Severely dropping bone density since RNY

Thank you for your post, Janet. I don't have advice for you beyond what's been said, but you have prompted me to make an appointment for my next DEXA scan - this Friday! My first (and only) scan showed me as having some osteopenia at 6 or so months post-op. I was 64 so it wasn't necessarily caused by the surgery, though it could certainly have been. At any rate, thanks for this reminder.

Are you only doing calcium patches? You might not be absorbing calcium through your skin and need to switch to an oral form.

I also recommend talking to a different doctor since, you're right, waiting until you have symptoms seems like a bad idea!

Thanks Gwen. I started the vitamin patches when I saw my first loss in bone density hoping that the patches would absorb better. I may switch back to oral vitamins for calcium and see if that helps. My additional zinc and Vit K are oral. The patches are convenient but they don't work for everyone.

Your Vitamin K has to be in the form of K2, either in MK-4 (good) or MK-7 (best). Regular Vitamin K does not aid in the absorption of Calcium. Regular K effects blood clotting. You also have to have the right balance of Calcium, Magnesium, and K2 for bone health.

This article is pretty informative.

Yes, thanks. I take Vit K that has both MK-4 and MK-7. It also includes extra Mag as does my Calcium.

Where are you getting your calcium patches? What do your labs say?

Also, some minerals compete for the same absorption sites. So, if you are not low in Zinc, the zinc may be depressing the calcium absortion. I got insight from a good endocrinologist. You may need to find the right specialist to see if you have any absoprtion issues that go beyond what the normal supplements compensate. This is prob not the strength of a surgeon.

In same boat, but I only have had one DexaScan post RNY and it showed some beginning osteopenia. I forgot the number, but I'll get the report when I go in,

I started seeing a new endocrinologist at the same time I got the DexaScan result back. She tested for everything and saw that my phosporus was also low. So I am on phosporus supplements and a probiotic. Also, no soda - the acid might be interferring with absorption. (At 3+ years post RNY, diet soda was OK.) Anyway, we are monitoring to see what happens over the next few months. I write this to say to people to get your labs done, not to take phosporus.

My osteopenia is mild enough that if the absorption issue is taken care of, I should regain the bone density.

I was alarmed when I first heard osteopenia, but feel a little better with some action steps. I would not be comforted with the "wait until you have symptoms" - what symptoms pain, broken bones, hunched back?

Hi there,

I am only 7 months out and by no means an expert but I thought I would share that I listen to a podcast ("The Gastric Health Show") and episode 13 focuses on using a digestive enzyme to facilitate the absorption of vitamins, minerals, protein, etc. "The blood work of WLS patients who supplement with digestive enzymes typically shows an increase in levels of Vitamin B12, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc over those who don't." You didn't mention a digestive enzyme, so perhaps if you're not already taking one, this could improve your absorption of oral calcium supplements (should you chose to revert back to that source). I thought it was a very interesting episode. Here's a link to the website with all the episodes if you care to check it out. (Apple Podcasts only has back to episode 17 or so I believe.) https://wlsguthealth.com/series-the-gastric-health-show/

Best of luck!