How necessary is B-12?

I am more than 1 year post-op and am concerned about vitamin B-12. Before surgery it was mentioned to me by several people that after the surgery you should get regular injections. I've asked my primary doc several times but she gives me a blank look and says she's never heard that. Folks on the listserve talk about it extensively and indicate that you can't always tell when you need it but the area of the intestine that is bypassed is where that vitamin is absorbed, so it is essential. Are most people getting these? Thus far, my blood tests do not reveal any deficiency, but should I be concerned anyway?

I'm pre-op .. and not sure .. but my mom is almost two years post-op and she has to get regular B-12 injections to stay energized. I take the B-Dots that absorb under your tongue and they work great for me ... not sure if they will though after the surgery. Meaghan

Meaghan, Here's the scoop on B-12: It is normally absorbed in the part of the stomach that gets bypassed, so swallowing it won't work. You can get it either by injection or by sub-lingual (under-the-tongue) tablets. There is absolutely positively no superiority of the injection over the tabs, despite what many people tell you. As to whether you need it post-o*****t, it's cheap and harmless so taking it won't hurt you, yet if you develop a deficiency severe enough you could become basically paralyzed, so you make the call! For those of you post-ops who aren't taking it, your PCP can check a serum B-12 level to see if you are deficient or not. Good luck, Dr. C The Deaconess Surgical Weight Loss Center Cincinnati, Ohio (513) 559-2545

Thanx Doc .. appreciate the info. Meaghan