so I got a b12 shot today...

[ellipses]

...how much good is this supposed to do? just so I know...

[running coach]

Why did you get it?

[ellipses]

Originally Posted by running coach

Why did you get it?

because I had a blood test and it came out 'borderline low'...which means it was still within range but kind of on the low end of that range. and I'm tired. I'm always tired. anyway...he decided, fine, we'll give you a b12 shot and have you come back for additional shots for the next two/three months. then we'll see. so, that's why.

[running coach]

Originally Posted by ellipses

because I had a blood test and it came out 'borderline low'...which means it was still within range but kind of on the low end of that range. and I'm tired. I'm always tired. anyway...he decided, fine, we'll give you a b12 shot and have you come back for additional shots for the next two/three months. then we'll see. so, that's why.

Fair enough.
From Examine.com

Vitamin B12 is known to be relatively deficient during the aging process, with the percentage of the population having suboptimal serum concentrations (less than 200pg/mL or 148pM) increasing from 23% in the 19-64yr age cohort[14] to 62% above 65yrs of age (European data)[15] although this is at the higher range of estimates; estimates for B12 deficiency in the older cohort range from 5-60% in general depending on the source consulted[16][17][18][19] with studies assessing serum B12 at times measuring deficiency rates as low as 3.8% in the elderly (1.9% whole population).[20]

A deficiency of vitamin B12 will ultimately lead to anemia (macrocytic), peripheral neuropathy, and cognitive impairment[21] although a B12 deficiency does not necessarily manifest these symptoms (with 40% of elderly persons with B12 deficiency not having anemia[22]). The leading conditions associated with a B12 deficiency are impairments in absorption (surgical resection, autoimmune pernicious anaemia,[23] chronic pancreatitis,[24][25] Celiac[26] and Crohn's disease[27]) or gastric digestion (atrophic gastritis, achlorhydria[9] or the consequences of gastrectomy[17]), the latter being due to a lessened ability to dissociate B12 that is bound to meat products and the former impaired uptake.

There's more at that link. Hopefully the answer you seek is in there. Good luck.

[PSXer]

my uncle works at a crystal shop and he says you can get all the same benefits from healing crystals without needing chemicals and injections

[ellipses]

Well..I do appreciate your response. I do. But that is not the answer that I was looking for. I'm wondering...i'm wondering...what can I expect from one shot? anything? anything at all? who has had a b12 shot and had a response? anyone? should I have expected more from my pcp? should I be content to just get the monthly shots and hope for the best? what is the best? should I just stop my incessant whining and 'wait' for a result? what kind of result is reasonable??? Am I just a crybaby?

[running coach]

Originally Posted by PSXer

my uncle works at a crystal shop and he says you can get all the same benefits from healing crystals without needing chemicals and injections

Doesn't mean it's true.
While B12 is a chemical, it's not a harmful chemical, it's a vitamin.
Your uncle is an idiot as is his nephew.

[ellipses]

Originally Posted by PSXer

my uncle works at a crystal shop and he says you can get all the same benefits from healing crystals without needing chemicals and injections

bwahahahahaha!!! you funny, dude!

[PSXer]

Originally Posted by running coach

Doesn't mean it's true.
While B12 is a chemical, it's not a harmful chemical, it's a vitamin.
Your uncle is an idiot as is his nephew.

please don't insult my cousin

[running coach]

Originally Posted by ellipses

Well..I do appreciate your response. I do. But that is not the answer that I was looking for. I'm wondering...i'm wondering...what can I expect from one shot? anything? anything at all? who has had a b12 shot and had a response? anyone? should I have expected more from my pcp? should I be content to just get the monthly shots and hope for the best? what is the best? should I just stop my incessant whining and 'wait' for a result? what kind of result is reasonable??? Am I just a crybaby?

From a quick Googling, I think you need your doctor to clarify the why and how long/how much.

If it's diet (are you vegan or vegetarian?), you need to make sure you're eating a good source. If it's malabsorption, that needs to be addressed as there's a number of condition that cause that. Pernicious anemia you need shots every month for life.

[Cochrane]

Originally Posted by PSXer

please don't insult my cousin

I think rc means your uncle's nephew who is posting here in the first person.

[Jaglavak]

Originally Posted by running coach

Doesn't mean it's true.

Oh, it's true that crystals can have a dramatic effect on your health.
If you crush them up and snort them you'll probably die very dramatically.

[Glazer]

It's true. I saw a guy do that on Breaking Bad.

[Ludovic]

Originally Posted by ellipses

Well..I do appreciate your response. I do. But that is not the answer that I was looking for. I'm wondering...i'm wondering...what can I expect from one shot? anything? anything at all? who has had a b12 shot and had a response? anyone? should I have expected more from my pcp? should I be content to just get the monthly shots and hope for the best?

I've never had a B12 shot but when my B12 was shown to be low my doctor told me to take a "megadose" pill (i.e. %5000 or so RDA) and that helped my tiredness within a day. There are other things that can make you tired as well so the shot might do nothing, or cure you, or just mildly improve you.

I'm surprised the doctor went right for the shot. Some people, like myself and half my family, just don't absorb it very well and so need supplements that would be wasted on other people. There are also sublingual liquid megadoses for people who can absorb through their mouth but not through their stomach. Of course, who knows if you are in a peculiar medical situation where you need the shot.

[ellipses]

Originally Posted by Ludovic

I've never had a B12 shot but when my B12 was shown to be low my doctor told me to take a "megadose" pill (i.e. %5000 or so RDA) and that helped my tiredness within a day. There are other things that can make you tired as well so the shot might do nothing, or cure you, or just mildly improve you.

I'm surprised the doctor went right for the shot. Some people, like myself and half my family, just don't absorb it very well and so need supplements that would be wasted on other people. There are also sublingual liquid megadoses for people who can absorb through their mouth but not through their stomach. Of course, who knows if you are in a peculiar medical situation where you need the shot.

My doctor did not go right for the shot. He didn't go right for anything. He was willing to concede that my levels were 'borderline low', but he really didn't seem too concerned. I was more concerned. Because of debilitating fatigue, numbness in hands and feet, depression - not to mention blood tests showing macrocytosis. all of which had been going on for more than a year. To be honest, I was hoping that it was just a b12 deficiency 'cuz that's treatable. If I gotta be sick and miserable, I want it to be something easily treatable!

But he was not too concerned. He made a point of telling me that my b12 levels were 'still in the range'! Never mind that the range is 200-900 and I was in the 200 level. Still in the 'normal' range! I told him "I don't want to be on the low end of that scale - I want to be on the high end!" So...he was agreeable. He conceded that if you're under 400 it's probably a good idea to supplement. So he was willing to do that. He asked me if I would prefer shots or oral. I picked shots, 'cuz I have no problem with needles and I've always heard that shots work quicker. I wanted quick. 'cuz I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.

So he went along with it, 'cuz why not? It can't hurt. So I got a shot that day and I'll get another shot every month for the next 2 or 3 months. And I won't be seeing him again til February.

It's the third day after the shot. so far I'm not impressed, which is really, really depressing 'cuz I had my heart set on a miracle cure...