Patch MD - the results are in

I started using the patches a year ago, just before my surgery. I'm terrible with pills - I know... I'm a big baby, but I just can't swallow the darn things because I have a really bad gag reflex. So, I was thrilled when I saw them here. I use the multi-vitamin and the Omega3.

Just met with my surgeon for my (almost) one year post op visit. I'm happy to report that all is good and everyone is satisfied with my progress so far.

Now, on to vitamins. I had my blood work done last week. In the past I've been pretty good on most levels, low on some but not dangerously low. For my entire life, I have ALWAYS been very low on D and B12. So, my results are that all of my values are on target....except D and B12....no surprise there. My Cholesterol is down to 197 (ldl / hdl ratios are correct) and dropping.

For any of you out there considering using the patches, my recommendation is a definite yes.....convenient and effective. For anyone who, like me, has difficulty with pills, these things are a life saver....all around!

I have to now change my order and add the other two.....I get the 40% off and get bi-monthly delivery so I save on shipping as well.

Other than that, I am down 66 pounds and am thinner than I have been in probably 30 years....I feel fantastic, have been going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week (usually) and am just plain HAPPY. So glad I did this revision from band!!!

Glad to see you continue to do well and the patch is working for you. I am reaallly overdue to check my levels at this point. Last check though, the patch was doing very well for me as well. Glad to see your happy post!!

I take the multi everyday and the iron 2-3 times a week. I want to build up my iron in case I decide to do plastics. I take a 50,000 Vitamin 1 time per week and a vitatim b sublingual 2-4 times a week. I also take magnesium and calcium 1 time per day. I only take the calicum because I had it around. So... I only take vits 1 time in the morning. So covenient.

Can I ask what, exactly, your D and B12 levels were?

D is 15 where it should be between 30 - 100 and B12 is 288 and the recommendation is for it to be between 200 - 1100 along with an explanation that says "although reference range for Vitamin B12 is 200-1100 pg/mL, it has been reported that between 5% and 10% of patients with values between 200 - 400 pg/mL may experience neuropsychiatric and hematologic abnormalities".......there's more, but some of it is blurred. For the most part, my surgeon is primarily concerned with energy level due to low B12.

I would have discernible neurological symptoms at that level of B12. Brain fog, tingling in my extremities. Those symptoms are not always curable too, so I urge you to take this seriously, even if your doc doesn't seem concerned. You should aim for the upper level (1000) to stay safe from a drop into damaging levels.

For comparison, I have 2 x 1000 mcg shots PER WEEK to maintain a level above 800, which I struggle to do.

WOW....thanks for the feedback on this......no one ever explained it to me the way she did yesterday and you are doing now......and I've already taken steps to address it.....took my B12 tabs this morning along with my patches and am going to add the B12 to my new patch order.

I doatch multi, calcium/D3, and iron. I add sublingual B12 once a week. It wasn't worth the trouble to add a B12 patch.

Fortunately, D3 and B12 are easily brought up with oral supplements. Others, like iron, are really hard.

I'd want my B12 between 1000 and 1500.

Just make sure they also test your B6. B12 patch had also B6, and high B6 is as bad as low B12. Many people don't realize that.

wow....thanks....good to know.......in the meanwhile, I just got home from the hospital.....fell this afternoon and broke my arm