POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Nutrition & HIV => Topic started by: DAF on January 23, 2008, 10:25:55 am
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Hi All,
I have questions that have not been suficently answered about nutrition for those with HIV or other Chronic Long term Illnesses, Years ago I studied in College to be a Diatician. I know that the whole out look has probbly changed since then.
I was recently hospitalized for a very different disesase than HIV, While there they found that I was very low on B12. I ask the doctor and he said that it was either diet or that my colon was not absorbing the available B12 in the food that I ate. I have a very good diet and have had for years due to having type I diabetes. So I don't think that it was that. So that leaves us with yet another illness caused by all the chemicals that the Hiv meds are causing due to our health status.
Any ideas would be of help.
DAF
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Back in my early-90's HIV treatment days my doctor gave me a B-12 injection monthly. At some point he stopped doing so -- perhaps it had to do with my intolerably low sub-200 cd4 counts, though I'm not sure, or maybe it was just showing up a low on my labs. For some reason I recall him saying he gave all of his patients this as it was seen as also helping with fatigue.
I also think that with B-12 there's an absorption issue so don't waste money on the oral pill route from the health food store. Your doctor can give you injections, and I would assume considering that your lab results show you as deficient that this won't be questioned by any HMO.
edit: a brief google shows that my doctor must have been responding to a study done in 1992, which would align with the period he was giving me these shots:
https://ssl.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Nutrition/Archive/Vitamins/Q146108.html
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Indeed, some intestinal disorder is likely the culprit for a B-12 deficiency, if one has a healthful diet that includes the nutrient. I came to learn this recently while researching my new "inflammatory bowel disease" diagnosis. My GI doc has indicated the B-12 level test as being among the first round of blood work we'll do. I also recall my neuorologist having the test done about two years ago, as the deficiency can lead to nerve health issues.
Best,
David