I'm confused. I take Celebrate Essential Vitamin Multi 2 in 1. It has 250 mcg of b12. I take 4/day. I see some people getting b12 shots. Would pills work, or am I missing something?

I have B12 injections, they're only available via prescription. I guess it depends on your blood work and what your surgeon/doc sees as necessary. My B12 was extremely low pre-surgery.


Band to SIPS/SA-DI/LOOP DS 8.8.17
HT: 5'6ish HW: 242 SW: 226 CW: 208 GW: Healthy

Those who underwent RNY gastric bypass surgery are required to 500-1000 micrograms (mug) of sublingual B12 daily or 1000 mcg IM injection monthly. Originally I thought the monthly shot would be easier even though it required a prescription and a trip to the drug store. But I had my wife give me these shots in my arm. I noticed she would always look away just before she inserted the needle in my arm. So I switched to the tablets. I use the sublingual B12 and was told to use methylcobalamin. You cannot use a time-release version of B12. They work fine and taste good.

Pills work for some and not others. I get the B12 shot every 3 months. Seems to work fine for me.


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HW- 273
Pre-op Wt- 230
SW- 226
CW- 170
GW- 130
Ht- 5'2.5"
DOS- April 26th, 2017

"Only those who try will become." ~FFX

Hi, I take the injections. I's easier and faster. Just a heads up, if anyone suggests using the B12 Nasal Gel, DON"T, it's like shoving a gob of Jello up your nose!

I use the Nascobal nasal spray for B12.

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The body needs intrinsic factor (IF) to absorb B12 from the stomach. When you have RNY, you don't have enough IF to absorb the B12 you need, so PILLS are not as effective with us. B12 sublingual is absorbed through the blood. If that works for you, you don't need the injections. It's cheaper and more convenient. The spray is also good. Good info re. the gel. UCK!!

Hi, everyone!

Who prescribed you the B12 shots? Your PCP or your surgeon? Are they covered by your insurance?

Hi, everyone!
Who prescribed you the B12 shots? Your PCP or your surgeon? Are they covered by your insurance?

My surgeon prescribed mine and yes it is covered by insurance, however the syringe isn’t. I pay $.25 a month for one.

Very good to know! Thanks for the insight.

I haven't gotten my first labs back yet, so I don't know for sure I will need them. However, since I am extremely tired ALL the time, I think I probably will.

I have been taking B12 in my multivitamin and as a separate tablet, but I don't notice improvement in my level of fatigue.

Thanks for this post! I found out some stuff.

Basically, pill or sublingual should work (shots are good too..and necessary if you are already deficient).

The pill or sublingual needs to be 500 micrograms of hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin, taken in one or more doses through the day. (1x500 or 2x250, etc)

We only absorb 1/100 of the dose through passive absorption in the small intestine (5mcg out of a 500mcg dose), and our daily requirement is 3.5mcg.

Since we can store excess, if you forget your b-12 for a month, you'll be fine as long as you weren't deficient to start.

I looked at my vitamins.. 25mcg a day. 25/100=0.25mcg/day of the less readily absorbed cyanocobalamin. So, what should I do? Yup! Got to go vitamin shopping! Thank goodness I had reserves!

I use the Nascobal nasal spray for B12.

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I was given the same. I was told it’s this or pills. I tried the celebrate sublingual ones and I’ll be going back and forth, both were OK in my book.

Hi, everyone!
Who prescribed you the B12 shots? Your PCP or your surgeon? Are they covered by your insurance?

The spray in my case was prescribed by my surgeon. They deliver, have auto-replenish and are covered by my insurance. There was a co-pay that I’ll be paying monthly.