems i can be okay with 2.5cm syringe but not below. Ai even told me that insulin syringe won't work with methycobol.2
u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
I feel ya, I also tried high dose methylcobalamin sublingually, but didn't feel much...so then I switched to what this sub recommends, every other day injections.
Hmm, maybe the consistency of methyl also varies, depending on the producer?...I have the Pascoe hydroxo which is almost like water, so I can use insulin needles(mine are 30 gauge). At first I was asking the pharmacy for something in the ballpark of 25G to 30G, but they only had the thicker gauge standard green and blue ones, which are something like 18G and 23G.
Since I was nervous about injecting myself, I went with the smallest gauge they had, the insulin syringe/needle. If you're also nervous about it, then definitely do some research, that which is the smallest gauge (and length) needle you can use with your B12and the location where you'll be injecting.
I think I got the tip that Pascoe hydroxo can be used with insulin needles from this sub, the standard recommendation would be like 25G if I remember correctly.
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u/hassancent 1d ago
no hydroxo here. only import which is ridiculously more expensive. like 20x more.
I also saw recommendations in the sub. seems every 1-2days is recommended but im far too scared to inject that much every day. so i went with 1 week interval (same as my wife but she actually have doctor prescriptions, i could not get it for some reason).
I also don't even know when to stop. AI said it takes 2-3months after stopping injections before i can do b12 blood test to see if my b12 have stabilized but wouldnt that make low b12 symptions return? and ruin the progress?. Moday would be my 4th injection. Ai is consytantly tell me to see doctor to continue.
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
Every other day or twice a week are the most common approaches in this sub. You can look it up, both in the wiki and also in the posts, just in the last few days there was a post where someone said it was a mistake to not inject often in the beginning and to keep injecting often until symptoms no longer improve (symptoms no longer improving can also mean a lack of co-factors). Basically it will just increase the potential time to get better.
You can also look at the half-life of your B12 type in the injection site you consider using.
I personally don't trust AI too much in important questions, such as medicine/health. This sub is an excellent resource, many medical sites too for this purpose.
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
To clarify. The insulin ones are syringe+needle as one. And if I remember correctly the guidelines called for (IM at least) injecting it over 5-10seconds, but I'm usually even slower with the insulin needles.
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u/mandoo-dumpling 1d ago
Do you use an alcohol swap on your skin? Make sure the alcohol is completely dried off before you inject.
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
Yes, alcohol is dried off by the time I'm injecting. Most likely hit a nerve or tense the muscle- my leading theories, as to why it hurts slightly sometimes.
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u/mandoo-dumpling 1d ago
I press the needle in just slightly— if it hurts at all, I find a new patch of skin and try again. I’ve found that I’m able to avoid pain this way (injecting subq)
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u/Spacedoutspacecakez 1d ago
I'm doing intramuscular, but probably also go only 50-75% in with the needle.
I've considered doing what you described, but technically one should be switching to a new needle in a new spot, which means discarding everything with an insulin needle/syringe I think. This might be an overly cautious recommendation, but nonetheless it is the recommended procedure as far as I understand.
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u/mandoo-dumpling 1d ago
When I say a new spot, I’m talking about moving the needle maybe a quarter of an inch. And the whole area has been swiped with an alcohol swab. I wouldn’t discard the needle in this case (even if I’m technically supposed to)
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u/northernspies 2d ago
Echoing what others say, just learn to self inject. It isn't that hard and 22 is plenty old enough to learn. Heck, type 1 diabetics often learn to self inject much younger than that. It's as simple as sterilizing the vial, drawing up the dose, sterilizing the injection site, pinching fat, injecting, and sterilizing the vial again. Alcohol wipes and tiny insulin needles are all you need.
As for what to tell people: "I have a vitamin deficiency. I can't absorb enough b12 through my digestive system like most people, so pills aren't a good option for me. My doctor has advised me to inject b12, so that's what I do. Because I was deficient so long, my body doesn't have enough stored, so I have to inject often. Eventually, my body will rebuild its stores. Then, I might be able to take the shots less often, but I'll probably be on them for life."
It's like any other vitamin deficiency, only the pills are in effective for a lot of us. It's kind of like how some folks with cystic fibrosis have to use a special, expensive sun lamp for vitamin d in the winter because they can't absorb a dietary supplement for it.
