Advice for low energy with ileostomy - vitamins or blood work?

I've had my ileostomy (permanent) for two years and I did well until several months ago. I have no energy to do normal stuff like I always do. Of course, since I am 70, I know

I've slowed down due to age but dang. Do y'all take vitamins, or potassium...should I go get some blood work? All I want to do some days is sleep. Thanks for any input.

Hi cwr38001, I would definitely get some bloodwork done. You should not have that level of tiredness. Good luck.

I agree with SallyK. Start with a blood test and urine test, and then consult your doctor.

Then use your own good judgment because you are the only one who truly knows your body.

Eat as healthy as you can.

Chew, chew, chew.

Drink lots of water (easier said than done for sure).

Try to get 8 hours of sleep.

Exercise a little if you can.

Get as many laughs as you can each day.

Keep smilin'.

Check out this website for valuable input.

A doc will charge you $150 for this advice - they do it here for free.

Best wishes to you.

Definitely get the blood work done and make sure you are drinking plenty of water!!! More than just 8 glasses. I learned the hard way and started having kidney issues. I drink 100 oz a day but check with your doctor on what they recommend for you. I had the same thing happen to me and I've only had my ileostomy for 2 years, so it's been learn as I go. All I wanted to do was sleep most of the day and chopped it up to having diabetes. Once I had full blood work done, I was low on B12 and vitamin D3, and I have a hard time absorbing potassium. (Which isn't a good thing) After about a month of taking the supplements (recommended by my doctor), I noticed a difference. My kidneys are slowly improving and I'm stable with the potassium now and don't feel so sluggish anymore! Best of luck!

I agree with getting blood work done. I have no energy and have to make myself get up from my recliner. I found out I am diabetic, my iron and platelets are low. Each one of these saps your energy. Best wishes

I learned a few days ago thanks to Maggie from LetsTalkIBD, and her latest YouTube video about short bowel syndrome, that the terminal ileum (that is to say, the very last part of the small intestine) is the part that absorbs the most B12. So because I had the j-pouch and then had that reversed, that would've removed some of my terminal ileum. Now I've learned thanks to MaO if I ever start feeling extremely tired and lethargic all the time for no apparent reason, that's when I get my B12 checked out.

Edit: Oh, and to crw38001 - best of luck figuring this out, hope you start feeling OK soon

I have been taking B12 for years (mostly because someone told me if you like your adult beverages you need B12) and I did like my adult beverages! Initially, I took B12 tablets but recently discovered that ole' Seymour (my stoma) will spit them out whole! As a result, I take sublingual B12 and have been investigating as to where vitamins are actually processed in the body. Somewhere, I read that one vitamin is actually processed in the colon. Since my colon has been "inactive" for almost 2 years now, I think this info is crucial and I wonder how many docs remember this when prescribing drugs to Ostomates?

How much B12 do you take? I also take sublingual B12. Just not sure how much to take though.

I take 1000 mcg a day - not even sure if this is the right dosage. For an old broad (with a belly bag); I feel relatively healthy so hate making any changes until need be - recently I have started reading about NAC little initials with multiple syllables (lol) meanings - bottom line is, it's some type of nutrient that big pharma does not want us to know about (hearsay). I say if someone doesn't want me to know, I MUST KNOW!!!
KNOW ;

Oooo, keep me up to date on that please.

I agree with everyone, get blood work.

What helps me with getting all nutrition and vitamins.. I take adult liquid vitamins. I drink Breakfast Essentials (it's loaded with nutrition and vitamins) and will drink Drip Drop (oral hydration solution) on top of my water intake. I hope this helps and I hope you feel better.

I agree with the others. Have blood work checked for sure. When I'm feeling drained, my B12 is almost always low.

I'm 52, and I've had a permanent ileostomy for 5 years now, and I'm always learning something new about my condition.

I have had my ileostomy for about 14 years now. Yes, get your blood work done and at least see what you need. I am on no medications at 64 and have been so thankful for that! I started my own regimen of vitamins after researching and hearing stories like yours. Of course, always get gel caps or gummies so you can retain them. Or capsules that dissolve fast. My main go-to vitamins are B12, D3, Magnesium, and others that fit my needs. After starting these 5-6 years ago, I feel my energy and body has definitely made a positive change! Hope you find what works for you!!!

One of the many strangenesses of my condition ever since chemo is for my B vitamin levels (especially B12 and B6) to be high, not low, and to have some fairly significant side effects on my eyes because of it. Not only can I not take B12 or B6 supplements, I ended up not even taking a multivitamin anymore. It took several months to come back down into the normal range (they were over twice the high limit for normal taking smaller supplements than mentioned above). Why I was taking them in the first place was they were mentioned as an aid to my neuropathy. It shocked a lot of doctors who didn't expect my reaction when we finally tracked down the cause. So the only thing I say is keep track of your levels if you're going onto a supplement, and best of luck to you. I hope the supplements help your tiredness. Also, check your iron levels.

Hi CWR.  Sorry you feel like you do but I think you've gotten some good advice from the kind folks here.  I'm just wondering if you've gotten the Covid vaccine and boosters and if there's any timewise connection between them and your energy.

Respectfully,

Mike

A sugar-free white Monster does a body good.

Just breathe, you're so right. I wish I could follow all that stuff and make it a must-do every day! Because you're giving good advice and everyone does that. I know we're all different and have many stories!
This has been a lot and a big journey, and I bet everyone can say this, but I think with what everyone says, they do put it all together and do what you can for YOU.

Here's a story,

I can't eat much without a problem. My stomach hurts and cramping and bloating, etc... we all know. I also have 2 hernias.

I can't drink milk or anything with any dairy, and if I do, holy moly.... Some of you can relate, I'm sure...

BTW,

Check out comedy:

1. Jokoy

2. Brad Williams

I know there are so many and they're good.

Thank you, just breathe, for reminding me...

I hope you're having a great day and feeling good! Any updates to what you're doing? I'm trying to figure that out too. I'm tired, no energy. I think it's from not enough water, eating differently, and not enough exercise!
I know we all have different stories, but what are you doing these days?
I'm also taking a vitamin, which I always took, but now I do it in liquid form. I'm trying to figure out what I need with it and take it every day. I don't do it every day because I don't know, but anyway, I wanted to tell you thank you for writing and reminding us about how to take care of ourselves with an ostomy...

Colostomy

Ileostomy

We all know.

Thank you so much,

Victoria