Medications

I take metformin pills twice a day. They are really big. What do I do about taking them after surgery. Do I have to crush them?? If so how do you do that is there a device available in the store for that? What about meds that are small capsules?? Thanks

More than likely you won't be taking them.  I was on 1000 mg twice a day before surgery.  I took my last medication the day before surgery and I have not had any since.  I am now considered to be nondiabetic.  After surgery they will monitor your glucose levels and administer insulin as needed.  They do this for nondiabetic patients as well.  Your doctor will probably encourage you to continue to check your sugar levels several times a day for a while post-surgery.  If your glucose levels continue to be high you can self administer insulin until they come down.   I was on 12 medications before surgery and now I only take 2.  Both of those have been aquired since surgery for non-obesity related issues.  Hope this helps.  I did have to use a pill crusher for my heart medication post surgery.  It was so nasty that after two weeks I just swallowed it whole and flushed it down with H20.  Good luck with your surgery. 

I take medication for depression and Asthma.  My depression meds I got prescribed in liquid form   The Singular that I take for Asthma I crush (and yes there is a pill crusher you can get at the store, I got mine at Target)  

All my vitamins are chewable, I was having trouble sleeping and my surgeon told me I could take benedryl those are small pills and he told me to split them and take them that way (I just take 1/2 a pill and it helps me sleep)

Anyway I was told to have my PCP prescribe the drugs I take in either liquid, chewable or pills that can be crushed before my surgery.

Best of Luck with your new journey
Sandy

You can purchase a pill crusher at any drug store which I did, but haven't used and I'm almost 3 weeks out so I'd probably wait if I were you.  You and I have the same surgeon and he went over my meds and told me not to crush any of mine.  There was one he took me off of and I haven't had to go back on it.  As I said Dr. Harris will review everything with you.

thank you

I took metformin 3 times a day. The Dr wanted me to keep takimg them but I coouldn't swallow so large a pill. Now i just keep sugar under control with my insulin with small controlled doses. Hopefully I will get off it too. I just have to take a shot every other day now and 30 units at that. Before surgery I was on 200 units a day plus 2 diferent pills.I tried to split the metformin but the sharp edges made me sick imediately. Not sure on crushing but i didnt think that was good for me.

I split my metformin pills into half then half again.  That way I could take little sips and get them down.  I could not stand to crush them...YUCK!  I'm now down to half a pill (250 mg/day now).  I should be off of that soon. I'm one month out! 


Good luck, your day is quickly approaching 

Michelle