Cystectomy and Bl2 deficiency

Well I got my blood serum test results back today. I fall within the normal range since I am at 331. My doctor said I should start shots and so monday I will get a shot. Have to say if I feel this bad at 331 I am glad she is not making me wait until 200.

Webs

Mike, which test does your uro use??

KC

Makes me glad for my uro when I read these sometimes. He says he checks it after a year and then every year after that no matter how much intestine he uses.

Mike

Yeah KC...they do pooh poo it!
The Mayo Clinic Proceedings spotlighted the UMMA test as preferred because of convenience and sensitivity. 41
In recent comparative studies, the UMMA test was found more sensitive than the serum B12 assay 5 or the SMMA test.20
A study found that patients with neurologic disturbances excreted larger amounts of UMMA than those without neurologic disorders 42 and recommend the UMMA assay use to attenuate an important cause of permanent neurologic disability.43
The UMMA test reflects tissue/cellular vitamin B12 deficiency and is the leading candidate as the "gold standard" assay for identifying tissue B12 deficiency.19,21
Here's some info from a vegan site...as many of them are deficient........
www.veganforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-256.html
I figure if Mayo uses it its gotta be the right one. But your right my Uro, My Oncologist, my Internist...never heard of it. I brought the info to my Uro and informed him that our local hospital does the test...now he's a believer.
Pat

Thanks for posting the link Mike.

I saw my urologist last wednesday for my 6 month check up. I brought up the b12 issue and he had never heard of the uMMA test. He said it might be best if I talked to my GP about getting tested.
My GP gave me the serum b12 test about 6 months ago. It showed 364 pg/ml with the standard listed as 190pg/ml-850pg/ml. I no longer trust the serum B12 test and dont have time to make an appointment with my GP and try to convince him to give me the uMMA test. The last time we discussed this issue, I contacted the surgeon that did my neobladder and asked him about B12 deficiancy. He said that he did not use enough small intestine to effect B12 absorbtion and not to worry about it. This just goes to show how doctors are dropping the ball on this issue.
As I have done since I was diagnosed with BC, I took matters into my own hands and ordered the test kit from the link that Pat posted. The fee for this test ($150.00) is well worth the cost to make sure I am not affected by B12 deficiancy. If it comes back negative it will ease my mind. If it comes back positive I will have saved myself any perminant damage that could have been done by B12 deficiancy. I cant believe how so many Doctors are dropping the ball on this.

KC

kcnorthstar wrote:
Here is the link to the thread KC mentioned:
www.bladdercancersupport.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=114&func=view&catid=5&id=25241

Mike