Question:
Do B-12 injections help with fatigue?
Hi everyone-- I have a question about B-12: Does anyone here get B-12 injections instead of pills? I ask this because I am very anemic, as well as having my B-12 at the low end of normal and it has also had a big drop from January 2004 to July 2004. I currently take 2 B-12 pills per day. I did try the sublingual B-12 "dots" but I still have A LOT of fatigue! I have heard that B-12 injections (rather than pills) can give an energy boost. Anyone here had that experience? Some background: I had a lap "medial" RNY on 2/10/03, started at 313, now at 175ish. No complications. I do cardio 4x/week and weights 3x/week. 2 Proscore shakes/day and about 1200 calories (about 100g of protein) per day, about a gallon of water per day. The weight loss has stopped but I like the way I look and will be having a panni or TT in March 2005. Any suggestions would be helpful. — lizinPA (posted on October 5, 2004)
October 5, 2004
The sublinguals don't work for everyone, so it might be you need shots. I
prefer shots myself. *I* have never gotten the "power surge" from
them, but many do report it. Some say the effect lasts a day, some a week,
some a month. Since I don't "feel" anything, I just do what it
takes to hold the numbers where I want them. Do you have copies of your
labs? Are your numbers well into normal? Are they treating your anemia
(iron?) aggressively?
— vitalady
October 5, 2004
Beth, because you have had the RNY the B-12 pills are virtually useless to
you. You have to have intrinsic factor in order to absorb the b-12.
Intrinsic factor is found in stomach acid. I would definately try the
shots if you do not like the sublingual.<br>I do not get the big
energy boost when I get my shot, but I sure can tell when it's time to get
one. It is the difference between feeling normal and feeling like you are
dragging through the day. Give it a try, I know I wouldn't do it any other
way.
— RebeccaP
October 5, 2004
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE: I just spoke to my surgeon about this and he told me
to see my PCP, which I'm doing on Thursday. I just had blood drawn today
for HCT and iron studies, as well as B-12.
Here are the lab values I'm working with:
from July 2004:
HCT=35, down from 38 in January 2004,
serum Iron=28, down from 49 in January 2004 (normal range is 52-150),
total iron binding capacity: 510, UP from 455 in January 2004 (normal is
240-400),
Ferritin=5.9, down from 7.1 in January 2004
Folate=16, down from 18 in January 2004,
Vitamin B-12=420, down from 630 in January2004
I hope this shows up correctly.
— lizinPA
October 5, 2004
In a word, Y E S!
— DianeN
October 5, 2004
Personally, the B-12 injections do give me energy. I find that in about an
hour after giving my B-12 injection, I feel my energy level rising...judy
— juju524
October 5, 2004
I just want to put in my 2 cents here.. To reply to the person who said
B12 pills were worthless to us, my surgeon has her patients take a single
250 mg b-12 pill a day, at my last lab work (9 months post op) my b12
levels are high so I have now been told to cut it back to every other day.
So much for those pills being worthless. <br><br>
As for your iron levels, if they are falling even while you're taking iron,
try taking Crabonyl Iron, I started taking it after the ferrous sulfate
didn't do anything, After 6 weeks of taking it my iron levels had doubled!
The brand I get is called Feosol and comes in a red box. I get it at
walmart or CVS. <br><br>
The low iron can certainly make you feel tired.
— Patricia T.
October 5, 2004
And I'll add my 2 cents, also . . . unless your B12 "pills"
include intrinsic factor, they are worthless. Not only is intrinsic factor
vital to absorption of B12, but most Bs are absorbed in duodenum, which is
bypassed.
If you're calling the little sublingual (under the tongue) dots pills, then
your terminology is wrong. Pills are swallowed, subs are dissolved under
tongue.
Many of us end up with pernicious anemia without B12 supplementation. Or
brain damage.
— RWH G.
October 5, 2004
Have yo tryed the Super B-Complex that is what I have took for 18mts now
and have had no problems my dieaction told me to get them said they have
more in them than the reg b-12
Take Care Huggs
Beth
— wildbrat
October 5, 2004
Beth, All I can say is do whatever it takes to get both B-12 AND Iron
levels up before your panni next year. March will be here before you know
it and being anemic before surgery makes recovery very tough. The pain
from mine wasn't so bad, but the fact that I could barely lift my head off
the pillow much less walk around was the worst! As far as the shots go,
they do help but I have noticed an increase in appitite after having one.
But, as much as you are exercising you shouldn't have a problem. Congrats
on the weight loss, it sounds like you are doing a great job!
— issymudd
October 5, 2004
I know that subligual B12 works for me. I was being tested last year for
an endocrine disease. My Doctor tested me every two-three months for over
a year. She also threw in B12, calcium and Iron tests for me. I do have a
B12 shot once a month. Well I added subligual two times a week, as I
wanted more energy. My B12 levels more that doubled. It was at 600 with
the shot only and then went to 1700! My roitine now is still a shot
monthly and I will take a subligual maybe every ten days or so. My levels
are always in the upper normal range or above. Good luck!
— Allison M.
October 5, 2004
I know that subligual B12 works for me. I was being tested last year for
an endocrine disease. My Doctor tested me every two-three months for over
a year. She also threw in B12, calcium and Iron tests for me. I do have a
B12 shot once a month. Well I added subligual two times a week, as I
wanted more energy. My B12 levels more that doubled. It was at 600 with
the shot only and then went to 1700! My routine now is still a shot
monthly and I will take a subligual maybe every ten days or so. My levels
are always in the upper normal range or above. Good luck!
— Allison M.
October 5, 2004
I guess Im just 'weird' I always heard people say they got 'energy' from
the shots;; but HECK if I noticed any difference and my doctor was giving
them to me every two weeks. My B12 is now normal... Iron almost there...
One thing that 'raised' my B12 was using 2000mg twice a day
— star .
October 6, 2004
I also have to take the B-12 injectables. I also have heard people say
that it helps their energy level but I cannot tell any difference.
— Delores S.
October 6, 2004
My answer is EXACTLY the same responce as the very first reply at the
bottom of the page.
— SpyderS
October 6, 2004
Quote:<br><br>Vitamin B12 deficiency is estimated to affect
10%-15% of individuals over the age of 60 (3). Absorption of vitamin B12
from food requires normal function of the stomach, pancreas, and small
intestine. Stomach acid and enzymes free vitamin B12 from food, allowing it
to bind to other proteins, known as R proteins (2). In the alkaline
environment of the small intestine, R proteins are degraded by pancreatic
enzymes, freeing vitamin B12 to bind to intrinsic factor (IF), a protein
secreted by specialized cells in the stomach. Receptors on the surface of
the small intestine take up the IF-B12 complex only in the presence of
calcium, which is also supplied by the pancreas (4). Vitamin B12 can also
be absorbed by passive diffusion, but this process is very inefficient,
allowing only about 1% absorption of a vitamin B12
dose.<br><br>http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminB12/
— RebeccaP
October 18, 2004
Hi Beth,
Ys, i would definitely recoment the B-12 injuections. Usually after
this bypass surgery the body is not able to absorb vitamins and minerals as
it is surpossed to so taking supplements wont's reallt help. i have had a
gad=stric bypass in 1982 with great results eceot nearly lost all my hair
at age 19 in 1998 after heart failure my Dr suggestted a revisin so I did
and it has been night mare eversince. I have to have the B-12 injections
ever, ever month or I just can;t go!! and I have 2 soecial need=s children.
Kit;s worth a try for you anyway. i wuld sugest it 100%. take care and good
luck to you
A friend
Ann Adams
annie4981@netzero,net
— Ann A.
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