Medication/Pills?

Has anyone found (especially the RNY'ers) that you are unable to take certain types of medications post-op? Perhaps you now have complications with some medications that weren't an issue pre-op?  It would seem to me, depending on how much of the small intestine was "bypassed", that there may be absorbtion issues with some or all oral medication?

Jay,

Nasids and time released meds are no-no's for RNY's.  We malabsorb on the time released meds and the Nasids (Advil, Ibuprofen etc) have the potential to give us an ulcer. 

It s true that those of us who had RNY can not take aspirin or Motrin any more for example. Don gave a good explanation of this. The plus side is that I don't have to take all the meds I use to have to take,. I am 55 and living med free, something I once thought impossible for a man over 45. I no longer need BP meds, cholesterol meds, blood thinners, or diabetes medication. I don't even need to take Viagra! I do take a lot of pills, but they are vitamins. Vitamins are nutrients, medications are in fact poisons. A little of the right poison can extend your life, but not without costs to your body. A Living as chemical free as you can is still the trick to the longest and healthiest life.

PS Jay,
    you ask a lot of questions here, and that is a good thing! Keep asking. The more you ask the more informed you will be and the more successful you are likely to be. This is in my mind, with some bias, the best forum for a man to ask in. There is less emotion and more male reality in the answers here. The questions you ask also help others as there are a lot of people, both male and female, who lurk and may be afraid to ask for themselves. We may not each answer every question, after all, if the question has been well answered already it would be repetitive, but we will never tire of answering.

Thanks guys!  I'll never be afraid to ask questions, and should they help others along the way... great!  One day, I may be one of the veterans on the board and a newbie will show up asking the same questions I'm asking you all now... and I'll be happy to answer them as you are now.

Now back to the questions ... what do you take for a headache or nausea then?  What about antibiotics if you're sick?  Are the doctors' forced to increase the dosage or frequency to overcompensate for the absorption restrictions?

The question in the second paragraph is a great question!  I have a six-month physical follow-up with my PCP on Monday, and I intend to talk with her about her understanding of meds and RNY.

Tylenol will be your friend, and others on the board have shared info suggesting that whatever the docs prescribe should be OK, except for timed-release.  However, I intend to be a zealot with whatever doctor is treating me (as long as I am not unconscious) in telling them about my RNY.  I've gone so far as to get a medical bracelet (laurenshope.com) and made up a card with a diagram of the rerouted plumbing that I keep in my wallet.

That said, the vitamins I take are normal over-the-counter supplements, so I don't see why scripts should be any different.  Maybe Duane, one of our resident health care workers, can expand on this.

Meds are not a problem post opp.  Your doctors will monitor your liver closely post opp to make sure you are not doing any damage to it, you will have $1,000 worth of blood tests every year.  I take advil daily along with tramadol and vicodin with no problems.  We are all different, but like I said your Doctor will monitor you closely and he will tell you what meds you can't take.  As said above NSAIDS (advil) can cause ulsers, but they can cause them in anyone. 

You do have a lot of questions, and we are here to answer them, but I am getting the feeling someone is trying to scare you out of your decision.  Hopefully our answers are helping.

Interesting observation. 

No, no one is trying to scare me out of it; but I do not have anyone (beyond this forum and my PcP) that supports my decision, unfortunately.  Aside from wikipedia, Google searching, and you (meaning this forum) are my only resources for answers, and in a weird way, support.  Just knowing you all went through it and came out the other end happier and healthier has been a great help to me. 

On the heels of that, I also believe that ignorance is not bliss; I think it's ignorant.  There is a wealth of knowledge and experience out there that forums like this allow people to tap into and make intelligent decisions.  I'd rather know now and have time to prepare for what's ahead rather than sit back and wait, or worse yet, regret my decision.

As always, I appreciate everyones' responses.

 

You are right on, Jay.  Knowledge is golden.  The more you know and understand, the better you will do as you go through the process.

To that end, another source of prep that I used was to find various web sites of quality, reputable bariatric centers (preferably with the seal of excellence) and read their pages about bariatric surgery.  There's a treasure trove of information to be had - but you have to filter so that you don't confuse yourself and begin to talk yourself out of anything.  The programs all vary a little from center, especially in pre-op and post-op food plans.  It's all good background for you as long as you don't mix programs and be certain to follow your surgeon's program.

You have all the search tools u need.  Make sure your PCP is well aware of your pre and post op conditions.  I pulled some small muscles near my groin and this pain was new and in a strange area.  My PCP did an exam and new what it was and was writing a pain relief medicine.  I said no way. I backed off on some exercises and stayed away from the drugs.
I take prevacid as well as you may have to.  Also, a water reduction and hypometabolic medicine plus vits.
Good luck