Question:
How much B-12 should we be taking.

I had the RNY bypass 2 years ago. How much B-12 should I be taking daily?    — Laura W. (posted on September 7, 2004)

September 7, 2004
That's really a question to ask your doctor after blood work. I'm 21 months post op RNY and have never taken any.
   — jocelyn

September 7, 2004
My paperwork says 1000mcg sublingually once a week for the rest of my life, but it is from my surgeons office. I would ask your surgeon.
   — gerardlovesjoy

September 7, 2004
I am 2 years post-op and I get 1ml in a shot once a month. I have since surgery and will for the rest of my life.
   — Sharon1964

September 8, 2004
My surgeon and PCP say 1 500 mg sublingual tablet under the tongue twice a week or a shot once a month. I take a sublingual tablet every day. It can't hurt, your body can only absorb so much anyway.
   — boonikki29

September 8, 2004
I am 10 yrs post-op and took no extra for 6 yrs. I have NO idea why I didn't crash before that, but I was monitoring the levels. When they began to decline, I started shots. I know me and I'd not be faithful to sublingual (swallow, yes, but not a lozenge type thing-personal pref). I started monthly, then 3 weeks, then 2 weeks, and now weekly. That holds a reasonable level FOR ME. It might be overkill for someone else. The trick is to watch your levels and see what works to hold them.
   — vitalady

September 9, 2004
I'm 2 1/2 years post-op and for the first 6 months had a monthly shot yet never felt any different (longer term posties were telling me that after a B-12 shot they were full of energy), so I stopped shots and didn't take any B-12 at all. Labs were fine, however, come to find out that B-12 is one of those essentials that can store in your body for a long time. Eventually, the stores can drop dangerously low and then it becomes dangerous. So, when I found the little tiny pink sublinguals, its just easier to pop 1 under your tongue a few times a week rather than "wait" for levels to drop. As others have mentioned, you can't overdose on the stuff.
   — Cindy R.

September 11, 2004
I just asked this same question of another web group from my surgeon. I was taking 2500 mg a day. Come to find out this was way more then my dr called for. My surgeon says for his patients to take 1000 mg once a week. I now take my pill every Monday instead of every day. Call your surgeon and see what he recommends.
   — Cameron Van Winkle