Does anyone use the vitamin and B12 patches? My Dr does not have any experience with them. I'd like to know if they provide everything you need without having to swallow a pill.

I've used them for about 15 months now, all of my labs have been awesome. I use the multivitamin, iron, calcium/vit D and B12.

I was told not to use them, which disappointed me--thought it would be a good way to get around any swallowing problems. Maybe check with your nutritionist if your doctor doesn't have an opinion?

40 minutes ago, ShelterDog64 said:

I've used them for about 15 months now, all of my labs have been awesome. I use the Multivitamin, Iron, calcium/vit D and B12.

Great! Did you buy them from this site? I hate the thought of swallowing MORE pills

I initially bought them here, but found a coupon code on another WLS site and now buy them directly from PatchMD.

My doc and dietitian were initially skeptics of the patch, but enough of us in our program are now using them successfully that they've turned into believers. I had a terrible time with nausea from all the oral vitamins so these have been amazing for me.

Thank you! I ordered the multi patch from PatchMD thru Amazon and the B12/B6/Biotin patch from another vendor thru Amazon.

My program requires us to go to support groups. I am pre-op with no surgery date yet. I am just getting started but at this first support group they had a rep there from a pharmaceutical company. She told us about a B12 nasal spray and said our physician would prescribe it for us and depending upon the copay you might not pay anything for it. With our program they do a mail order prescription but basically it's one nostril per week and keeps your B12 levels at a very steady level so your not depleting what is stored in your body. She also mentioned that once you deplete and start having symptoms it's harder to get your levels up and they are finding the symptoms stick around. I haven't read much yet on the study to support this but the spray is called NASCOBAL Nasal Spray. The company was Endo Pharmaceuticals and they also have this kit that comes with vitamins, iron, calcium and the spray the copay could be 0 or 25 per month depending on your insurance. I thing they call it Nutrition Direct. Hope any of this info helps!

I just give myself a b12 injection once a week. I'm still pre-surgery but my b12 was ridiculously low and super symptomatic. My body wouldn't absorb sublingual so I switched to shots. Super easy.

Where do you buy the B12 shots?

I do B12 injections once a week too. They're a prescription from my doc, not sure you can get it otc in injectable form


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Where do you buy the B12 shots?

I get the rx for single use b12 vials and syringes but I know there's clinics or med spas that offer them cause I've totally seen groupons for them. They're super easy. I do sub q but some people do IM.

On 8/16/2017 at 9:07 AM, jkennon said:

I am just getting started but at this first support group they had a rep there from a pharmaceutical company. She told us about a B12 nasal spray and said our physician would prescribe it for us and depending upon the copay you might not pay anything for it.

My doctor said the same thing. I signed up the the mail order nasal spray and it was over $600 a month. My insurance only covers brand name meds at 50% and there is no generic alternative. It was going to cost me over $300 a month out of pocket. My doctor said he isn't familiar with the patch, but agreed to let me try it for 6 months. He said if my labs come back fine I can continue with it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I can't afford the spray.

I ordered a 6 month supply of the patch through this website and it was $100...I'll check out Amazon and the other websites too!

5 hours ago, TammyA said:

My doctor said the same thing. I signed up the the mail order nasal spray and it was over $600 a month. My insurance only covers brand name meds at 50% and there is no generic alternative. It was going to cost me over $300 a month out of pocket. My doctor said he isn't familiar with the patch, but agreed to let me try it for 6 months. He said if my labs come back fine I can continue with it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I can't afford the spray.

I ordered a 6 month supply of the patch through this website and it was $100...I'll check out Amazon and the other websites too!

Even if you've had trouble swallowing pills initially, by several months out you should be able to handle them. No need to go broke for specialty vitamins--just get a bottle of pills. Speaking personally, I've been using the pills since day one. Maybe a little tough the first week or so, but now I just take them all . . .

Some surgeries other than sleeve have trouble w absorption and liquid or patches mightwork better than pills. I think they should all be subscription so you can use insurance and take it off yo your taxes too because it's required.

I initially was using the chew-able vitamins from my doctors office. However, I had to take nausea medicine every time I took them because they made me sick. I got to the point I just quit taking them which I know is not a good idea. I decided to try the patches just this week; even though my nutritionist doesn't recommend them when I asked her pre-op. She said they are new and studies haven't been done to show the absorption and long term effects.

I am trying out the multivitamin plus, B12/ Energy, and D3/ Calcium patch this month. I am going to see how I feel on the patches. I also have been struggling with vitamin D and b12 deficiency for well over a year prior to surgery so. I may supplement those with sublingual drops as I take more than the normal dosage, advised by my physician.I will update after a month as to how its going.

Surgery is October 17 so I’m still pre-op but I bought a pill crusher to sprinkle into whatever I can get down. I was thinking more for pain meds but can I also crush vitamins?