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Posted 3/7/2008 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had my colon removed Oct 07. I don't have a bag, everything was reconnected. The surgery was a great success and I'm able to eat and go to the bathroom.

After the surgery I was having trouble with spasms and pain in my small intestines, but I guess they just needed more time to heal b/c I can eat anything I want and I have no pain.

I had gotten back to my exercise program and was working on building up my cardio. Then something happened and I started going down hill. I became really weak. My cardio ability started dropping and I became fatigued easily.

Well I'm not one to rush to the doctor. I have MS so I try and wait and let things 'play out' a little b/c some symptoms with MS will go away on their own. But this condition was getting worse and worse.

I didn't want to go to the doctor at the peak of flu season either.

But I called the doctor yesterday afternoon to just make an appt. They couldn't get me into the doctor I had wanted till next Wednesday but I said that was fine. Then when the lady asked me my symptoms and I began to tell her she said I should probably come in sooner.

Long story short, they told me to come in right then. I got there and they took me back to a room. They did EKG to make sure it wasn't my heart. (My symptoms were mimicking signs a woman would have)

The doctor looked into my eyes and said I was probably anemic and if my blood count was too low I might need a transfusion. He ordered blood work.

He also said that ppl who have their colon removed usually need to get B12 shots regularly. My surgeon never mentioned this to me. In fact he really didn't even mention me taking supplements like vitamins or anything.

Does anyone get B12 shots and have your doctor mentioned needing to take vitamins regularly? I know that it's not a bad idea to take vitamins. But I didn't think about the B12 shot. I've heard how great you feel afterwards so I'm all for taking the shot.

Kim

Control is an illusion. The only control we have is our response to people and situations.
Posted 3/8/2008 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
ive heard of it too kim. I'm severely anemic and currently only take iron pills when i start feeling crappy. However, being on humira has caused me to have my share of needles, but i read on the forum about disovable b12 that u just put under your tounge. Its on the ostomy board somewhere, i was looking into trying those
Posted 3/8/2008 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Praying,

You're right. Sublingual B-12 dissolves under your tongue and can be purchased at any drug store without a prescription. My doctor never mentioned the importance of taking vitamins after surgery either. My dad was an OB/GYN and always took vitamins, so I've been taking them ever since I was a little kid.

I haven't been anemic since surgery, but I would get anemic quite often before when I had a lot of bleeding during Crohn's flare up's.

Posted 3/8/2008 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
I know that if you have problems with your small intestine, it will cause you to lose B12, and after surgery you are likely to become anemic. I had a shot when I was anemic after surgery and honestly, it didn't do anything for me (didn't hurt at all either). I tried taking the iron pills and got an upset stomach so I quit, but did eat foods high in iron when possible (Chex cereal is high in iron). After being on steroids for so long I take extra Calcium and a multiple vitamin.

I hope you are feeling better, I remember when I was anemic I was soooo tired.
Posted 3/8/2008 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
I have an ileostomy --- and have taken B12 injections biweekly since I had my surgery in 1984. If I miss my shot (I give it myself) I do notice a change in my overall feeling: fatigue, loss of appetite. etc. I have had my colon and several feet of my small intestine removed. The docs do keep an eye on my levels - labs done every 6 months...

As far as vitamins, I do take a supplement, but it is one with NO iron in it. I just cannot tolerate Iron at all. Fortunately I have not been anemic since my surgery, which means I must be absorbing all that I need. Like many others here, I take calcium and vit. D (I have had osteo issues and found that I am extremely deficient in vit D) I'm sure part of the osteoporosis issues stemmed from all of the steroids I have taken in the past and probably absorption difficulties.
Posted 3/8/2008 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
i take those sublingual b-12 pills too, and they really seem to have helped me. I also take a flintstones vitamin, which i know sounds strange, but when i was preg, the drs told me that that is really just as good as any prenatal, and in fact, for people who have iron sensitivitys, that is the best thing to take! i didn't know that about chex cereal, i eat chex mix all the time, so i shoudl be great on the iron!
Posted 3/8/2008 6:54 AM (GMT 0)
Me

Just as TBraz mentioned, B12 problems could happen if you've had part of your small intestine removed. The colon doesn't have anything to do with it. There are of course other things that could cause you to have low B12. I get B12 shots every two weeks. I also take rx folic acid because that was low too. A lot of people with low B12 are also low in folic acid. Also, there are people with B12 deficiency and there are people with pernicious anemia. I have pernicious anemia. With that, your body destroys the cells in your stomach that help you absorb the B12.

Posted 3/8/2008 11:15 AM (GMT 0)

ME! said...
He also said that ppl who have their colon removed usually need to get B12 shots regularly. My surgeon never mentioned this to me. In fact he really didn't even mention me taking supplements like vitamins or anything.

As others have stated, it's usually those who have had some small intestine removed who need their B12 shots. Most of us who have just had our large intestines removed but still have all of our small intestines don't usually need any extra help with B12.

Ask your doc for a blood test to determine your B12 levels - that will let you know if you need a shot or not.

Posted 3/8/2008 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Summer! i take flinstones chewables too! lol when i was in the hospital once the doc told me the same thing. I've been using them ever since...when i can remember

Shaz
is it possible to od on b12? like if ur b12 levels are ok and u take b12 from the drug store?
Posted 3/8/2008 6:16 PM (GMT 0)

Praying

B12 is one of the water-soluable vitamins and isn't stored in the body. I'm thinking that any excess would be excreted in the urine, but I'd check with a doctor since some vitamins can mess up other prescriptions that you're taking.

I noticed that you have Crohn's. Just an FYI, it is quite common for Crohn's patients to be deficient in B12. You might want to have your doc check it out.

Posted 3/9/2008 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
the pharamcist told me that B-12 wouldn't interfere with meds, and that the only way you could overdose was if you took like a whole whole whole bunch of it
Posted 3/9/2008 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanx terri and summer. I'm gonna ask my doc about it next month when I go back 2 see him, until then I'm gonna go pick some up and talk 2 the pharmacist about it. I want to b as strong as possible when I go bak 2 woek
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