Question:
For a RNY how much B12?

I have the under the tongue tablets that are 500mcg. First how many grams is that (I don't know the conversion) & how much do I need to take a day?    — Paula G. (posted on March 2, 2003)

March 2, 2003
MCG is a microgram, so it's a small percentage of an actual gram. My doctor has me taking 1,000mcg a day, I had pretty low B12 level and now it's increasing. I've heard of others taking 1,000 a day as well (2 500 pills). And with vitamins, not saying to oversdose or anything, but we don't absorb as much as a person with a normal stomach. I would take 2 of them. goodluck :)
   — Lezlie Y.

March 2, 2003
Check the net or a pharmacist for the mcg conversion. As for the other question, not one that anyone here can answer for you to any degree of accuracy. A better question for your doc who knows how much you're malabsorbing (hopefully you're getting blood work done) and how much intestine you've had bypassed and can compare your malabsorption rate with different patients to tell you what's best -- if at all. I'm almost 2 years and my B12 always measures high so I've never supplemented with it other than what's already included in my multi-vites. So don't take it just because you hear we need it. Make sure YOU need it. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

March 2, 2003
I get a b12 shot every month.It gives me a huge lift in energy and takes away the worry of keeping up with another pill.
   — Lisa B.

March 2, 2003
It's as personal to you as your brand of soap. I am radically distal and needed no help with B12 until the 6th year. I was watching the levels, so when it got on the lower end, I started shots (I just don't like pills I can't just swallow), and adjusted the frequency til the lab levels held steady. But even so, that changes. The test for B12 is very cheap, under 420. The B12 is cheap. The penalty for not enough is VERY high. Some recommend 500mcg 1X wk, some daily, some 3X a day..... only YOU will know by your labs to keep your levels up around 500 or so. We can start to "feel bad" even as high as 400, though docs usually don't get interested til levels drop below 200. My doc kicked up a little fuzz at 300, but I reminded him that I have no intrinsic factor, isn't going to GET better, and I don't want to wait til I "feel" it. He was fine with that and ran tests monthly for awhile just to reassure himself that I needed the shots. LOL! OK! I love watching the tests!
   — vitalady

March 2, 2003
My surgeon's program is 1000mcg sublingual once a week. This has worked for his patients. I'm not sure when they do the first blood work to see how things are doing. Probably 3 months. I am a 150cm bypass. You need to follow your surgeon's program!
   — zoedogcbr

March 2, 2003
hiya. i agree with everyone else that you should do what your surgeon recommends then follow it up with regular lab work through your pcp. i was taking 500mcg sublingual daily and my labs were pretty high. my doc said not to worry though because you pee out what you don't use. i dropped down to 3x a week and i feel fine. if i'm feeling a little droopy i'll bump it back up. they are pretty inexpensive. good luck! kate
   — jkb