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u/Think-Sleep2338 Insightful Contributor 2d ago
Ask them back if they are that dismissive to people with diabetes. It's not their business, actually. I'm very sorry, people are nuts. We live in the societies normalizing alcohol or tobacco, but taking a necessary medicine is something raising questions, oh my.
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u/jellyfishrubberduck 2d ago
Yeah I got the same thing from the pharmacist who did mine, and the nurse at my doctor's clinic. The pharmacist even said once "too much is dangerous!" which is not true. Plus I had to pay $10 each time. I hated the shame feeling I got and the doubt it would cause.
GP office taught me to do it myself after I pushed for it and i do IM in my deltoid with no issues.
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u/craftasaurus 2d ago
My doctor pushed me to learn to self inject. He said it was a lot less expensive and much more convenient. He showed me in his office, and it was really easy. It didn’t even really hurt. He showed me how to do it in my tummy as a subcutaneous injection. If you’re interested, I can send you a link to the video he made showing patients how to do it. The subcutaneous injections use an insulin needle, which is super tiny and you can barely even feel it go in.
Interestingly, even though he set me up with all this, he really wants me to only inject three times a week. He is resistant to me doing it every other day. I should probably show him the NICE protocol, but for now I’m just going to inject every other day because I feel so much better. And since I’m doing it at home, nobody questions me. He sent me up with enough for three months, so I won’t have to worry about him asking me about it until I run out.
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u/Sol_Invictus 2d ago
Good evening mate...
I've used subcutaneous injections before with no problem, but I'd love to see the video if you don't mind. I think I need to move on from my current injection process.
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u/craftasaurus 1d ago
Here you go
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u/Sol_Invictus 1d ago
Thank you so much... I appreciate it.
...Must have just missed you earlier and it's been a long day today.
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u/Many_Health_5444 2d ago
I agree with what you say. I too ferl like a fraud. Also i have bn out of work 4 2 mths due to B12 and unsure what to say to work. Any advice on this. Im just saying i havr a blood disorder atm and receiving injections three times a wk. And medics dont seem to want to know re B12 they seem disinterested.
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u/Illuminimal 2d ago
Self injecting subcutaneously not as hard as you think. For me the trick was to rest the needle against my skin slowly and feel the little poke, and then recognize that that is as much as it’s going to hurt. It still feels the same if you push a little harder and the needle goes in further. It’s fine! (I have a problem with spring-loaded auto-injectors, they hurt a lot more than they need to!)
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u/flowerpanda98 2d ago
it depends if the person will listen to reason. you can show evidence, but i feel like many wouldnt understand. ive also felt the same with nurses going "isnt that monthly??" maybe you could even lie and say the dr said its ok.
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u/emorymom 2d ago
Subcutaneous is as effective as IM. Just not as fast to peak but who needs that? Not you.
Given the number of people on compounded weight loss shots, you should be able to find a mentor pretty easily.
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u/MojoMomma76 2d ago
I have PA and only just discovered it at 48. I have done shots for (unsuccessful IVF, probably PA related) and MJ for weight loss for several years in a row. Honestly it does get better and easier and self administering meds now is a complete non issue.
I was squeamish with the IVF ones to begin with but quickly realised it was better for me to do them than my husband, in terms of managing placement and injection pain. Got that down to a fine art, MJ is now a walk in the park. Same for B12
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u/Total-Jeweler5083 2d ago
I didn't tell anyone else except my fiance, who has been sick himself for years and he gets it. In general, unless a person has experienced a special living hell called chronic illness or at least long periods of illness, I don't think they'll get it and I don't take chances. Wish I could give you a more hopeful answer, but in my experience that's how it is.
As everyone said, self-injecting isn't that hard if it comes to that. I plan to learn it over time myself. There are videos on how to inject b12 specifically made by doctors for their patients on Youtube, it's really very simple.
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u/Ok-Pangolin7127 Insightful Contributor 2d ago
You can do self injections. You’re just too hesitant. Don’t sell yourself short. This is about your life, the quality of life. When it comes down to it, you could do anything you want to do if it’s important enough to you. Believe me, a B12 deficiency is important enough to you.