Question:
What is the B-12 shot for? I see it is so common after WLS.

I am tired non-stop, I sleep all night, take mini naps all day and even try sleeping while im driving. People keep saying I need B-12 shots or I am anemic. It is not from the sleep apnea. Has anyone else ever felt this tired to where it controls your life? I'm tired of being so tired! Thanks for the info!    — Sandy M. (posted on September 10, 2003)


September 10, 2003
Although I have not had any problems with energy (11 wks post-op) I found a great Sublingual B-12 vitamin from GNC, that I started taking. You put it under your tongue and it disolves and it is suppose to absorb into the bloodstream just as well as a B-12 shot. Also, do you get in all of your protein and fluids? Good Luck!
   — Beth K.

September 10, 2003
I am 5 weeks post-op, and I was so tired all the time, and had gas and constipation, I went up on the computer and put B-12 in the search. I found that B-12 effects the white or red blood cells, and some times the side effects of not having B-12, was exactly the symtons I was having. It said that red meat, and fish and chicken give us our B-12, and that alot of vegatrians need B-12 because of the lack of red meat in there diet. I got me a B-12 sublingual that goes under the tongue every day and it includes B-12, B-6 and folic acid, since I have been taking it, I have more energy, and I have a daily bowel movement, maybe you should give it a try and see if it helps.
   — cindy

September 10, 2003
The need for B-12 goes along with an RNY. Since your old stomach is not in the food stream anymore you do not get any intrinsic factor and therefore do not get the b-12 from food. Taking it by shots or orally puts it into your system. It is critical for an RNY to take B-12 as eventually without it your iron stores can get depleated, which can take a couple of years and by then it's very serious. I use the GNC sublinguals once a week and that's fine for me but some take it more often. Basically what you body does not need you should excrete it.
   — zoedogcbr

September 10, 2003
Chris said it very well but with ONE LITTLE NOTE: You need to take B-12 through injections or SUBLINGUALLY (under your tongue). "Orally" implies you can take a tablet and we can't: It won't be absorbed. The little dots that go under your tongue work fine. I have also done well with squirting the liquid under my tongue and holding it there while I get my other vits ready.
   — ctyst

September 10, 2003
Cheri, Thanks for clearing up my boo boo. I meant the sublingual but you are right there are pills too, which do nothing for us. I think I maybe heard there is a nose spray also, but I might be confusing it with something else. Not sure. The GNC ones taste yummy too!
   — zoedogcbr

September 10, 2003
before you start self diagnosing and treating, maybe a call to your D. Is in order. Fatigue is a vague symptom that could have numerous causes. give your doc a chance to evaluate you and make sure you are treated properly. Sometimes the wrong self treatment delays getting attention for a potentially serious health problem.
   — **willow**

September 10, 2003
There are different kinds of anemia, iron is one, pernicious (b12) is another, etc. Your labs will tell you EXACTLY where you are. Comparing them to your previous labs will tell you where you were. And even though the lab level for B12 might say "fine" is anything above 200 (for example, some labs might say 220, etc), many of us do not feel well with levels under 600-800. So, "fine" may not be enough to make you feel good. Just being "in range" on your labs might not be YOUR range. And then, labs in hand, you talk to your doc about what it will take to put your levels back to the feel good range. And of course, low protein can make you feel like you're crawling to get around, too.
   — vitalady

September 11, 2003
Sandy, Do you REALLY try sleeping while you are DRIVING?? How does that work out for you? LOL!
   — Bob M.

September 11, 2003
Please listen to your fellow posters and please get to the doctor ASAP and get some labs done. You are experiencing some side effects of a potentially dangerous health problem(s) due possibly to deficiences. Please take care of yourself - SOON!
   — Deborah F.

September 11, 2003
you can get sub-lingual (under the toungue) b-12 at trader joes for a good price. and you only have to take it once a week, so it lasts a long time.... just a tip, hope everything gets better!
   — Katrina K.

September 14, 2003
LOL@Bob!! I do wish you would clarify that sleeping while driving statement....it's kind of scary. ;)
   — Cathy K.




Click Here to Return
×