posted
My doctor perscribed me B12 injections for every day for the next 14 days to get me feeling better.
The nurse told me places where i can inject, but I do not know anything about how to do this. They gave me no info on this. So I figured the pharmacy would give me detailed instructions... they did not.
Now I NEED to take one tonight or one shot that cost hundreds will go bad!
Can anyone tell me anything baout this shot, how to do it, what to expect, where is best to do it? or any advice or tips?
I know i can do this on my own, but i would much rather know what to expect before hand. it would make this SOOO much easier.
posted
piece pf cake, I give them to my son every other day. you can do it Im or subcutanously (in the butt, easier I think) Just fill the syringe, wipe your behind on upper one outer area of your behind with alcohol, hold the syringe at about 45 degrees, and insert, squeeze , and out it goes. Why did it cost hunderds of dollars. I only pay $7 copay for my son's. It should be covered by insurance. I give him hydroxy b12. you can take sublingual too, it works. I took them for one month, it gives you energy, I think it helps. but if you don't take the cofactors, it won't do you any good. That is, you need animo acids, taurine, . Jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
It cost me around 1200 dollars for the 14 day suply. My insurance would not cover it for some reason. actually i think the pharmacy would not take the insurance for the shot because it has to be specailly made and the insurance company does not reimburse them for some of the supplies.
Yeah, thats it. So this cost me an arm and a leg. Thank god my grandfather was a penny pincher is whole life. If it was not for him, i would not be getting better now. Even after his death he is saving my life. he was/is amazing.
posted
That is absurd. Insurance should pay for it. Where do you get it, compound pharmacy I hope. Make sure they only put the b12 and not mix anything with it like folic acid or NAC. Jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Maybe we're talking about different B12...but I get a 30 ml multiple dose vial of cyanocobalamin (B12)and a bag of sterile wrapped needles from my doctor for $19. I started out taking one a day for two weeks and now am on a maintenance dose of twice a week. My insurance doesn't pay for any, but at less than twenty dollars...it's a great deal.
If this is the same form of B12 that your doctor gives you--you may want to see about getting the vial and filling the syringes yourself. They taught me how in just a few minutes at the doctor's office. You just store the vial in the fridge...It's easy and inexpensive and I really think it helps my energy level.
Now that I'm on a maintenance schedule, the vial lasts quite a while (never paid attention to exactly how long...seems like a few months or more?)
Good luck! Posts: 136 | From North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2007
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clairenotes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10392
posted
Good instructions, but also make sure to check for any air bubbles and that any excess air has been pushed out of the syringe before injecting. To release air bubbles I tap the syringe against a hard surface like the edge of a counter-top (with the plastic cover on) until the bubble/s release.
For sub-cutaneous injections I pinch the skin around the stomach with one hand (forefinger and thumb), then insert needle just into the fold. I never put the needle in farther than about a quarter of an inch. It has worked fairly well for me, but I usually have to insert more than once using this method in a different place. It hurts too much if I try to get the entire contents in one place on my stomach. But not everyone will experience this difficulty.
Another way is to insert the needle so that it goes just under the skin. But I am afraid I am going to go to far in.
This is how I was taught by an LLMD recently.
Claire
Posts: 1111 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I just started B12 (methyl) injections myself.
Jenin, you mention amino acids are needed in order to make the B12 efective. Are there others besides taurine?
Posts: 443 | From The Wild West | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
you can take an amino acid complex vitamin, and b-comlplex as well. you that stuff to make methylation work properly. Jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Sky
No way should B12 cost that much money, more like $35 for 30 doses. For Methylcobalamin, you should be able to get 30 doses for $100.
Insurance should pay for cyanocobalamin, and Methyl B12 must be compounded.
As for giving yourself injections. Have your nurse or doctor show you how to do this. It's easy once you learn how.
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Call this compounding pharmacy up, tell them the treatment is for Lyme disease.
FAX them your Rx and they will mail you your B12 on ice all pre-filled and ready to inject. I got my Methyl B12 for $99 per month there.
I was in a hurry because my boyfriend had to leave, and he was the one doing it for me.
We did all that you guys recomended. It burned pretty bad for me. Ony thing is, we did not know how deep to put it in...
The needle is a 3ml 23g1. How far should we be putting it in?
Anyhoo, It burned and kinda creeped me out, but everyone I have talked to said this made them feel SO much better, so I am pretty excited.
Now I do not know why mine cost so much. I guess mine is something special? 1200 dollars is alot for 2 weeks. especially if you guys say it did not cost so much for you...
clairenotes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10392
posted
With IM injections I put the needle in all the way. But with sub-cutaneous, only part way.
I agree that it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor/nurse also to determine how they would like you to inject the B12, at least for the next injection.
Best wishes,
Claire
Posts: 1111 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2006
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1Bitten2XShy
Unregistered
posted
Sky-
I do not know if Dr. C put you on just plain ole B-12 as he did me..or something with alittle more kick..But my plain ole B-12 was $ 13- for 5 weeks @ 2 per week.
I have 5/8 25g needles..maybe you could get a smaller needle.
He has me inject sub-cutaneous, I just numb the spot with an icecube first (yeah I am a baby) then pinch an inch (lol) and inject into my stomach. Does not go in very far, make sure you inject slowly as well..that will help with the burning. I have zero burning.
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posted
I take 1 cc whenever I feel like it!! I started out two yrs ago at one a day, then after several months it was every other day.
Over the past year, it's been more like once a week....sometimes not even that often.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Mine were 1 cc each and 25 mg/dose.
That's for methylcobalamin. It is normal for the shot to burn a little bit, and you may smell like vitamins afterwards too. Normal. methylB12 should make your urine pink if it is working properly.
Skyler seriously got ripped off, the max Methyl B12 should cost is $300, and that is even high.
Shop around for the best B12 prices, the link above is where I found the best prices, and they are familiar with Lyme disease patients.
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I used 1 cc every other day for a couple of years, but did not see any difference in how I felt. So I finally just quit getting it.
I was taking hydroxy and it only cost me $18 a month, but I do have insurance that paid part of it.
The compounding pharmacy is near where I now live, but was about 20 miles one way before. That plus the fact I couldn't tell it was helping made me decide it wasn't worth the drive to get it.
My energy levels were much lower then, it was before I was dx'd with Lyme. That made the drive take too much of my limited energy when I wasn't seeing results.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I forgot to mention that the shot will hurt less if you let it warm to room temperature. I leave mine out since it says store at 59 - 86 degrees.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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