My labs after switching to the vitamin patch

Thank you for sharing this. I always took a lot of supplements before surgery, and so I  never imagined I would have challenges getting in all my vitamins every day. I will be especially interested in your calcium results.  It is calcium that I have trouble getting all in.  I find that with my kids, and the day's work, I often am low on calcium doses.  Even when I plan ahead and place my calcium out for the day, or even when I pack my calcium with me, it can be hard to get it all in on schedule.  Maybe the patch would be a good solution for me.  I have my first labs in 2 weeks and a scan soon after.

I'm glad it's working out so well for you.  This is definitely an avenue I want to pursue one day.

Thank you so much for tine update!  This is very encouraging, indeed!  I was on so many pills before surgery and I am now off of my blood pressure and cholesterol meds completely, but I still have 1 prescription pill I have to take daily along with a hormone for menopause and my supplements.  I am going to give these patches a shot.  I am worried about the multifvitamin one because I don't tolerate iron whatsoever (SEVERE constipation) but maybe if it is delivered via patch I will have better luck.  I also want to try the one they have for menopausal symptoms!  The fewer pills, the better!  :)  

I got my labs yesterday so I have a baseline. They were all good. I started the multi patch 4 days ago and discussed it with my surgeon and we are going to track it. We will where I am after my next set of labs in 6 months.  It seems like I am cheating not taking handfuls of Vits but I LOVE it!!  

Yes, it does feel a little like cheating, doesn't it?!?  

I just ordered some and will start using them in a couple weeks after I get my six-month labs drawn. The hardest pill for me to swallow is the multi, so having a patch, an iron and occasional D will be worth the try to me.

I have been using the calcium patch since Feb. and had labs drawn in May.  My calcium levels were good then.  I just got the vitamin patch with my last order and was wondering about the calcium in it with the other patch.  I'm glad you brought it up.  I will just go ahead and finish my calcium patches before I start the vitamin ones..  I still have about a months worth of vitamins anyway. 

Super-helpful post with the labs, ****rogirl - thanks!  

After reading it, I rushed to check out their patch multivitamin, but it has iron, which I don't need (prob because male); from all I've researched people shouldn't take iron if they don't need it (or take more than they need to avoid anemia or symptoms).  Hopefully in time they will also offer one wo iron.  I just take (1-2) Celebrate Multi Complete wo Iron + (2) Celebrate Calcium Plus chewables per day, so I got off light, but the patch sounds cheaper and even easier.  

It sounds like this PatchMD is going to be a game-changer for a whole lot of people.  The only thing I'm curious about is whether anyone has had any skin issues or itching from it over the long run?

You should consult someone who is much more knowledgeable about this (but, unfortunately, many surgeons are NOT), but the bariatric surgeons I work for and the ASMBS recommend multis with iron even for men and for women who are not menstruating. Everyone needs iron and we don't absorb much of what we would normally get from food, so after a period of time anyone who has had RNY or DS can end up anemic, not just women who have periods.

I have fairly sensitive skin (some types of surgical tape cause me blistering and even contact with several types of flowersand leaves give me a skin rash!) and I haven't had even a hint of any reaction to the patches.  They recommend that you move them around and use a new spot daily, but I tend to alternate between 4 main spots, so that means I am using roughly the some spots twice a week.

Lora

That's great to hear!  I have sensitive skin, as well, and get blisters and rashes from a lot of medical adhesives.  That's been the one thing holding me back from ordering the patches.  I'll definitely have to get some now!