Pills after surgery

AboutTime077
on 3/16/18 5:49 am

Can anyone tell me what the typical protocol is? I know right after surgery you have to either grind up your pills or find a liquid form. After a period of time can you resume taking your normal medications and vitamins?

I know the final word on this comes from your surgeon but I was wondering what your experience has been.

TIA for any feedback.

mmsmom
on 3/16/18 5:53 am - Woburn, MA

Luckily I only had to take prilosec - which, if i remember correctly, I took right from the start with no trouble. Once I accidentally swallowed a cherry pit - and had no adverse affects. I used to have a lapband so I was completely panicked but apparently it digested (or didn't) with no discomfort.

VSG on 04/28/2014

Heather L.
on 3/16/18 7:46 am - Coquitlam, Canada
VSG on 03/26/15

I was given whole pills to swallow as soon as I woke up from surgery. While I did take chewable vitamins for several months, I was also taking other meds in pill form. You don't actually need to crush your pills post-op.

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Sparklekitty, Science-Loving Derby Hag
on 3/16/18 8:28 am
RNY on 08/05/19

I take medications for bipolar, and I was able to take them in normal form immediately after surgery. I had to split the larger one into small pieces, and I couldn't toss them all back in a single handful the way I do now, but I had no trouble taking small pills one at a time with a tiny sip of water.

Sparklekitty / Julie / Nerdy Little Secret (#42)
Roller derby - cycling - triathlon
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Bufflehead
on 3/16/18 8:37 am - TN
VSG on 06/19/13

My surgeon didn't want us crushing any pills that would fit through a standard size wedding ring. Any pills larger than that, we were directed to our pharmacist for advice on whether to crush, find a liquid replacement, smaller pill size replacement, etc. He was very strict about not altering the form of any medication without preapproval from a pharmacist.

I didn't have any trouble swallowing pills, and was swallowing them within a couple of hours of coming out of the recovery room.

Knitter215
on 3/16/18 1:09 pm
VSG on 08/23/16

I take meds for asthma and arthritis that come only in pill form. took my pills morning after surgery - granted - one at a time. The only thing I had trouble with at first were my vitamins because they were huge - I would cut them in half and do them a half - wait a bit and another half. Now (20-ish months out) I pop the whole handful in just like pre-surgery.

Keep on losing!

Diana

HW 271.5 (April 2016) SW 246.9 (8/23/16) CW 158 (5/2/18)

Shannon S.
on 3/17/18 6:12 am
VSG on 11/07/17

My surgeon required all meds to be crushed or in liquid form prior to surgery, then at my 1st checkup (I believe at 2 weeks) I was released to swallow pills whole. I can swallow a slew of vitamins at one time to include two horse looking pills.

They will tell you what pills are crushable and which are not, and prescribe you liquids accordingly. I only took levothyroxine and it was crushable.

Valerie G.
on 3/17/18 7:08 am - Northwest Mountains, GA

I never once had to crush a pill. At the beginning, I could only handle one pill at a time, but i got them all down (all 12, even in my first week) and paced myself accordingly.

Valerie
DS 2005

There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes

Gwen M.
on 3/17/18 1:51 pm
VSG on 03/13/14

I was able to swallow pills ("smaller than an M&M") from day one post-op. So it was never an issue for me.

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
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Valerie G.
on 3/19/18 12:05 pm - Northwest Mountains, GA

I never once crushed a pill. It was a challenge to take them at first, but one at a time, I managed to do it.

Valerie
DS 2005

There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes

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