Copper absorption issues

Hi everyone. I had my DS in 2004. I weighed 312 at the time and now stay between 150 and 170. I am having trouble absorbing copper. This is a big problem because I have osteoporosis. Has anyone else had trouble with copper absorption? I would appreciate any help!

Hi there!

Congratulations on maintaining your loss for all of these years. Sorry to hear about your absorption issue.

I don't have answers for you. I'm only 7.5 months out, though I just checked all of my bloodwork and copper isn't something they're checking for. Unless it's under a name I don't know/recognize. Plenty of things I've been working to calibrate due to deficiencies but if that's one, it's unknown.

I hope others are able to weigh in, and that you're doing okay! Welcome back.

Hi there, that really stinks. I had surgery in 05 and I just found out I have osteoporosis and it's really scary because I don't want to break another bone. I just am out of menopause and have an appt next month with rhumetologist. I hope everything works out for you. I don't know if my dr even checks copper

I have osteoporosis - not sure if my surgery (RNY) was a factor or not, because we never did a baseline on that before my surgery. But I'm in my 60s and osteoporosis runs rampant in my family, so it may have just happened. They do have drugs now that stop the loss, and others that actually build bone. I was on Reclast for three years which stopped the loss- but my endocrinologist wants to try Forteo starting this summer to build them back some before I head into my "golden years". I'm not saying osteoporosis isn't serious - it is - but they're better able to deal with it than they were a few years ago. I didn't even realize it was possible to build bone until I after I was diagnosed...

P.S. my bariatric clinic doesn't check for copper, either.

Thank you very much for replying. My weight was 234 and now at my lowest I was 145 but struggling around 160 currently. I will look into what copper is because i haven't even heard of copper . I wish you all the luck with your weight loss journey. I think with the pain of arthritis and having hips replaced and breaking my back it's just so frustrating. But I will talk to my dr about meds for bone loss and building bone.

I don't know if Forteo is like Tymlos, but I took Tymlos for 2 years and it stopped the bone loss and rebuilt a good amount of my bone. As to checking for copper I dont think anyone checks for it routinely. Checking mine came up due to another lab result. (I don't remember which one). I wish you the best!

Hi ð?'? Osteoporosis is scary, but now they can rebuild bone and stop bone loss. I took Tymlos for 2 years and it did just that. It's a pain taking a daily injection, but it was worth it. I wish you the best.

Hi there!

I am 63 years old and I had my DS in 2002, weighed 257 and have maintained at 119-123 for many years. I had a copper deficiency just last year that seemed to come up fairly suddenly. I have my bloodwork done every 6 months and this was the first time it was an issue. My Dr had me find a good multivitamin (I have taken prenatals since my surgery) that contained copper, with the goal of taking in 2 mg per day. I also added some copper rich foods. Within 9 months my copper level had increased to normal. He said this surgery does sometimes result in a copper deficiency and it needs to be watched. I had a serious bout with anemia about a year prior to the copper issue, which is something else we need to be aware of. Both of my deficiencies were corrected with oral supplements, although he said some patients require infusions for the correction. Not sure this will help you in any way, but wanted to share the info I received from him, and also to let you know it was an easy fix, at least for me. Wishing you all the best!

Hi Karrianne,

Thanks for responding. I'm glad you got your iron and copper straightened out with the oral supplements. I just got my labs back, and though I'm taking 40mg of copper a day, my copper is even lower than my last labs. I can't find a doctor who knows how to get me copper infusions.(I had success with iron infusions). I'm really not sure what I'm going to do at this point. I'm hoping one of my doctors will be able to send me to a specialist. Blessings, Raphaela

I have heard of issues with copper absorption after DS surgery and cannot speak of it with any authority but what I heard was that it can turn into a real issue. I always have mine checked as part of my labs and it has run low a couple of times but it went back to normal with supplements. It needs to be taken at a time separately from zinc- that's about all I remember.