Question:
6 month labs all normal EXCEPT B12. What can I do?

Normal value listed as 240-894. Mine listed as >2000 which would indicate a "high" but it was listed in the "low" column. Any clues? I see my surgeon on Friday and will find out but wondered what you all think. I am taking B12 orally, ie. swallowing a pill. I know the talk out there on the virtues of sublingual and shots, but my surgeon says pills are fine. I think he converts some to shots if there values are low. Not sure.    — Dana S. (posted on March 23, 2003)

March 23, 2003
My labs were abnormal in B12 until I started taking the injections. I give them to myself with small insulin needle and it is very easy. Doesn't even hurt. I get a vial of B12 that lasts about a year and only costs $5 with BC/BS. I take an injection once a month and my labs are great now. I like the injections because it is one less pill I have to take daily. Ask your pcp to write a script for B12. It is no big deal at all. Good luck!
   — Mylou52

March 23, 2003
I agree. Take the shots. It's easy, doesn't hurt and it's cheap! I think mine was $5-$6 and the syringes were about the same. I am a HUGE needle-phobe, but this is really no big deal. I don't even feel it!
   — Angie M.

March 23, 2003
Just because your surgeon says pills are fine doesn't mean that he is right. Do a search on Yahoo/Google on "B12" & "intrinsic factor" - there has been research done on this for years. Intrinsic factor, which is needed for the absorption of B-12 taken orally (whether in vitamins or food) is produced by cells in the lower part of the stomach (the part that doesn't get any food in an RNY)...JR
   — John Rushton

March 23, 2003
2,000 is high. Usually the test results don't have high or low columns just variance columns. I would not worry, I don't think you need more b12. You may need to cut back. Pill B12 is not a good as injections and sublinguals, that doesn't mean that it is never absorbed. So don't worry.
   — faybay

March 23, 2003

   — John Rushton

February 27, 2009
I am 8 years post op and my surgeon prescribed labs EVERY three months the first year. My B12 levels consistently got lower with each visit, as did my iron. Prescription iron pills did not work, sublingual and oral pills for the b12. For the b12 it's a mandatory 1000(micrograms?) injection monthly, for the pernicious anemia, the iron deficiency had gotten so bad that the first time I was given two units of packed red blood cells, so now every 4-6 months it's a trip to the Rush Cancer Clinic for an iron infusion given intravenously over 6 hours time. This all came from the GBS.
   — corpdiva2005