Question:
sub-lingual B-12

How much are we supposed to have a week? My paperwork says 1 per week (1000 mcg) but I'm awfully tired. Am I taking enough. I am 6 weeks out on Monday -36 pounds.    — Lesa H. (posted on November 7, 2002)

November 7, 2002
I would suggest taking 500 Mcg every day and see how you feel after a week or so. I was taking 500 Mcg each day and increased it as I was still tired. I now take 1000 Mcg every day (am 15 months post-op) and feel much better; my labs show my B12 to be high but my doc says that is not a problem.
   — LLinderman

November 7, 2002
I asked my nutritionist that same question right after my surgery and she instructed me to take 500mcg 5 days a week. I use one of those days of the week pill containers to help me keep track of my supplements each day. I just put one of my b12 in each day except Saturday and Sunday. That seems to work just fine for me. I just had my levels checked last week and my doc says everything looks great! Not to mention I seem to have plenty of energy. I would try the lower dosage like mine before you jump to 1000mcg each day. See how you do with the lower one first. Hope that helps. :)
   — Laurel C.

November 7, 2002
The answer is , it depends. We all absorb differently. My first nutritionist said 50 mcg per week (RDA is 6 mcg per day),so I would do 1 per week. But, B-12 is non-toxic, so just for the heck of it, I upped it to 2 per week and have had no problems. BUT, many people don't absord enough of the sublinguals and need the shots. The best thing any of us can do is to get copies of our labs ourselves, and cross-check everything to look for trends up or down. Doctors will only look to see if things are in the normal ranges, so it's up to us to see if anything is either falling or way too high before there are problems. We all must be responsible for our own bodies, the docs only enter the picture after a problem develops.
   — Leslie F.

November 7, 2002
Dear Lesa: I just wanted to write you and let you know what happened to me. I was instructed to take sub. b-12 and like most people around week 7 I started to bruise incredibly easy. I went to my own doctor and asked him what I was lacking in and he said it was not iron or vit. c it was b-12 for sure. I told him I was taking sub. b-12 and he said it was usesless because it does not absorb enough even for normal people. but when you don't absorb properly it does nothing for you. He did take blood just in case it was something else but ordered me the injectable b-12. I have only had 2 doses one per month and it has improved the situation dramatically. I am not tired at all and and even the vericose veins on the one leg are flattening out considerably. I was just at the doctor again yesterday and told him what was going on since I started it and he said they only had injectable b-12 up until just a very few years ago because it was not proved that the sublingual was absorbed enough. Well I am convinced it is not absorbed enough especially for us. Save yourself some bruising that everyone seems to go through and get your doctor to give you a prescription for the injectable. Sorry to ramble on, good luck and conrats on your loss. I had mine july 15/02 -80.5lbs
   — UMMADUMMASS

November 7, 2002
I am 5 months out and my doctor instructed me to take one b-12 sub everyday from the very begining, and I have never had any problems with being tired. I am down 130 pounds ( at last weigh in approx. a month ago ) and feeling GREAT !! Best of luck to you ...
   — Subrina D.

November 8, 2002
hi i have been taking b12 500mcg once a day fr 5 weeks on and have had no promblems i am 6 mos out lost 90 lbs so i ould check into that if i was you thanks rosemary
   — ROSEMARY A.

November 8, 2002
Hi, You still pretty fresh out of surgery, I was dead tired and very run down for about 12 weeks after surgery, go figure, every body is different you might still be getting over your surgery...Don't worry it just gets better and better and better:)
   — Diane B.