B12 Shots or not

bearymdkl · January 13, 2008

I've been thinking about the surgery, but at the seminar I went to they said you would have to get a B12 shot once a month for the rest of your life. I really don't like shots. I talked with someone who had the surgery at a different hospital here in St. Louis and she said she doesn't have to have the shots. What does your doctor say about shots?

nadean · January 13, 2008

I am getting banded on the 16th and so far no one has told me anything about B12 shots. But if I do have to get them then it would be a small price to pay to be healthy and skinny again. Of course after having 3 children I'm use to being poked with needles. You also need to think about what you have to go through if you get diabetes (if you don't already have them) as far as needles and shots are concerned.

Txchloe · January 13, 2008

Am almost 3 mos out from surgery and no one mentioned B12 at any point; nor have I ever heard anyone else say that was required.

I would do some more investigation with your doc about that.

Good luck!

snowbird · January 13, 2008

Our doctor told my daughter she needed B12 shots after banding, but he told me I didn't. He did blood tests to determine whether we were deficient in B12; she was but I wasn't.

By the way, she says she felt marvelous after starting the shots, with much more energy and much less fatigue.

I believe it is standard to put gastric bypass patients on B12 shots due to the malabsorption issues caused by that surgery. However, I don't think that is the case with lap band patients, unless you specifically have been found to have a B12 deficiency. I would question a blanket statement that all lap band patients need B12 shots. Sounds like whoever is giving the seminar is still using data from gastric bypass patients and isn't up to date on lap band.

Ang1982 · January 13, 2008

I believe it is standard to put gastric bypass patients on B12 shots due to the malabsorption issues caused by that surgery.... Sounds like whoever is giving the seminar is still using data from gastric bypass patients and isn't up to date on lap band.

This is very true. A few of my friends have had Gastric Bypass and do have to have B12 shots due to the malabsorption issues. Sounds like someone's giving out the wrong information. Unless you were B12 deficient prior to the band I'd doubt you'd need to worry afterwards...

jengland · January 16, 2008

My doctor told everyone in our group that we would need to take B12 daily or get a B12 shot. I decided on the shot. He said we would only have to take the B12 for the first 3 months,

make33 · January 16, 2008

Goes to show you--all surgeons are different in their approaches.

I'm a "No, didn't have to get" to the B12 question also... And yes, I understood it was for the bypass patients only.

christasha · January 16, 2008

At our seminar the B12 issue was more for the RNY patients . . . us Banders were told to take a B12 pill that dissolves in our mouths (forgot the word) once a week. No shots needed.