Question:
B12 question
i have recently been feeling more tired and having less energy, so i went to my pcp for a checkup. he tested my B12 and the result was around 200. normal is 100-900, so he told me to take a multivitamin daily and have it rechecked in 4-6 months. of course, i have been taking my multivitamin religiously since 6mo before surgery (i am almost 1 yr postop RNY) and am wondering what your levels were when you started taking B12 and did you notice an improvement in activity immediately? i go for my 1 yr checkup next mo with my surgeon and am sure he will give me more info. but just curious from those of you that have experienced low B12. thanks in advance!! Holly — RNlvnCARSON (posted on September 11, 2008)
September 11, 2008
The B's in multivitamin pills won't do as good as a liquid vitamin or
sublingual B12. My lab results sheet says that normal range for B12 is
200-900. On sublinguals after surgery, my daily B12 pills got my levels up
to 1516, then a couple of times a week 850, and only on liquid vitamins
it's 584 at my 2 yr labs. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
September 11, 2008
You need to take a seperate B-12 from your daily vitamin...It must be
sublingual or spray. NOT A PILL! Not in a multivitamin, but as a
supplement to your daily vitamins...Reason??? After RNY, B-12 along with a
few other vits, cannot be absorbed any other way. It absorbs in your mouth
with saliva enzymes. 200 is so low that if you do not raise your B-12
levels and they continue to fall, you will surely become anemic or WORSE
you will end up in the emergency room with permanent damage to your spine,
brain and/or nervous system...Go out and get at LEAST 1000mcg of sublingual
or spray B-12...B-12 is not a toxic vitamin and there is no proof that high
B-12 levels are harmful...My B-12 levels was high 6 months ago at 1127 (I
was quite happy with that number)....and within 6 months dropped to
700's...I have always taken my B-12 religiously (1000 mcg) I raised it to
2500 mcg because I do not want anemia again...I was iron deficient anemic
which is the same but different cause of anemia. Trader Joes makes a great
sublingual that I have had no trouble with until lately...I recently bought
a spray at Walmart to try...I love the spray....SO EASY! Many older folks
need b-12 injections because like RNYers they have less stomach acid (or
intrinsic factor in their stomach) as they age...and this causes many vit
def's in elderly. The highest b-12 I have seen on the market is
5000mcg...I might take that if I were you, until your ranges are close to
the 900's...Don't get lower...B-12 def can cause permanent brain
damage...If you do not begin to feel well after taking B-12 for a few
days...GO GET A B-12 SHOT! REQUEST it...DEMAND IT! It's your body, your
health...your responsibility...Don't be intimidated by your
doctor...Here...read about B-12 deficiencies...A harmless vitamin in high
doses....but without it...Seriously dangerous...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12_deficiency
Doctors are not always up to date on RNYers problems and just don't know
these things "yet"...You must be your own health care advocate in
your situation...I'm so glad you will be seeing your surgeon next month!
Most surgeons keep up with after care of patients they operate on. (But not
all of them do)
— .Anita R.
September 11, 2008
Hi Holly, I am going for my RNY surgery on Oct.1st, 2008. About 2 years
ago I experienced extreme fatigue and found out my B12 level was only 90
with the normal being 100-900 like you mentioned. At that time I was
taking only Centrum Multi-Vitamins. My family Doctor put me on B-12
injections. I started out taking them 3 times a month in which I went to
the Doctor's office for them. I was rechecked and my levels went up. Now
I am still taking Centrum Multi-vitamins and doing my own B-12 injections
once a month. My levels are now normal and feel much better. I will have
to take the injections the rest of my life since he told me my body isn't
absorbing B-12 from the foods I am eating. Maybe I misunderstood what he
said, but I thought he mentioned that our bodies don't produce B-12...we
need it from the foods we eat. You might want to check on that one though
for sure. Anyway, if all else fails, you might want to ask him about the
B-12 injections. Hope this helped out some. Take care and please keep me
in your prayers on Oct.1st. Sueanne
— Sueanne M.
September 11, 2008
Take B12 sublingual and a good "liquid" vitamin / mineral
supplement like VEMMA. Has 1000 IU vit D3, a must. Go to
www.TrySomeVemma.com Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
September 11, 2008
Holly...ranges can be different per the lab doing the results, but
regardless, your B12 is on the low side. You should either use the
subliminal or receive an injection once per month (and to get yours raised,
you could do two shots per month). Go with the one that is cheapest for
you (a large vile of B12 for injection use is about $5 at Walmart without
using any type of insurance...but I don't know how much you would have to
pay to get the shot given...we have a nurse and nurse practitioner that
comes in two days a week where I work, so I am able to get mine here for
free...and the vile has lasted me for about a year). I hope this info
helps you...good luck!
— BrendaMS
September 11, 2008
My doctor makes us keep our B12 at 400 or higher. If not they have us get
B-12 injections..Best of luck
— Alvernlaw
September 12, 2008
I started taking juice plus. It is 100% fruit n' vegetables in capsules.
I am 4 1/2 yrs post-op and my nutritionist is so pleased with my blood
work.
— bariatricdivalatina
September 12, 2008
I got a perscription for injections which I take once a month. It kicks
you up high to about 2500, but when I get to about 300 it is near the end
of the month and I just take another shot and feel good within 24 hours. I
still take supliments, but they are slow to work. Also used a spray from
www.bbvitamins.com which is a company run by Bariatric sergeons. Their
spray works well for most.
— William (Bill) wmil
September 12, 2008
I just read in the newest issue of OH's magazine that B12 is not absorbed
in RNY'ers and should either be taken in injections or done sublingually
(under the tongue). I'm surprised your doctor didn't recommend one or the
other. Have you spoken to your nutritionist?
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
September 14, 2008
Holly, You can experience quite a loss of energy if you aren't getting
enough water or B-12. Some just take the multivitamin and that isn't
enough. You should also take the sub-lingual B-12 or see your doctor about
the B-12 injection. The ileum is where most of the B-12 is metabolized and
that is something you don't have to fall back on now. My wife has Crohn's
Disease and has had to have several bowel resectionings and they had to
remove some of her ileum. She has to take the B-12 supplements now also.
The good news is the sub-lingual taste good enough to make up for some of
the nasty taste of some of the other chewable and liquid things we have to
take. Lol
To get back to your question, yes, please do make sure you get enough B-12
and get all the fluids you need. Watch out for salt deprivation too, as it
can play havoc with your hydration. The body has to have a balance of
potassium and sodium and if it's off it can be serious. That's why athletes
and soldiers have salt tablets. Good luck on your journey and keep on
keeping on. :>)
Dusty @};-
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
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