B12 injections..

[wannaloose18stone]

As I said I dont want to seem ungratefull because I'm not, I have been given a great oppurtunity to live a happier life but it still doesnt help that there are a lot of flaws in the system and with something of this nature those flaws could lead to serious problems. It's a shame really because half of the system is A1 but the rest does let it down.

 

[FEDup1981]

Thanks for all the replies.
Paul - i too am very surprised at the huge differences pre & post op for the same operation. It seems every surgeon works to their own rule.
Nobody at the hospital has mentioned b12 to me, just a friend who i met at a weight loss meeting said about it, after i mentioned i was tired. I have my follow up app on the 4th June, and my next WL meeting next wed so ill discuss it there.
Im still taking them bassets chewable vitamins, but im not sure those by themselves are enough?

 

[wannaloose18stone]

Thanks for all the replies.
Paul - i too am very surprised at the huge differences pre & post op for the same operation. It seems every surgeon works to their own rule.
Nobody at the hospital has mentioned b12 to me, just a friend who i met at a weight loss meeting said about it, after i mentioned i was tired. I have my follow up app on the 4th June, and my next WL meeting next wed so ill discuss it there.
Im still taking them bassets chewable vitamins, but im not sure those by themselves are enough?

It is very messy, thing is this isnt like having a tooth out, failure to take onboard the right vit's, zinc, iron's etc can become life threataning. I understand that being obese means your already in a life threataning situation but the idea of the op is to improve that situation surely?

 

[Brunetteandred]

The chewy vitamins are not enough as they don't contain minerals. You need the ones that have vitamins AND minerals, something like Centrum or Sanatogen A-Z. I have Forceval on prescription from my GP which has all the vitamins and minerals required. They are gelcaps which are easily digested from the pouch (thanks to Shel for that tip!).

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

mmmm Maybe thats why I have been tired for the past couple of weeks,
I haven't seen my dietitian yet since the Op, and I was Hoping to get a letter in the post very soon for a 6 monthly check up, Do you think I should call him?
No-one mentioned to me about b12 deficiency, But i was told to take muilti vitamins for the rest of my life which i am doing and have done since day one, Plus I take extra zinc, extra iron,and Biotin for my hair and nails, Maybe I should give him a quick call.

 

[wannaloose18stone]

My advice to anyone is, if in doubt then call someone, IT'S IMPORTANT.

 

[FEDup1981]

Is Forceval only available on prescription?

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

I Just called my dietitian, and he said to make an appointment with my doctors to get my bloods checked and said I should ask for the B12 injection to be on the safe side, But he said its nothing to worry about too much, but to go and get checked out.
He said it was all stated in the the post of pack i got after my Op, so I must have missed that, will have to go and have a look for it and have a quick read.

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

OMG just phoned the doctors to see about getting the B12 injestion today and she said Yes, My appointment is for 3.20, Can't believe i called and I have an appointment in the same day. Thats a first for me lol.

 

[Brunetteandred]

Is Forceval only available on prescription?

Yes. My GP gave me 3 months supply on one prescription, so only one payment £7.20

I was sent home from hospital with aletter for my GP which asked for me to have a full blood count within 7 days of my op. From this test, it was doscivere dthat I had become anaemic, so was then prescribed iron.

My maxim is this, I don't rely on being told everything, I also ask questions.

So the bottom line for me, is I will ask my healthcare professionals what I should expect in terms of after care.

In fact, that was one of the questions Silversurfer suggested I ask at one of my pre-op appointments!

 

[FEDup1981]

Thanks. Ive got a list of questions myself now for my next review in 2 weeks. But my surgeon is a prat, so dont think ill get much joy from him. I will get some answers from somewhere tho! x

 

[shelbell]

I Just called my dietitian, and he said to make an appointment with my doctors to get my bloods checked and said I should ask for the B12 injection to be on the safe side, But he said its nothing to worry about too much, but to go and get checked out.
He said it was all stated in the the post of pack i got after my Op, so I must have missed that, will have to go and have a look for it and have a quick read.

FGS thats disgusting, nothing to worry about my backside! B12 deficiency can cause Korshakoffs Syndrome (sp?) which is severe neurological damage and irreversible. After a bypass, you cannot absorb sufficient B12 no matter how many multivits or B12 tablets you take, hence the need for the injections.

As for the surgeons who advise over the counter chewy multi-vits, that's disgusting too. You can't get what you need from them, it's impossible.

 

[FEDup1981]

Thanks shell. I never got a post op pack as such, just a couple of leaflets on what to eat, not about other things tho??
Think im going to have to ask a few questions to my surgeon and dietician.

 

[Silversurfer]

FGS thats disgusting, nothing to worry about my backside! B12 deficiency can cause Korshakoffs Syndrome (sp?) which is severe neurological damage and irreversible. After a bypass, you cannot absorb sufficient B12 no matter how many multivits or B12 tablets you take, hence the need for the injections.

