Just wondering.... I was on another forum and they were talking about people needing either oral tablets or injections of vitamin B 12 as they got older. I then remembered something about with our colons removed, sometimes too much of the section where this vit. is absorbed is removed and we may have a deficiency. Has anyone found this to be true? I wonder how many of us have actually had the blood test to determine if we are low in this? I have a blood test done every 6 months, but I don't think a test for B 12 is ever done. Just curious. Thanks for any answers....

Sharon

Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the terminal ileum (last few feet of your small intestine). You keep this with a colectomy and j-pouch. However, you can be at risk if you lost a significant portion of your terminal ileum due to backwash ileitis or if you have chronic pouchitis. Another way you can be B12 deficient is if you have stomach acid problems and take long term acid blockers (acid is necessary for the intrinsic factor from your stomach to transport B12 into the blood stream in the terminal ileum. You need only minute quantities on a daily basis and your body will store a 3-5 year supply. This is why if you do have absorption issues, it can take many years to manifest.

Generally, if your red blood cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit are OK, you are doing alright. But, if you are having undiagnosed anemia or nerve problems, a B12 level is in order.

Jan

Thank you very much, Jan. I do Appreciate your wise input...

I had my colon removed at 38 i am now 45 and have started on B12 shots. really changed my life. i do take nexium that increases my risk. remember you do not have to be anemic or have a low H&H. if your MCV is elevated or you have a megakeracytosis (large red blood cells) that may be an indicator. have your B 1 checked the next time you have bllod drawn. good luck.
ja

I would not recommend the expense of additional testing unless you had some sort of symptoms or something haywire on standard testing. If you are healthy, you do not need the testing. It's been nearly 12 years since my j-pouch and I have never had my B12 checked and I am fine (at least in that regard). I have other things wrong, but not B12 related.

Jan

Jan, can you get too much B12? They have been giving me monthly injections....but Idon't know about levels. Can too much B12 be harmful?

Gee, that's a good question. If you are getting monthly injections, they must have done some testing to define a definite ongoing need.

But, you can rest easy, there has been no reported issue with overdose. Since your body can store many year's worth of the stuff, I can't can't imagine this being a big problem.

http://www.americanregent.com/PDF_For_Products/Cyanocob...31%20Rev.%201-03.pdf

Jan

Hi,
My husband was just started on B12 shots because his feet are now painful and tingling. He might have a B12 deficiency, so they are giving shots while waiting for the labs that were drawn yesterday. He's had two shots so far, with no improvement.

With neurological effects, sometimes the damage is permanent if it has gone on too long, generally 3 or more months. But even if it is temporary, it can take quite a while for nerve damage to repair itself.

Jan