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Low B12 post surgery

aufan

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aufan    69

aufan
Posted

I just returned from my primary care doc and my lab results say I'm low in B12. She said its an absorption issue and common after WLS. I have to get shots now weekly for a month then monthly. On the plus side I am down 21 lbs since seeing her in Feb before surgery. Not to mention I'm bloated too right now. Lol!!

I'm curious if anyone else has had this issue. Did anyone take the B12 shots and if so what did it do to your progress? I'm nervous about the shots making me more hungry than I am. Hope it does help my energy level though.

Thanks a bunch y'all!

Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

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jaxjen11    14

jaxjen11
Posted

I have had chronically low B12 since my gastric bypass surgery in 2004. I take weekly shots at home because I've never been able to get it back to normal. I just got the band on 5/1... but I didn't think that banders would have the same B12 issue because there's no malabsorption due to the rerouting of the intestines. The shots personally don't do anything related to hunger -- but they do give you more energy which might be productive for weight loss. That's my two cents...

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aufan    69

aufan
Posted

I have had chronically low B12 since my gastric bypass surgery in 2004. I take weekly shots at home because I've never been able to get it back to normal. I just got the band on 5/1... but I didn't think that banders would have the same B12 issue because there's no malabsorption due to the rerouting of the intestines. The shots personally don't do anything related to hunger -- but they do give you more energy which might be productive for weight loss. That's my two cents...

Thanks for your insight! From what I'm reading cutting out fortified cereals and breads has likely affect me losing my main intake of B12. Since there is no way I'm going to eat that now I guess the shots are for me. I'm not brave enough to do them myself yet!!

Really would love some energy though!!

Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

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this sucks    557

this sucks
Posted

I have had chronically low B12 since my gastric bypass surgery in 2004. I take weekly shots at home because I've never been able to get it back to normal. I just got the band on 5/1... but I didn't think that banders would have the same B12 issue because there's no malabsorption due to the rerouting of the intestines. The shots personally don't do anything related to hunger -- but they do give you more energy which might be productive for weight loss. That's my two cents...

Bandsters DO have Vitamin deficiency issues and I'm here to tell you that it is no fun to go through.

B12, Iron, D all became very low about a year and a half post banding. Just because we aren't re-routed doesn't mean that we can absorb all the Vitamins we need.

I will take some blame for mine though. I thought it was better to use Meal Replacement bars and shakes rather than learn to eat real food. Learned that we need real food to stay healthy.

Take your vitamins!!!

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mrsto    2,925

mrsto
Posted

Thanks for your insight! From what I'm reading cutting out fortified cereals and breads has likely affect me losing my main intake of B12. Since there is no way I'm going to eat that now I guess the shots are for me. I'm not brave enough to do them myself yet!!

Really would love some energy though!!

Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Is self administering the B12 shots an option? I would totally do that! Right now I'm taking sublingual B12. That's what my doc recommends.....for absorption issues. I don't know if I'm deficient, but I will get the blood work done in the next couple of months.

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aufan    69

aufan
Posted

My doc gave me the option to do shots at home and I asked for her nurse to do it for me. I'm squeamish around needles. She also said the sublingual B12 wasn't the best way to get a boost I need to bring me back up to good levels.

If I end up having to do it weekly long term I might learn to give the shots myself.

Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

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Go To Topic Listing POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
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