Just heard that my macrocytosis (enlarged red blood cells) is due to low levels of B12. LLMD will be faxing orders to PCP so I can be shown how to give myself the shots.
Not sure I can do this. Anyone else who has done this? How often? I think I could give someone a shot, but not sure I could to myself. If you have done this, did you find any benefit from it?
Thanks.
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
I was worried about doing this beforehand, but it's pretty easy.
The needle is so fine, and you put it in the fattest part of your body--the butt so you barely feel it.
The trick is to aim the needle straight on and not at an angle.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I use a short needle and put it in my thighs .. in fatty tissue. Sometimes I use my arm.
I did them everyday when I was trying to overcome that nice hospital infection two years ago.
Now I do them a few times per month. Not a problem at all giving these to yourself.
Posted by MamaWolf (Member # 10578) on :
I also do my own about 2-3 times a week in my thigh.
If you numb it first with a piece of ice or an ice pack... you will never even feel it.
Yes.... I was afraid and I had to work up to that first one. It wasn't near as bad as what I had imagined.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
they didn't help me. the doc said it's supposed to go in to muscle-not fat-and that might have been why it didn't work. he refused to think it was a bad batch. my urine did not turn red.
one other friend uses them and can't get by without them. but he's skinny-it goes into muscle.
Posted by nan (Member # 63) on :
Thanks for your encouraging words! I don't mind getting shots at all...but feel a bit chicken about stabbing myself. eek
Sorry they didn't work for you, lpkayak. I met a friend today who said after two weeks she had a lot more energy.
I have zero...zip...nada! Hope it works for me!
Posted by mountaingirl (Member # 7304) on :
my MCV and MCH were also high, indicating enlarged red blood cells, and/or hemoglobin. my pcp recommended b-12 shots and folic acid. i did both, and after about 6 weeks my tests were normal. good luck.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I did not do well with the shots either.
My neighbor, who is a RN, gave them to me.
Burned for days!
Listed as a possible side effect of B-12 shots was fatigue/dizziness.
It did that to me. No energy.
I now take mentanx twice daily. However, my insurance was paying for the B-12
Shots. They don't pay for the B-12 supplement. It isn't cheap either.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :
B12 shots worked for me big time. I injected myself, piece of cake definitely. every day for 5 months.
Posted by Skyler (Member # 11549) on :
Its easy to do.
But, for me, the b12 shots give me nerve pain.
They do help with energy though!
Posted by susan2health (Member # 10446) on :
I do with small needle just under the skin.
Syringe is prefilled, and, believe it or not, it hurts less in stomach. I do it like an insulin shot.
Helps immensely.
Posted by arg82 (Member # 161) on :
I do B-12 shots every 3 days in hopes of helping a few different things I seem to be having chronic problems with. Mine are subcutaneous (sub-q) injections that I give to myself in my thighs. I was taught to put it in at a 30 degree angle, not straight in, but you will be taught how to do them by the nurse at your doctor's office. B-12 can be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly but the sub-q injections are a lot easier and less painful in my experience. They're really not bad - the needle is really small and the B-12 is thin and easy to inject so it's really not as bad as most shots.
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)