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B12 shots?? Question for ileostomates...

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Posted 7/13/2008 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I keep forgetting to ask my surgeon about this...!  He mentioned that after my surgery, I would eventually need to start getting a monthly B12 shot...but not until about a year after my surgery (apparently, I would have enough B12 stored in my body to be okay until then)

My questions:  Are these shots something ALL ileostomates have to get?  If not, why?  Also, if you have to get them, how long after surgery did you begin, and do you get them every month?  Can you get them at just your local doctor's office (PCP)?

Thanks for any help...my surgeon is great but does not really tell me much about the "small" stuff like this unless I am assertive and ask questions..understandable I guess because he is one of the best colorectal surgeons around and is busy saving peoples' lives, not giving them nutritional advice!

Erin

Posted 7/13/2008 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
LittleE-my GI is the one who wrote my prescription for it. My Family Dr near my house injects it every two months, so I don't have to travel to the Cleveland Clinic just for it. I have had one for the past 20 years because my initial surgery removed the terminal ilium. (I know some people can inject themselves, but I am too chicken!)
Posted 7/13/2008 7:05 PM (GMT 0)

No, not all ostomates need to get B-12 shots, only those who have lost their terminal ileum or had it damaged.  There is a sublingual form of B-12 you can ask you doctor about.  It might be able to replace the injectable B-12.

Sue

Posted 7/14/2008 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
i have been using the sublingual form, and it has helped me, i bought a multi B vitamin, it is the regular kind and i dont' think it helps as much.
Posted 7/14/2008 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I had my terminal ileum removed when I was living in New York. I was getting the B12 shots about every other month. Since I moved to Atlanta 2 years ago, I had kind of forgotten about it. When I mentioned it to my GI 6 months ago he suggested I first have a blood test to check the B12 levels that my body is naturally storing. I was happy to hear that my B12 levels were within the normal range. He didn't have my X-rays handy, so he said the surgeon probably left some of my terminal ileum in. Whatever the reason, I don't need, and probably never needed, to take any  B12 shots.
Posted 7/14/2008 2:48 AM (GMT 0)

Thank you, for the replies!

OHIO--thanks for the info--I was not sure who would write the prescription for one...and I am totally with you in that I would not want to inject myself--I would rather have to drive to the dr.'s office!

Suebear and Summer--thanks for mentioning the "sublingual" form!  I have never heard of it, and would definitely prefer it...though at first I was not quite sure what "sublingual" meant, so I looked it up to be sure! :)

vetteguy--I am in the same boat in that I have some of my TI left, but I am not sure how much.  That is great that you found out that you do not need the shots! (less trips to the dr.'s the better!).  I hope I am as lucky.  I know they are no big deal, I just prefer not to have to go to the doctor's  if I can.

:-) :-)

Erin

Posted 7/14/2008 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
sorry one of us shoudl have said what it meant i didnt' know what it meant either, lol.
Posted 7/14/2008 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
I've never had any and apparently haven't needed it.
Posted 7/15/2008 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
i haven't had any...what would be the symptoms of a lack of b12?

--matt
Posted 7/15/2008 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
The symptoms of lack of B-12 is extreme fatigue. If you see a doctor yearly you should ask to have your B-12 levels checked.

Sue
Posted 7/15/2008 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
suebear, I was hoping to catch it before the "extreme fatigue" set in..! lol :)  So I think I will ask for some blood work in the near future..

Thanks everyone!

E

Posted 7/24/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
My mother has had to start taking B12 shots about a year after her ileostomy. I give one to her about every two weeks and in between she takes sublingual B-12. So it is normal.
Posted 7/27/2008 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
i get my b12 every 3 months but is was a couple of years after my opp before i had to start getting them
Posted 7/29/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I found out I need the B 12 and actually started on it before my ileostomy! The doctor I go to showed me how to give myself the shots. I hate needles and shots and I can't even watch when giving blood. BUT it is so much cheaper to do it yourself and so much more helpful than under the tongue pills. I inject a small amount every week! Along with my female testosterone every other week. I do it in my thigh..pinch and poke. I can pick the spot that doesn't feel the needle as much and it doesn't really hurt. I don't mind at all now. Vitamins aren't usually covered by insurance but the B 12 is pretty cheap! It really helps my engery and moods!
Posted 7/29/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on B12 for years. My symptoms were fatigue and tingling in my fingertips and lips! I was told I don't absorb B12 like I should and my blood test revealed a very low level. My daughter is a nurse and she just comes over to give it to me every 4 weeks.
Posted 7/29/2008 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've been self injecting via my thigh muscle every 2 weeks since 1984! I too hated needles, but the cost of giving it to myself solved the fear! It is really cheap to buy it by RX and the syringes are pretty cheap too. My ins covers both too. My B12 levels have been normal ever since I began the shots right after my ostomy surgery. I have it checked annually when I go in for my checkup. I can tell when I've missed a shot just by my appetite and how I am feeling.
Posted 7/30/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
In the last few months I have been really tired, too. After reading some posts, I self diagnosed myself as to having low B-12 vitamins. Started taking B- sublingual drops that I bought a WM. But I was still tired so last Thurs, I made an appt. to have blood work done. The results showed that I had waaaaaaay too much B-12 in my blood. The nurse didn't say it was dangerous but I don't think I'll take the drops. That leaves me to the question again---why I am I so tired? It could very well be depression.
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