As for the surgeons who advise over the counter chewy multi-vits, that's disgusting too. You can't get what you need from them, it's impossible.

Well said and a point well put across Shell ! i concour completely, i'm just so thankful that i went private and have a great surgeon that knows his stuff and has set me up for a successful lose.

 

[margaretmc]

You could eat all the vit b 12 tabs or all the fruit and veg it still wouldnt be enough stuff in them , if you are vit b 12 deficiency you need the jab every 3 months for life .
Margaret xx

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

FGS thats disgusting, nothing to worry about my backside! B12 deficiency can cause Korshakoffs Syndrome (sp?) which is severe neurological damage and irreversible. After a bypass, you cannot absorb sufficient B12 no matter how many multivits or B12 tablets you take, hence the need for the injections.

As for the surgeons who advise over the counter chewy multi-vits, that's disgusting too. You can't get what you need from them, it's impossible.

Whoops My mistake, The dietitian did say I WILL NEED to have the Vitamin B12, But then said it its nothing to worry about. and I did get a vitamin and mineral Supplementation after my Op WHICH i might ad I DID NOT READ, and to be Honest I forgot all about when I came home from the hospital.
I have Now found this and this is what it says.

Because Gastric Bypass surgery limits absorption of calories, it can also reduce absoption of Essential vitamins & Minerals.
This is why DAILY vitamins & Mineral supplementation is essential to your long term health.
Without supplementation of iron,folate,vitaminB12, calcium and zinc can develop in a matter of months, This can lead to fatigue,osteoporosis, hair loss, and neurological problems.
We recommend the following 5 medications all of which(With the exception of the B12 injection) should be available from you chemist.

1, Iron & Folic Acic
Pregaday (fumarate & folic acid) 1 tablet daily with food.

2,Calcium & Vitamin D
Several preperations ae available from boots and other chemists. Choose one of the following boots calcium and vitamin d-(calcium 800mg +vitaminD 5.0ug)-2 capsuals a day with liquid
Boots calcium and vitamin d- breakthrough forular (calcium 800mg + Vitamin D 5.0ug) 2 capsuals a day with liquid
Boots calcium and vitamin d-effervescent (calcium 400mg + Vitamin D 2.5 ug) 2 tablets a day.

3, A Multivamin Sanatogen Gold 1 Daily

4, Zinc Zinc sulphate (Solvazinc) available from chemist, 1 daily after food.

5, Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 (hydroxycobalamin)-1mg 3 monthly intra-muscular injection,(From your GP)

So its my fault for not reading my info after my Op.

Anyways I did go to the doctors today and they took all my bloods for tests to see if I am deficiency from anything and i will get my results in a few days time.
They didn't give me a Vitamin B12 Injection today, they said they would see what the results say, but now I am thinking that I DO NEED it, as that is what it states on my information pack.

 

[shelbell]

Yup, it doesn't matter what your levels are now, as many of us have good stores of B12, the problem is we need to avoid deficiency, not wait for it to happen and then deal with it.

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

Yeah,
I am so pleased i have found this out today, It just goes to show, you learn something new everyday and also for any other peeps out their considering Bypass surgey to make sure you do LOTS of Reasearch before the Op, (Which i did, But Obviously NOT enough.)
Thankyou everyone for your input, I must say I do feel a lot better knowing this now and at least I have found out early enough, so THANKYOU!! x

 

[FEDup1981]

Its nice to know that even the long term bypassers learn something new every now and then.
Ill be asking about it when i see the dietician and specialist nurse.

 

[Snow Angel]

My GP has ahd nothing to do with this op other than they know I've had it. I'm still under the "fat clinic" at my loca hospital who refered me for the op, they have been less than satisfactory, and I'm now 9 months post op and still havent spoken to a dieticn to this day.
I only know what I know through sites like this and internet research.

Hi All

just wanted to comment on this that has been said. I have been sick for days now and contacted Russells Hall team and they didn't know what to advise me other than to ring Walsall. I rang Walsall and they said they would get back to me but didn't. I know they are both very busy but I totally understand what you are saying. Since my bypass I have been to clinic once and was requested to return for an appointment for 6 weeks. It came through for nearly double that. I know Im going to Walsall for my post op check up but its a bit much. I too have only been to see my GP twice since my op. I need to have my bloods checked often too as before my op I was anaemic so will need supliments too if not B12 injections.

I know its different for everyone around the country and Im not saying that these hospitals are useless but I do think they need to look at maybe employing someone to do this support role as its very frightening after you have had this op and it would be very reasuring to know that you can speak to someone for a bit of support when you need it.!

Just my opinion after my experience with the bypass operation.