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B12 injections

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Posted 8/31/2010 3:18 PM (GMT 0)

Went to see my PCP yesterday for low back pain that radiates down my legs and also for fatigue and just overall not feeling great.   He tested my B12 levels and they came back at 206, which on the normal scale given is within normal levels, but still pretty low.  He called yesterday afternoon and said I need to start B12 injectios and also take B12 sublingual tablets for life.  I was just curious to hear from other s who do the injections if you notice a difference.  This is the first time I have ever had my levels checked and was pretty surprised at my results.  Although, I have had two resections over the last year.

Posted 8/31/2010 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
If you have had your terminal ileum removed in your surgeries, then yes you will need B12 shots OR the sublinguals for life. I like the shots, I always notice for a few days after I sleep better at night and have a general feeling of less fatigue. I get them everyother week. Good luck!
Posted 8/31/2010 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
aronk, alot of us end up having to take B12 shots due to resections. If your's was a terminal ileum resection that could be a cause. Or it could be malabsorbtion related to your CD. My levels are currently at 278 which my GI feels is low -- he wants to see them up closer to 400. So I've just undergone another 4 week bollus which means I had them once / week for a month. Now I'm back to 1 per month. I also started sublingual on my own -- anything to help.

BTW -- I had my terminal ileum removed in 1982 and it took until 2 years ago til anyone bothered to check my B12 levels and recommend shots. Just makes you wonder about some docs.
Posted 8/31/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yep--both surgeries were at the terminal ileum. I had my first injection today in the drs office and will have them every two weeks for two months and then once a month after that for a year. I will be giving them to myself from here on out. The nurse said that is fine. He wants me to start taking the sublingual b12 tablets immediately and said I will be on that for life. 0

I'm a little disappointed that my pcp had to be the one to recommend checking my levels instead of my GI. I've had Crohns for many years and this is the first time I've had them checked. I've been complaining consistently for a few years about fatigue and not feeling well. I've had some tingling in my lower legs and feet (along with my back pain) and that is what made him decide to order the test. I LOVE, LOVE my PCP. Too bad, I can't just use him as my GI, since he seems to be way more knowledgeable and approachable.
Posted 8/31/2010 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
lamb61, your GI is giving good advice, as levels should be at least 400. In fact, anything  below 300 is presumed to be deficient even though it is in the "normal" range.

Too many GIs are misled by the lab report into thinking anything in the "normal" range is OK. It isn't, because "normal" does NOT mean "healthy."

In fact, presumably, since the normal range falls below 300, then it must be normal for much of the population to be B12 deficient.

Posted 8/31/2010 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, my GI said I can back off of my shots to once a month instead of every other week since my levels are in the 200's. BUT I notice tingling if I go a couple of extra days beyond when I should get my shot (Hubby does them for me). Lucky for me it is my PCP who RX's the B12 for me, so she is fine with me doing the shots Bi-Weekly. If it comes down to a fight I will have to get njmom to give me her research so I can go to battle!
Posted 8/31/2010 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
None of my doctors( nephrologist, GI or GP) addressed my low B-12 levels (around 180). After asking questions on this wonderful forum I am the one who had to call and inquire about the injections. I was also having tingling down my leg and I chalked it up to getting old. Now I feel less fatigued and no more tingling. Thanks guys!!
Elizabeth
Posted 9/1/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I'm lucky, I just have a box of syringes and b-12 and give them to myself whenever I want. It's easy, and makes a really big difference!! I do it about every 2 weeks. I do it in my upper-upper arm (deltoid?) it's pretty easy!
Posted 9/1/2010 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I just heard back from my GI's office and I'm pretty ticked about this whole B12 thing... I've been talking to his office every two weeks about how I feel etc... I always tell them that I don't feel terrible, but I ALWAYS feel run down and am very fatigued. I have a sore throat every single day--not a horrible sore throat, but an annoying sore throat. Anyway, after my PCP jumped on my B12 levels immediately and started the injections the next day--I hear from my GI that my blood work was perfect and that my B12 was "borderline" low, but didn't mention anything about supplements or injections. IDIOT! My level was 206, which from everything I've read is pretty low. Anyway, when I mentioned the sore throat again, and mentioned that maybe it was the Imuran--she said that they have several patients on Imuran and have never heard of sore throat being a symptom. UGH. I just always feel like they think I'm being a big baby. I'm thinking it may be time to shop for a new GI... The other issue is my GI is very scope happy. Every time I have a complaint--he wants to do a colonoscopy. I agree it's a useful test, but I've had 3 in the past year and he wants to do another one in October.

If you have made it this far--thanks for listening to me vent. Grrrrr...
Posted 9/1/2010 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain! My GI is on top of my B12 levels stating they are low but it's my PCP that says they are normal range. I know they went to med school on 2 different continents but geez.

Have you ever seen an ENT for your throat? I don't want to alarm you but some of us (me included) are in that small percentile that have CD outside of the bowel. I was actually DX with CD in my esophagus a few years ago. Just a thought and another avenue to try.

Take care.
Posted 9/1/2010 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
lamb61--The GI actually did mention seeing and ENT for my throat. I thought he was really wacked when he suggested that, but maybe he is on to something with that. :) Thanks for letting me know about that.
Posted 9/1/2010 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Before going any further: You also need FOLIC ACID as well, they are easy to buy, I take two pills a day.

I take B12 sublinguals (which some also have FOLIC ACID) twice a day: I make sure that I swallow all my saliva and even pat down under the tongue. This makes the liquid dropper hold the B12 for 20 seconds longer under the tongue.

When I am low on B12 I give myself injections on the thigh, have tried squeezing a chunk of thigh or just simply relaxing it (this is the best way for me. I hold the needle and in a quick motion about half inch away I dart it while I hold it into the thigh, has to go in at least an inch of needle if not more. Insert all the liquid and withdraw the needle: not a single drop of blood comes out. It is so routine that I don't dread the needle anymore.

Beside the B12 I drink two Ensure plus a day. I heat it up and tastes like Ovaltine, the intestine just love that liquid warm ecstacy !
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