Question:
B-12 shots before any sign of deficiency--how common?

A friend just had the RNY, and, before she left the hospital, the nurse gave her a B-12 shot, and showed her how to give herself one, because, under the doctor's orders, she'd be giving herself one a month after surgery. This is this surgeon's standard procedure. He's a Kaiser surgeon. Are B-12 shots widely being prescribed before there's any sign of deficiency?    — Virginia N. (posted on October 15, 2004)

October 15, 2004
if You wait for a sign of deficiency on B-12 it could be to late and could cause ireversible damage like not being able to walk and such B-12 can be deficient before it is even detected. Yes You should always start b-12 no later than 1 month out of surgery and any extra like when she was in the hospital was nothing but a plus gave her a jump start. Your body just releases the extra (pee it out) so it didn't hurt her by no means. Trust me it sounds like a good Plan.
   — Shell G

October 15, 2004
I know when my husband had his RNY, a few years ago, he was told the same thing by his doctor at UCLA. He has had to do that. So it is not uncommon, this was the rule/policy. Also, if you wait until you are diagnosed with the deficiency you will be worse off.
   — Terri DesVignes-Henderson

October 15, 2004
My surgeon; or at least from my understanding you should be taking B12 either sublinqual OR for convience monthly B12 shots from the start; NOT waiting until you have trouble.
   — star .

October 15, 2004
No, it's not standard, but boy, in my dreams, I wish it was 100%. The first shot and lessons. Perfect. Even without insurance to pay for it, this is SUCH cheapo insurance against the irreversible problems that can arise.
   — vitalady

October 15, 2004
With the RNY you body's ability to absorb B-12 drops significantly. This is a well known side effect. Your body needs B-12 to function, so most responsible surgeons will start a B-12 supliment program right from the start. Do a google search on B-12 absorbtion and you will learn quite a bit. ~~Rebecca
   — RebeccaP

October 16, 2004
Michelle, thanks for clarifying that it isn't yet standard. To the others who responded, I was neither ignorant of the importance of B-12 nor suggesting that the doctor should wait until his patient showed symptoms of a deficiency to start her on some kind of supplementation. As my question says, I was merely wondering whether it's becoming standard to start shots routinely right after surgery. In my friend's case, her surgeon needs to do more patient education; she was asking me how long she'd need to be giving herself these shots.
   — Virginia N.

October 16, 2004
Yes, there is a hole there in the education. Was doing a consult with someone and mentioned, "...due to the malabsorption..." Fresh post-op says, "What is malabsorption?" Please note that I said post-op. For someone who is hearing these things for the first time, a brochure alone doesn't cut it. Repetition is what teaches. I'm glad you're there to help her. And yeah, I really wish some nutritional info was standard, but we're a million years away from that. When I first came online in 1998, not a soul had heard of protein in supplement form. We were taught it, but even locally, we were considered freaks for taking the protein and vites so seriously. Needless to say, repetition DID work for me. lol. However, not a word about B12 back in 1994.
   — vitalady