Crohn's surgery

[infinite monkey]

Hope you're feeling up to par really soon, Pete.

[monster]

yow! wishing you a speedy recovery. If they took out the bit that absorbs B12, is there a chance that B12 is related to your problems?

[limey]

Get well soon.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

Interesting bit of trivia: the piece they took out (the last two feet of the small intestine) is the only part that can absorb B12. I'll be getting B12 shots to compensate.

Yeah, those suck, huh? FWIW, I can send you a link to a B12 skin cream you can take instead, if you get tired of the shots. Transdermal meds are just as effective--like the nicotine patch, and the birth control patch, that kind of stuff. (Plus, I know it works because Minifob loses his marbles when he's off the B12, and when we switched from shots to the cream it was a completely smooth transition... and now if we stop the cream he reacts the same way as he used to when he missed a shot.) It's a measured pump dose, so you can figure out how much you need in order to match the dose you're currently taking in the shots.

[infinite monkey]

[Pete Zicato]

I wimped out.

As I mentioned above, I will now need B12 shots on a regular basis. In fact, the gastro wants to jump start me by having me take B12 for seven days in a row.

Now I am reasonably stoic getting shots, but only because I don't look. Closing your eyes is not the best option when you're giving yourself a shot.

So I've been psyching myself up for sticking myself in the leg.

Until yesterday, when I found out the local pharmacy will do all seven shots for $20.

Stress over. I can go back to not looking.

[glatt]

That's worth it.

I'd like to think I would do well giving myself a shot, but since I've never tried to do it, I have no idea. I don't have any trouble when they stick those huge needles in me when I give blood. And I often watch. But doing it to yourself is a different story.

[Clodfobble]

I took a few of the kids' shots, because I feel like it's important for me to understand what I'm putting them through. Doing it myself didn't bother me, but honestly, the pain was worse than the big blood-draw needles, because for some reason with the B12 it keeps stinging for awhile after the needle's out. A different kind of pain, if that makes sense.

Pete, ask your doctor about using a transdermal cream. I guarantee you there's a compounding pharmacy in your city (back in the day all pharmacies were compounding pharmacies, before mass production made them nothing but pill-counters.) Some Walgreens and Target pharmacies have even started offering compounding services, because of the ever-increasing need for people to have their meds prepared with no gluten or other additives. Almost any med can be put into a transdermal cream, the doctor just has to write the prescription that way. They'll give it to you in a collection of metered, capped syringes, so you can measure out exactly 1 mL of the cream or whatever concentration you're supposed to take.

[dmg1969]

Pete, I just saw this thread. I'm sorry you had to have surgery. I have Crohn's. I was diagnosed in 2004 after becoming very ill and losing over 50lbs. My twin brother has had it for much longer than I have (I think he was diagnosed in our late teens...we're 41 now). He has had 3 bowel resections along with numerous other surgeries for complications.

I get monthly B-12 injections as part of my treatment. I just have the doctor do them because I have to get monthly blood draws so they do it while I'm there. I do give myself bi-weekly Humira injections. Just juiced myself up last evening.

Crohn's is a real bastard. Luckily, between the oral meds I'm on along with the Humira, I've been able to stave off surgery. I was headed down that road when my GI tried Humira as a last resort. Luckily, it's been working for the past 4 years I've been taking it.

Best of luck in your recovery!

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Pete, ask your doctor about using a transdermal cream.

I did some googling of b12 for Crohn's and there was a lot of agreement that the shots were the best option. Now that I've got a reasonable solution (I don't have to watch), I'll probably stick with this.

[dmg1969]

Pete, do you also take a multi-vitamin daily? I do...due to malabsorbsion issues, as most Crohn's patients experience.

[Big Sarge]

Pete I hope you get to feeling better soon. Man it sounds like you have had it rough

[BigV]

ha.

you said "stick" with this.

[BrianR]

I'm sort of in the same boat Pete. I'm taking Vitamin D right now to see if it helps. If it doesn't, I will be getting shots of that along with the B. My endo is waiting for my bloodwork to settle down a little more before beginning that. It seems my malabsorption is just as bad but hasn't been treated for years, which mostly explains why I can barely remember my name these days.

Glad to hear you're on the mend!

Pam

[Spexxvet]

Get well soon, Pete