My B12 is 246, on a scale of 211 to 911. So I read that as low. Should I seek treatment? Should I ask for shots or do oral supplements work? (I did have my terminal ileum removed last year.) Love to hear people's experience on this and whether it worked. And wheher it made you feel better! Thanks.
What Qualifies as a "B12 Deficiency" Suggesting Treatment?
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I guess deficiency would be less than 211. Having said that, 246 could indeed be 'deficient for you' (if your levels are usually high, you could be deficient even if you are in the normal range). If you are having symptoms, it can't hurt to try supplements.
Research suggests that if You take a huge oral dose (around 2000mg) enough will be absorbed without the ileum (since the rda is only around 2mg). You can also try drops under the tongue. Obviously shots would be best, but if your doctor won't prescribe them, you could try oral supplements.
Research suggests that if You take a huge oral dose (around 2000mg) enough will be absorbed without the ileum (since the rda is only around 2mg). You can also try drops under the tongue. Obviously shots would be best, but if your doctor won't prescribe them, you could try oral supplements.
Well, over the past week or so, i've educated myself considerably on the B12 subject. My DR wanted me to start having B12 injections more frequently than once a month and I didn't want to do the 45 minute drive more often ------- so I bought supplements, and then started reading on "why all the fuss over B12". I've learned 2 very important things:
1. If you are missing valuable body parts in your intestines due to surgury, you are most likely missing the body parts that absorbs the B12 that you consume each day, so it isn't sticking with you. Likewise, you would have probably depleted all your "stores" of B12 that you may have had in your liver before your surguries. So, if you take supplements of B12, you need to find a way to get them in your system so they can be
absorbed, (as suggested under the tongue). And that your standard drug store bottle of B12 may well be a waste of money. This is why most of us with this condition get B12 shots.
2. I also learned (as I was trying to make excuses to myself not to go that distance for a shot), that B12 is very important in a lot of stuff our bodies do. Won't bother to relay them here, as any google search will tell you. More than I ever thought, and my negligence in taking this subject seriously has probably contributed to symptoms of fatigue and bruising and other nuisances that absolutely didn't have to happen.
So, yesterday, after learning all this, I made the trek to get my shot, got an extra dose because I have been somewhat tardy, and made the committment to show up more often. And, I intend to head to my health food store to see if I can find these B12 under the tongue slips I've been reading about here in these forums.
B12 -- It's a good thing!
1. If you are missing valuable body parts in your intestines due to surgury, you are most likely missing the body parts that absorbs the B12 that you consume each day, so it isn't sticking with you. Likewise, you would have probably depleted all your "stores" of B12 that you may have had in your liver before your surguries. So, if you take supplements of B12, you need to find a way to get them in your system so they can be
absorbed, (as suggested under the tongue). And that your standard drug store bottle of B12 may well be a waste of money. This is why most of us with this condition get B12 shots.
2. I also learned (as I was trying to make excuses to myself not to go that distance for a shot), that B12 is very important in a lot of stuff our bodies do. Won't bother to relay them here, as any google search will tell you. More than I ever thought, and my negligence in taking this subject seriously has probably contributed to symptoms of fatigue and bruising and other nuisances that absolutely didn't have to happen.
So, yesterday, after learning all this, I made the trek to get my shot, got an extra dose because I have been somewhat tardy, and made the committment to show up more often. And, I intend to head to my health food store to see if I can find these B12 under the tongue slips I've been reading about here in these forums.
B12 -- It's a good thing!
DustyKat
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If you have had your terminal ileum removed then you will have to supplement as that is the only place in the intestine that B12 is absorbed. If you don't start to supplement at some point you will develop pernicious anaemia.
Have a look at this thread about B12, it contains loads of info...
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=28156
Dusty. xxx
Have a look at this thread about B12, it contains loads of info...
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=28156
Dusty. xxx
