ObesityHelp

 Since I am all about being honest and up front, I have to tell you first that I am giggling inappropriately at the packaging of said product.  This is the same product I fell in love LOVE! with years ago, but it has been given new clothing and its all wrong.

Bariatric Eating .com fails to fill customer orders - and does not respond to complaints in timely fashion

 Wellesse B-12 Fast Absorbing Sublingual Liquid -

• 1000 mcg
• Calibrated Dropper, Easily Adjusted Dosage
• Natural Berry Flavor
• Naturally Sugar Free with Stevia
• Gluten Free

B12 is an essential B Vitamin that plays a role in the entire nervous system, promotes energy metabolism and supports healthy heart function. B12 is a key contributor to the body's proper use of iron. B12 becomes increasingly important with age with risk of decreased absorption which can lead to deficiencies in both B12 and Folic Acid.

The ASMBS  (2010) explains that after gastric bypass surgery vitamin B12 deficiency may result in consequence of food no longer coming in contact with gastric intrinsic factor. Vitamin D and calcium absorption may also be reduced since the duodenum and proximal jejunum, which are the preferential sites of absorption, are bypassed by this procedure. Also, life long supplements of multivitamins, vitamin B12 iron and calcium are mandatory following this procedure.

I'm not a professional, I'm just a patient, but I understand it as this:  The biggest problem is that gastric bypass patients no longer have the abilty to absorb the B12 from food due to the lack of acid in the new stomach pouch.  Our bodies have some B12 stored away, but it can run out and leave us with a deficiency.

B12 deficiency can cause pernicious anemia.  You don't want this, the effects of pernicious anemia can be life-long if you do not catch it in time.

Via - Bariatric Times, May 2010

You need to take your B12.  Surgeons and nutritionists often recommend a sublingual B12 product, because it's one of the best ways to get the vitamin into your system, and sometimes post-ops need injections of B12 if the oral route is not sufficient.

B12 is also known to give you energy -- it's found in energy drinks and other products to help give you a BOOST.  Or wings?

Wellesse's Sublingual B-12 comes in a  2 ounce bottle, with 60 doses of 1000 mcgs of B-12, or 16,667% of the good stuff.  The extra 16,567% is for good measure.

The product label -

I shook up the bottle, peeled off the outerwrapping, and sucked out a dose of the B12 with the attached dropper.  For the purposes of the review, I played with the product first, because that's what I do.  I sniff, play and take photos.  The liquid is bright red, clear and has a touch of thickness to it.   While the cover was off, I sniffed the product, which smells like a berry based fruit punch.

Perfect.  Unless you do what I just did to it.  "Mama, can I paint wis your vitamins now?"

• Product - Wellesse B-12 Fast Absorbing Sublingual Liquid
• Via - Wellesse
• Price -  $9.99 or .17 cents per dose for 60 days!
• Pros - 1000 mcg of B12 per ml, sugar-free, lightly sweetened with Stevia + Erythritol, simple to take, tastes great, relatively inexpensive...
• Cons -  The five year old wants to paint with it.  The 5th grader in me wants to crack inappropriate jokes.
• Rating - Pouchworthy, ^MM

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More about B12 at these links -

• http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12/
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001595/
• http://bariatrictimes.epubxpress.com/link/BT/2011/may/1?s=0
• http://www.anemia.org/professionals/feature-articles/content.php?contentid=438§ionid=15

• Product - Bariatric Advantage Peppermint Sublingual B12
• Via - Bariatric Advantage
• Price - Peppermint, 90 count  $18.25
• Pros - So. easy. to. take.  The taste is magic.  Minty-fresh.  Mr. MM says "They're like those after dinner mints use you'd get at the restaurant,  you know, those ones in baby colors?"  I say, no.  They're a little pepperminty-er than THAT and not as sweet, of course, there is no sugar in them.
• Cons -
  

• Info from Bariatric Advantage - Deficiencies of B12 and folate have been demonstrated with virtually all bariatric surgery procedures. Our B12 was designed to meet the vitamin B12 needs of individuals who have undergone weight loss surgery. Each tablet provides 1000 micrograms of B12. This product is a 100 percent lactose-free formula that can be placed under the tongue or between cheek and gum and allowed to dissolve over a period of several minutes. This tablet also contains 200mcg of folic acid. B12 with Folic Acid. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are synergistic nutrients in the body, supporting many of each other’s functions. The 200 mcg of folic acid in this tablet also means that patients who are or wish to become pregnant can get a full milligram (1000 mcg) of folic acid when they take this product together with any of our multivitamins.
  
  100 Percent Lactose Free. Some percentage of patients who have undergone weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass or duodenal switch develop lactose intolerance. Others have heard about this potential problem and avoid lactose-containing foods and products without a confirmed problem. The vast majority of B12 products contain lactose for one of two reasons: 1) the tablet itself contains lactose or 2) the B12 is titrated in lactose. The latter may not show in the ingredient listing, and may cause symptoms for unidentifiable reasons. Our B12 is 100 percent lactose free. There is no lactose in the base and the B12 ingredient is titrated in calcium. Thus, this is the best choice formula for those who may need to avoid lactose.
  
  Great Taste. We consistently get feedback from customers on the great taste of our products, especially our B12. Great taste fosters compliance, and makes the process of taking daily vitamins more pleasant for patients.

• Rating - Wicked (deal with it, I'm in Massachusetts
• Pouchworthy, ^MM