Ileostomates should test periodically with their physician. Symptoms may come very slowly. They include anemia and neurological symptoms, i.e., numbness in the feet and difficulty walking, sore tongue, muscle spasms, appetite loss, weight loss and forgetfulness. Your vitamin B-12 is check through a simple blood test. It can become part of your annual check-up.
If the deficiency continues too long, some the symptoms cannot be reversed, leaving the patient severely impaired. The treatment consists of B-12 injections. Since the section of the bowel which absorbs B-12 is no longer available, taking Vitamin B-12 tablets will not work. A new product, NASCOBAL, delivers B-12 by nose instead of by needle. After the blood level has been stabilized by injection therapy, many people can maintain the proper level of B-12 with this intranasal product. The odourless, flavourless gel comes in a nasal squeeze bottle. This convenient inject-free method delivers a precise 55 mg. once weekly. Only available by prescription.
B-12 blood levels and peripheral blood counts must be monitored initially at one month after the start of treatment and then at intervals of 3-6 months. People sensitive to cobalt or having Leber's disease will suffer swift optic atrophy.
