Question:
Is it better to have the b-12 shot or can I take it in pill form.?
What does vitamin b-12 provide for you? — Mattsmom34 (posted on August 5, 2001)
August 5, 2001
Hi Wendy. First off all keep up the great work!!!!! Loosing in my stomach
area has been the most frustrating for me also just to let you know, it
will go down in time. Be patient and it will all work out! About your
question about B-12, my doctor explained it to me like this: we need b-12
for normal neurological functions. Our body's naturally have a reserve of
about seven years and the way we get b-12 is through absorbtion from our
food. Since most of us have an absorbtion related surgery, we cannot not
absorb the proper amounts of b-12 from our food, so, we must suppliment it
through a method that our bodies wiil be able to absorb and store. One way
is through injection, an other is with a b-12 nasal spray. It is a red gel
and you use it once a week instead of getting a shot every 3-4 months. I
think the nasal spray works best for me because it is a continuous dose.
Meaning that you do not feel wore out and tired by the time you are due for
your next dose as some feel when it is time for their shot. About the pill
form, according to my doc,he says that the pill will not work because of
the stomache/absorbtion issues. In other words it will pass right through
you. I hope this helps and if you are interested, the name of the nasal
spray is (I hope I spell this right) Nascrobal and of course it is only by
prescription. Your doc should know about it as well. Hop this helps you in
any way and feel free to email me if you have any more questions.KEEP UP
THE EXCELLANT WORK GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Tonia B.
August 5, 2001
I'm supposed to take MANY, MANY, MANY pills do to the surgery and because
of other problems I've had even before that. Well one of them is an
IRON/B12 combination and I've decided I would rather get B12 shots than
take the pills. Anything, but pills. I don't know what is going to happen
to my health as I haven't been taking hardly any pills since May 8th... but
I can't stand pills staying "mid throat" for 15 minutes before
they go down. When you have to take at as many pills as I'm supposed to and
go through that every day, it's just to much. Pass the needles...
— Danmark
August 5, 2001
My doctor said that the other forms of B 12 haven't proved to be as good at
absorbing as the shot so he recomends a shot each month....now I had
diabites when I was pregnant and had givin myself shots of insulin so he
prescribed me the needles and b 12 to administer it myself once a month.
— [Anonymous]
August 5, 2001
Hi - my Doc is having me self-inject 1cc b-12 a week. The needle is
extremely small and almost painless!! I have some trouble with swallowing
pills since surgery so for me, the shot is great!! Good Luck!
— chance2lv
August 5, 2001
Well, there are several ways to asnwer your question. You can use the
sublingual form of pills and that will slow the descent of your B12 level.
The Rx nasal spray will also slow it, but I've never seen either of this
bring somsone out of deficiency. Personally, I will not use lozenges or
chews, (personal taste), so it's much easier for me to shoot myself. My doc
& I watch my labs to stay at the correct doseage, so it's easy to
control the levels. Now, if I can cut 'n paste, here's excerpts on B12:
Excerpted from Earl Mindell's Vitamin Bible------- (bearing in mind that he
is talking to people who have the use of their stomachs and access to
intrinsic factor, which does NOT apply to RNY people)
Water soluble & effective in very small doses.
Commonly known as the "red vitamin", also cyanocobalamin.
Cyanocobalamin is the commercial available form of vitamin B12 used in
vitamin pills.
measured in micrograms (mcg).
The only vitamin that contains essential mineral elements.
NOT WELL ASSIMILATED THROUGH THE STOMACH.
A diet low in B12 and high in folic acids, (such as a vegetarian diets)
often hides a vitamin B12 deficiency.
A properly functioning thyroid gland helps B12 absorption. Symptoms of B12
deficiency may take more than 5 years to appear after body stores have been
depleted.
In the human diet, vitamin B12 is supplied primarily animal products, since
plant foods (with minor exceptions) don't contain it.
What it can do for you:
Form & regenerate red blood cells, thereby preventing anemia.
Promote growth & increase appetite in children.
Increase energy.
Maintain a healthy nervous system.
Properly utilize fats, carbohydrates & protein.
Relieve irritability.
Improve concentration, memory and balance.
Deficiency: pernicious anemia
Best natural sources:
Liver, beef, pork, eggs, milk, cheese, kidney.
Supplements:
Because B12 is not absorbed well through the stomach, (Earl Mindell)
recommends the sublingual form of the vitamin, (and another one we cannot
use)
Toxicity:
There have been no cases reported of Vitamin B12 toxicity, even on megadose
regimens
Enemies:
acids & alkalies, water, sunlight, alcohol, estrogen, sleeping pills
If you are a vegetarian and have excluded eggs & dairy products from
your diet, then you need B12 supplementation. (this would also apply to
those who cannot digest these or mix them with intrinsic factor--people
with the lower stomach out of the system)
If you drink a lot, B12 is an important supplement for you.
Combined with folic acid, B12 can be a most effective revitalize.
Surprisingly heavy protein consumers may also need extra amounts of the
vitamin, which works synergistically with almost all other B vitamins, as
well as vitamins A, E & C.
Elderly people (another reference reads "over 50") frequently
have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 and require supplementation by
injection.
Women may find B12 helpful, as part of a B complex, during & just prior
to menstruation.
*********
Combining symptoms mentioned:
body odor heart palpitations, menstrual problems, mouth sores & cracks,
vaginal itching-----to list a few........
— vitalady
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