Pernicious Anaemia

[april1693]

After attending my GP for a year and being palmed off with diagnoses of everything from low iron to fibromyalgia, I have finally been diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia. I've been prescribed a series of injections, can anyone tell me firstly how long I will need to have them and secondly the frequency of said injections?? Many thanks x

[Buenchico]

Quotes:

"Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, in a form called hydroxocobalamin.

At first, you'll have these injections every other day for two weeks, or until your symptoms have stopped improving. Your GP or nurse will give the injections.

After this initial period, your treatment will depend on whether the cause of your vitamin B12 deficiency is related to your diet. The most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK is pernicious anaemia, which isn't related to your diet"

and . . .

"If your vitamin B12 deficiency isn't caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in your diet, you'll usually need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin every three months for the rest of your life"

Source:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-vitamin-B12-and-folate-deficiency/Pages/Treatment.aspx

[goodgoalie]

Good info and advice here:
https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/

[april1693]

Thank you so much guys!!

[Sqad]

"I've been prescribed a series of injections, can anyone tell me firstly how long I will need to have them"

For the rest of your life.

"secondly the frequency of said injections??"

That will depend upon the response of your blood, probably once a fortnight or once a month.

[Buenchico]

Sqad:
Unlike in some other countries, the NHS uses hydroxocobalamin (rather than cyanocobalamin, which is likely to be injected monthly in those countries which use it). It's a constant moan of people on the Pernicious Aneamia Socieyt's web forums that hydroxocobalamin is only given every three months, with many people calling for it to be given more often.

[NoMercy]

Chris, paragraph 2 of your first post:

At first, you'll have these injections every other day for two weeks, or until your symptoms have stopped improving. Your GP or nurse will give the injections. 

"Stopped" improving?

[Sqad]

Buenchico...OK...thanks, my age is showing and my experience has been with Cytamen and Neo-Cytamen (cyanocobalamine).

[bednobs]

whats wrong with stopped improving - seems clear to me. You get as well as you can be symptom-wise, then you go ontomaintenance