My labs after switching to the vitamin patch

Just found the patchMD you wrote about. I didn't read throughly lol. Quick question, I'm supposed to take my calcium vit d four times a day. At that dosage would I need a calcium patch as well as the multi? With the amounts on the patches it looks like I'd just need to supplement my iron at night still. I'm assuming since it's through the skin it doesn't have to be calcium citrate right? Thanks for your help :)

Theretically, yes, since the calcium isn't going throigh our digestive system, we should be able to utilize the calcium carbonate in the patch.  This is ONLY based on what I did, but because I was taking 2000mg of calcium originally, I was taking one dose of calcium citrate in addition to the patch just to be sure.  I am hoping that the 1500mg via the patch is enough.  I would think it would be since the ASMBS recommends 1500mg taking our malabsorption into account... meaning that without the mounds works and we probably don't even need 1500 mg.

So... (again, theoretically) the only reason you would need additional calcium is if you were taking more than the 1500mg before switching (or if your labs afterward show you need more).

My doctor's office left me a message yesterday that my calcium level and some additional things he added as well are "fine ", but I still need to wait another day or two so that I can see the numbers myself online.

Lora

I take the solar ray calcium citrate vit D capsules. One serving has 400 iu of vit D and 1000 mg calcium. So four times a day I'm getting 1600 iu D and 4000 mg calcium. So with the patch it looks like I'd be getting in a lot more vit D (5000 iu)  but not as much calcium (1500 mg). So would I need to take extra calcium only or try the multivitamin patch alone? 

  Sorry all the questions. I just don't want to take too much of something or too little either. 

Edit:  looked again and one serving is 4 capsules. And doctor was having me take 2 capsules, four times a day so that's only double the dose not 4 times as much. So I guess I'd be getting 800 iu of D and 2000 mg calcium. So maybe the patch alone will be fine. Why does the patch have so much D in it? I'm assuming it's safe to take that much. 

Most bariatric patients take quite a bit of Vit D, and -- according to my PCP -- many people in the general population are Vit D deficient (we no longer toil in the fields in the sun or hunt for our food...), so my guess is that is why the patch has so much. It isn't uncommon for RNYers to take 50,000-100,000 units of Vit D per week. There are some who don't need nearly that much, and you may be one of them.  Only your labs can tell for sure.

If your calcium pills are 1000mg per serving and a serving is 4 pills (very common), and you are taking 8 capsules per day (2x4), you are currently only getting 2000mg of calcium... So only 500mg more than in the patch.

I was taking 2000mg before I started the patch, and have been taking one 500mg dose of calcium with the patch.  Theoretically, if we absorb all 1500mg of calcium from the patch, that meets the ASBMS standard, especially since the 1500mg they recommend takes into account the fact that we aren't going to absorb all of the 1500mg we take orally.  As always, though, your labs and DEXA scan results should be your guide.

Ok great. Thank you again so much. I appreciate all of your help and thoughtful answers. :)

I know this is a pretty old thread. I'm just wondering if you are still using the patch?

Hi. Yes, I am still taking the Multivitamin patch, taking additional iron a couple of times a week and extra Vit D (50,000 units) and B12 once a week. I just had my 10-year labs done and they were great!

Lora

Thank you!! I'll be 9 years out this year and have been off my vitamins other than a monthly B12 shot for about 2/3 years. Pure laziness on my part. Fortunately my labs are still good. I ordered the PatchMD multi + and the VD3/Calcium. I had a hysterectomy when in my 20's and my iron is always excellent.

Lora!!!!!!!!

Grim!!! Miss you... and lots of others. Things are calming down in my life so I may be back here soon.