Low on B12

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Jennifer

Jennifer

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So my doc says that I'm still low on B12 even though I'm taking 2,000mcg/day in tablet form. I no longer have my ilium which my mom said helped in taking in B12 but I have no idea if that's true. What I'd like to know is how everyone else raises their B12 levels. I haven't the money to go out and buy nice fish and I hate oysters even if I could afford them. :p Should I up the dose of the tablets like take one and a half or two even?
 
Depending on how much of the Ilium they take out the remaining section might not be able to adapt to absorb B12. In that case you need shots to put it right into your blood.

My MIL is in that situation. She had 2 resections and has so much scaring in the remaining ilium that without shots she could never absorb enough on her own.
 
Hmm, I thought the ilium was just the area that connected the small intestine to the large intestine. I didn't know it had a certain length to it. I only had 8 inches taken out.
 
I think it is somewhere around 7 feet. The Ceacum is that pouchy thing that connects the ilium and ascending colon. The Appendix also hangs off the bottom of it. It seems to be a pretty common . . . . . . oversimplification? . .. because the docs always talk about the Terminal Ilium which is the end part of the ilium, and the Ilocecal valve. If you ask a GI he should be able to show you and explain some jargon about a common artery that supplies blood to that section. If they take one part they have to take others fed by that artery because they close it off.

I guess I must have really annoyed the GI surgeon because I made him explain all that :ylol2:
 
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Are you taking your B12 sublingually? My doctor said that that's the best way if you don't want the shots. Not sure why it's better, but that's what she said...lol
 
Ya, all I know is that in my case the illium is diseased, therefore I am unable to absorb b12. I tried the tablets, it didn't raise the b12 enough so I am now back on the shot. It is quicker, practically painless and eliminates a pill, so I am happy with it. I'd HIGHLY recommend asking your doc about it. Here, I have a GI specialist and a family physician. My family doc prescribes me the shot, I do not need to see my GI for it. If you are feeling the symptoms of low b12 (which can be awful!!!!!!! as you probably know) the shot will almost immediately make you feel better! I am surprised that your doc didn't put you on the shot seeing as though you had surgery. Good Luck, let us know what you decided!!! :)
 
I will need to find out more about this B12 shot. I also am not aware of what the symptoms are when you're low on B12. I'll be googling that right about now.
 
Hi CrabbyRelish! I had two feet of my terminal ileum removed along with the ileocal valve in two different surgeries. My GI has me doing B12 nasally once a week. It really is great and gives you the extra umphh to make it thru the week. I have noticed it is better to do it at night as sometimes it can give you a headache. I really like it better then the shots because I dont have to go in once a month to get one.

Good Luck!

Candace
 
I have had 2ft taken out of the Ileum area as well have been on B12 shots monthly, been helping me alot, one thing you dont want to be low on, it affects the brain...
 
there is only one small area of the intestine which absorbs B12, and if this is diseased or surgically removed, we can't absorb oral B12 at all... this is why there's no point upping the amount of supplements or similar.... you'll need to find another way to get B12 into your body or you will become quite poorly with B12 deficiency.... very commonly, Crohn's sufferers have B12 injections (i do, 3 monthly).
 
dingbat said:
there is only one small area of the intestine which absorbs B12....
Click to expand...

And what part would that be? I didn't have much removed (8 inches) but if that's the part that's gone, then perhaps I do need to ask about this shot.
 
I spoke with my mom on the phone and she said that she tried to get me B12 shots after my surgery when I was 17 but they refused. She said they they made excuses because of my age and also said that you had to have at least 12 inches removed. I'll talk to my doc about it during my next appointment.
 
I'm starting to question if I'm B-12 deficient as well. I will be seeing a Dr today and I will definitely be asking him to check into it for sure and see whats up. I had a resection a year ago, and they removed 8-10 inches ... BUT I don't know if they removed the section needed to absorb and sadly enough, nobody has ever mentioned to me that I could need any additional help with this Vitamin. Geesh. With my luck, the one area that is needed to absorb will be the one area removed. hehe :) Oh the joys of Crohns.
 
I've been diagnosed nearly a year and, thank god, not had anything taken out yet!
Blood tests recently revealed I don't absorb vitamin B12 and my levels were low. I have 6 injections over 2 weeks and will now have 1 injection every 3 months, I've noticed the difference - I was sooo tiered before and now feel almost human! :)
 
Feeling human again would be nice. I post here after a visit with my doc to share what he says. It's just a GP though, I don't have a GI at the moment.
 
I've been having B12 shots for a couple of years.
I have never had any surgery I just don't absorb enough of it, my GI told me it is just another thing common to crohns...
It makes a huge difference to how much energy etc I have.
I can usualy only last 2 1/2 months between each shot!
 
I'm going to see my doctor today at 2pm. I've read up on the symptoms of being low on B12 and I have almost all of the ones listed even though the symptoms vary from person to person. What if this whole time I was just low on B12 since I've started seeing heart doctors and therapists for unexplained symptoms? :p
 
Right there with you Crabby. I read up on it yesterday too and I see a lot of symptoms I am currently feeling. They did do a B-12 test on me yesterday and I saw the results already. I dont know much about what they all mean more than what I can see, but I too have an appt with my GI today at 4, so we'll see what he/she says. Not sure who the new doc is. My results were 190, and normal is 180-900 so I'd say I'm a bit low, but not sure if that means low for normal or low as in needing more soon. <shrug> There's a reason I'm not a doctor. heh

Good luck Crabby! :)
 
So doc doesn't think I NEED B12 shots. He says that I'm low but says to keep up with the supplements and keep testing. He said that if it goes any lower than getting the shot would be a good idea. Until then, I'm shotless. I think I'll be alright though without it.
 
I knew a woman who was so B12 deficient she was misdiagnosed as having MS. It turned out she had crohns and the deficiency caused her MS symptoms.
 
Jettalady said:
I have had 2ft taken out of the Ileum area as well have been on B12 shots monthly, been helping me alot, one thing you dont want to be low on, it affects the brain...
Click to expand...
How does it affect the brain would really love to know because my is not working like I would hope it could :)
 

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