My program says that I do not have to take a B12 supplement daily however a Calcium and multivitamin both twice a day. In my program booklet they put together it says B12 is needed for the sleeve and Gastric Bypass. Does anyones doctor for the Lap band suggest B12? Do you take it anyway?

B12 only comes from animal protein, until you're eating meat again (4-8 oz per day) you'll need B12. You'll also need it for life if you're a vegetarian.

Did not know that... Thanks that helped a lot!

The info they gave me said LB patients have a risk of being deficient in B12, folate, and thiamine. I got a liquid one at Whole Foods that has all three in it, Well, I think all three. It has folic acid and from what I can tell, folate and folic acid are the same, they just come from different sources.

mine said i didnt need it, but it would be fine if i took it anyway. i got a nifty liquid one that has all the goodies, plus Biotin which i like because i dont have to take an extra supplement in order to prevent hair loss!

im not sure about the science of it, i just know b-12 gives me energy.

Does the liquid stuff taste nasty? I hate the smell of vitamins and have trouble taking them. The liquid stuff seems like it would be hard to swallow. Can you mix it in something? I dont' know what... I take the chewable gummy vitamins and the chocolate calcium right now, but would not mind adding a B12 for the energy!

The best B12 I've found are sublinguals from VitaminShoppe or AmericaRx, they taste like berries and dissolve in seconds.

I saw another poster talking about b12 shots prescribed by her doctor. I want to ask my doc about that because that would be my preference!

Mine said I didn't need it unless blood tests said otherwise. They'll just have me taking calcium and a multi.

The B12 shots are easier for some but they will require a copayment to receive, which could be $25-45/month plus the cost of the shot itself at around $10, whereas the sublinguals are $12.00/100 tiny tablets that taste great and dissolve in less than 15 seconds.

Personally I prefer the sublinguals and I'm a vegetarian so I'll be taking them the rest of my life.

Does the liquid stuff taste nasty? I hate the smell of vitamins and have trouble taking them. The liquid stuff seems like it would be hard to swallow. Can you mix it in something? I dont' know what... I take the chewable gummy vitamins and the chocolate calcium right now, but would not mind adding a B12 for the energy!

it actually tastes pretty pleasant. its a fruity flavor...not something you wanna splash over ice and guzzle, but its definitely palatable. i actually like it.