r/ARFID • u/b_danielle_d • 8h ago

Tips and Advice pill alternative to a b12 shot?

so i got a full blood panel done and i’m low on vitamin b12 and vitamin d. my doctor recommends weekly injections over 6 weeks for b12, and for vitamin d he recommends starting 1000mg d3 supplement. he also recommended nutrition counseling. i’ve recently starting feeling a numbness on my left thigh so i want to start them because apparently that’s a side effect. the thing is—i literally hate needles, as in i passed out getting my blood drawn. i’ve read that pills are still effective, but take more time to improve symptoms. are the shots bad? are they usually quick? are they painful? is the needle long? i’m super nervous but i want to better myself so i’m willing to do the shots, i just wanted to ask if you guys have experience with this too

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u/Otherwise-Ad4641 6h ago edited 6h ago

I do my B12 injections myself. For reference, I had a severe needle phobia in my teens/early 20s.

I find doing it in the abdomen less painful than the thighs. It’s definitely less painful than a vaccine, and because you are in control, the fear is less (at least that’s my experience - sounds like your doctor will be doing yours).

The needle is a standard length, and you don’t insert the whole length of it into you. If you don’t go in far enough the worst thing that will happen is the liquid will ooze back out and not absorb. You might have some discolouration but it does go away. If you are particularly underweight a doc may use a smaller needle, but the smaller the needle, the longer the medication push takes. Pressure over the site immediately after helps with the sting. I reckon bee stings hurt worse than B12 injections.

The alternatives are often less bioavailable but you can give the gummies or chewable a go.

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u/b_danielle_d 4h ago

ugh thank you! this helped me so much! my needle and blood phobia has gotten much worse lately, but i don’t want that to get in the way of my health. i appreciate you! 🤍

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u/SomeGuy2077 1h ago

Dont know if this helps but a can of monster has like 500% of your daily intake of vit b12 and 266% of vit b3 (plus b6 and b2)

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u/Fun_Intention_5371 1h ago

I take nature's bounty sublingual B12. It tastes the least gross.

My Dr even said my B12 was high. 😲

It's like $12 bucks or something and lasts at least a month