B-12 anyone?

[carolinajak]

How many of you out there are post post-surgery (without a terminal ileum) and can no longer take in b-12 normally? How do you get your b-12, by injection?

Also, has anyone heard of this new pill or powder b-12 hat you can get and absorb directly through your mouth tissue? My mom saw it on an infomercial, so I am not sure of the validity, but I know there are other supplements and medicines that absorb well through mouth tissue, so its not a huge stretch.

 

[kix66]

I have not had surgery. I give myself monthly injections of B-12, have been for the last 4 years now. I did try the informercial-under the tongue-type of B-12 tablets and got no improvement from them. Don't waist your money.

Since doing the injectable i've had no problems.

 

[ruthymg]

I have no terminal ileum, had it removed in June last year. I recently had my B12 tested as I was feeling really tired, thought I may have had a prob in that department, but no, the tests came back normal. I'm not ruling out that there never will be a prob though, I just may have a good store of it right?

The tiredness by the way, is caused by Imuran - can't believe noone mentioned this to me when I kept complaining of tiredness.


Ruth

 

[DanSJVDavis]

I haven't had much luck with the sublingual B12 either. Occasionally I'll get a little lift from it, but it's cheaper to just buy the 10 B12 doses and have someone inject me periodically.

 

[tinglebell]

I take B12 injection every 2-4 weeks at this point. I developed B12 def with neurological involvement, about a year ago. I've had 3 resections. I also take SL methylcobalamin, a better form of B12 rather than cyanocobalamin. I buy mine at Whole Foods. There is a vitamin forum at Braintalk.org that has very knowledgable folks giving advice and info. One of the private sites belonging to Rose, a B12 expert is great. Also, make sure you find out what your level is because you can get sx at 400 or below and norm. is like 200-1200 (not sure exactly) http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home[/url]

 

[TiredofCrohns]

b-12 injections? this is al new to me.....

 

[old hat]

It's common for people who have Crohn's of the terminal ileum and/or have had one or more resections there to develop vitamin B12 deficiency. B12 is absorbed in the terminal ileum so problems there cause malabsorption.

http://www.ccfa.org/info/diet
Should supplemental vitamins be taken? If so, which ones?
Again, that depends on the extent and location of the disease. As noted above, vitamin B-12 is absorbed in the lower ileum. That means that people who have ileitis (Crohn's disease that affects the ileum) or those who have undergone small bowel surgery may have a vitamin B-12 deficiency because they are unable to absorb enough of this vitamin from their diet or from oral supplements. To correct this deficiency (which can be determined by measuring the amount of this vitamin in the blood), a monthly intramuscular injection of vitamin B-12 may be required. Folic acid (another B vitamin) deficiency is also quite common in patients who are on the drug sulfasalazine. They should take a folate tablet, 1 mg daily, as a supplement. For most people with chronic IBD, it is worthwhile to take a multivitamin preparation regularly

 

[Cara Fusinato]

How about Emergen-C? It's got all 417% of the daily amount of B12 as well as 1000 mg of Vitamin C, and 500% of the daily amount of B6 and some other stuff like folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, chromium, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin. It is a fizzy powder you mix into water. It makes me feel really good and compliments whatever else I do. But if I take two of them in one day, it seems to trigger a migraine. One, though, it great. $12 at Trader Joes, WalGreens, Longs, and many grocery stores.

 

[old hat]

Such a supplement may well have a number of beneficial effects. However, if a person can't properly absorb B12 because of a lack of intrinsic factor of problems with the terminal ileum, the brand won't matter much. It has to do with how B12 is absorbed by the body. The main mechanism for absorbtion is fairly delicately balanced.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Vitamin-B...-and-What-Goes-Wrong-When-it-Doesnt&id=575604
There is apparently a second, much less effective channel as well.

Omeprazole (the old little purple pill) can apparently interfere with B12 absorbtion as well
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10369631&dopt=Abstract

It also sometimes appears in vegeterians but that is easily fixed with better food choices or oral supplements.

 

[Dekar]

haha my mom makes me have emergen-c

 

[Shoeless]

I have to get B-12 shots once a month, had my illium taken out in 99

 

[Teenie]

I used to get naucious taking the B pills. I haven't had surgery, but I've been on Emergen-C for a few months now, and it's working well for me.

 

[karlyg]

i haven't had surgery, but did have a b-12 deficiency. right now, i give myself a b-12 injection once a week. it'll probably go down to once every 2 weeks soon.

 

[Shoeless]

I've had the surgury and get a shot once a month

 

[DarrylP_Ajax]

The tiredness by the way, is caused by Imuran - can't believe noone mentioned this to me when I kept complaining of tiredness.
Ruth

Does anyone else experience tiredness on Imuran, i never really experienced that as a side effect?

 

[Heathcroft]

I have to have a shot of B12 every 2 months. If I forget to go and get it I feel really tired and lethargic so its not big deal to go.

 

[Maggie-Muffin]

Hello,I also take B12 shots monthly,have been for about three years now

 

[footballyears]

I have no terminal ileum, had it removed in June last year. I recently had my B12 tested as I was feeling really tired, thought I may have had a prob in that department, but no, the tests came back normal. I'm not ruling out that there never will be a prob though, I just may have a good store of it right?

The tiredness by the way, is caused by Imuran - can't believe noone mentioned this to me when I kept complaining of tiredness.


Ruth

B12 is useful from what i hear

 

[Shoeless]

I have taken it I really don't feel as much an effect as I used to. But I can tell when i need it also. It may be worth checking into for you