I know b-12 deficiency is associated with gastric bypass, but in case anyone here had GB or knows anything about it, thought it would not hurt to ask!!

My fiance has had problems with the side of his hand and bottom 2 fingers being numb for about 3 weeks now. Today I finally convinced him to get it checked out (thought maybe carpal tunnel since he lives on the computer).

The clinic said they don't think it's carpal tunnel and gave him a B-12 injection, saying it could be a b-12 deficiency?

Anyone have info on this??

The nutritionist I saw last week said that B-6 or B-12 or all the B's hell, were instrumental in the health of your nervous system. Does that make sense, its late so I hope it does!

i don't remember where, but i heard somewhere that more than half of american's are B-12 deficient

FYI-I just found b-12 liquid at Brooks Pharmacy

Well since my doctor also does GB, he was going on and on about B-12 deficiency for GB patients, and maybe I misunderstood this part.. he said you HAVE to have it injected or under the tongue things. Said your body doesn't digest it if you 'eat' it. This would just be GB people right? If (and I don't think the clinic was right, he eats tons of meat.. which I read is where a good source of B-12 comes from), he was deficient, the liquid form would work?

I have been researching B-12 deficiency, and it does not sound like that's what he has. He has the numbness, that's all. And there's an extensive list of symptoms.. that he has not had an inkling of. He also isn't in pain, so it doesn't really sound like carpal tunnel. He's a pain in the butt to get to go to the doctor, so I just have to hear him complain all the time.

Thanks for the input! If this injection ends up helping his numbness, we'll go get the liquid.

Well since my doctor also does GB, he was going on and on about B-12 deficiency for GB patients, and maybe I misunderstood this part.. he said you HAVE to have it injected or under the tongue things. Said your body doesn't digest it if you 'eat' it. This would just be GB people right? If (and I don't think the clinic was right, he eats tons of meat.. which I read is where a good source of B-12 comes from), he was deficient, the liquid form would work?

I have been researching B-12 deficiency, and it does not sound like that's what he has. He has the numbness, that's all. And there's an extensive list of symptoms.. that he has not had an inkling of. He also isn't in pain, so it doesn't really sound like carpal tunnel. He's a pain in the butt to get to go to the doctor, so I just have to hear him complain all the time.

Thanks for the input! If this injection ends up helping his numbness, we'll go get the liquid.

That is just bypass people. I *think* (going by memory here) that B12 is absorbed in the first foot of intestine. They remove 3' - 6' depending on how much you have to lose. If they remove the part of your body that absorbs this it has to be given via a different route.

That doesn't happen in banding, just bypass.

Your finance needs to be seen by a neurologist. Numbness in the fingers is associated with something called cervical adenopathy. Physical therapy is often prescribed along with medication. I know neurologists are not fans of chiropractors but they can also treat this condition.

Hi Laura, If he does turn out to be B-12 deficent, chances are he needs iron too. He may need an iron supplement, as a B-12 deficiency can lead to anemia. -Wen

Well, the numbness hasn't changed since that shot, so I've ruled that out now. He's a big ol' baby about going to doctors, so if he wants to go to another doctor he can, I give up

My DH also was experiencing symptoms of B-12 defiency. He's diabetic, and also had lap-band surgery in Dec '06. They initially gave him a B12 injection, just in case. After further testing it was discovered he actually anemic, and has begun an Iron supplement (Slow-Fe). Since then he has been feeling much better, but is still undergoing tests to determine the cause of the iron deficiency. It's pretty rare to see low iron in men. He's definately eats plenty of Protein. He used to be a real "meat and potatoes" kind of guy, befory the lap band.

Did the clinic do any lab work on your fiance. If not, that would be the next thing to check.

I have occasionally numbness, so thanks for sharing. I'll try to find a different vitamin.

I am b12 deficient so it can happen to lapband people too. But my doc thinks maybe I just am one of those people who have a hard time absorbing it from food and I was that way before surgery. I am anemic too. I take B12 pills and my levels have come up so I don't need shots yet.

Fun fun.. Iron pills are the pits when you have a band!!! Grrrrr

~DonnaMarie~

I don't absorb iron and the level used to assess how deficient a person is include an iron panel (iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, iron saturation) and a CBC (complete blood count). You can have a normal hemaglobin and hematocrit and still be severely iron deficient.

I get intravenous iron once a week until the levels come up to normal. After that, my anemia is monitored monthly and I get more iron once it begins to drop.

You (or he) should google "Cubital Tunnel" to see if that seems like the symptoms he's having. A friend of mine had it and needed surgery. She's all better now. :-)