Question:
Has anyone else had high B-12 levels?

I went for my 2 year p/o visit last week. I have been taking the recommended dosage of b-12 and it was normal last visit, now it is twice the "normal level". I was told to cut my dosage or even stop it. I am a little concerned about stopping it. I checked on the internet and there are no known ill effects for b-12 toxicity, so I assume I should continue to take it but at a lower level. Any experience with this? The N/P also said that my Iron level is low along with my white and red blood count. My Iron has been gradually going down, even with suplementation, but this is the first time my white and red count was down. She said to double my Iron and they would re-test in three months and I might need further testing if it is still low. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.    — Penny D. (posted on August 30, 2004)

August 30, 2004
When I took my blood test at 10 months post-op, my B-12 was high, I was taking a B-12 sublingual everyday, so my surgeon told me to take a B-12 sublingual twice a week, my one year post-op blood test came back with normal B-12 level, the nurse told me that my absortion of B-12 is very good. I can not help with the iron, my iron is in the normal range.
   — cindy

August 30, 2004
My B-12 levels were high and my doctor said I was just wasting my money. I cut back on the B-12 to just one sub-lingual per week and will be tested again in December. He did say there are no toxicity issues with B-12 but I decided I wouldn't spend the money if I didn't have to.
   — scbabe

August 30, 2004
When I went in for my 1 year check up, I had a B12 level of 2000. It supposed to be topped out at 190 I was told. I had been on a once a month B12 shot schedule, but the Doctor cut it down to every other month. My iron level is low. I have increased the slow Fe to twice a day. My white & red cell count are fine.
   — Sunshine

August 30, 2004
Hi Penny, I take a B-12 shot every 10 days, but I was taking them before surgery. I just had labs done and my B12 was 512 right in the middle of the recommended amounts. Normal range was 210 - 900. This is the first time in 2 years that mine have been this high. They usually stay around the 200's even with the shots. The doctor also did a ferritin level and it was fine. My Zinc was high but I'm not sure if this is an issue to worry about or not. Take care. Lisa in Alabama
   — lisab07

August 31, 2004
I also had this happen. My PCP disagrees with the fact that this can't do any harm. He has seen first hand that high B12 levels do cause nerve damage. He had me cut mine out entirely. The levels took about 9 months to go down. I always wondered if there was no harm done by high levels, why do they post an upper limit of normal instead of just putting in the cut off for the low range? Just something I've been wondering. By the way, I am a Medical Technologist so this may be the reason why I ask this.
   — Carla B.

August 31, 2004
My B12 level was 2000 pre-op. That's way high. I watched it decline over 6 yrs until it was "low", but not too low (300). Appx 200 is the line we do not want to cross. I started shots at that time and now do them WEEKLY to maintain levels of about 600. My preferred level would be right about 1000. Although 200 is the clinically "it's too late" level, I want to remain well above it since nerve damage can occur even around 400. You didn't say where your levels are now, so how high is too high? Because of our RNY physiology, B12 and iron issues are a done deal. It's just a matter of time. Which iron are you taking and how do you take it? Taking more of the wrong kind or in an improper way may not help you.
   — vitalady

June 21, 2006
I got my 3 month post op test results back and mine was 1057 normal is 211-911 according to the paper work. I am concerned with the fact that the folate was high also31.53 normal is 5.38-24. I had another high one too that kind freaked me out, Eosinophil was 5.1 only one point over, but everything I read on it grosses me out. I have my 3 month appt. tomorrow with Barix so I guess I will see. I was glad to see I wasn't the only one with High levels. I have nothing that came up low though...thank god I assume.
   — Melissa M.

June 21, 2006
I had my 3 month appt. on June 2. My B12 was 1900. Doc just said to take 3 sublinguals a week instead of one a day. Funny, he said the same thing as another posters' doc..."Stop wasting your money."
   — go2beach