when is it ok to swallow pills

Hi guys I'm a bit confused??
Have read no pills in whole form for 2 weeks as may cause damage to staple line, then have read from search box that doctors have given pills to swallow right after surgery.
My doctor didn't give me any time frames at all for medication.
What is everyone else doing? What has your surgeons said regarding this?

 My surgeon didn't give a time line either, so I waited a month. Since I can't eat anything solid for that time anyway, and a pill is a solid, so I just figured they were the same. I did cut a tylenol into 3 pieces 4 days out, from despiration for the gas pain, on my trip home. I was so paranoid the entire time, and felt that I had just wrecked my surgery. It did hurt going in and scratched all the way down but I came out just fine. Didn't do it again until one month out, but still broke any large pills into smaller pieces.

 My guy said I can swallow a pill if it is smaller than an M&M.  If it was bigger and a pill (and not a time release medication) I would grind it and add it to a bite of applesauce.  The capsules would get emptied out into applesauce.  That went on for 1 month, then I could swallow anything. 

 I was swallowing pills after surgery. If you aren't sure, call up your surgeons office.

 I was swallowing small pills after surgery. Or cutting the larger ones in half and going slowly with water. 

I WAS CLEARED TO SWOLLOW PILLS WHEN I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM YOUR VARIOUS ANSWERS THAT ALL DR'S ARE DIFFERENT SO I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO CALL YOUR SURGEON.

I was given pills the night of the surgery by the hospital, as well as the next morning.  It was all of my usual meds, so I assumed that it was ok and took them like normal.  Only missed the morning dose of meds the day of surgery.

That was just my experience and may not be normal, make that a specific question you ask your Doctor.

Jete

 I've been taking pills since I was discharged from the hospital with pain pills to take at home.  They should not be an issue at all unless they are too big and they might get stuck.  I have been taking huge Potassium pills (like horse pills they are so big) and they dont get stuck for me and I have no issues taking them along with my lasix.  Everyone is different though .. I'm sure they could get stuck in some people.

My doc said 6 weeks after surgery.