How long did you chew or crush your vitamins?

Good morning, VSGers.

I'm curious- long after surgery did you chew or crush your vitamins? When did you start swallowing regular vitamin pills?

I think my plan wanted me to use chewables for 3 months. Since that was pretty much the supply I had, I basically just used the chewables until I ran out of them :)

I now know that there's no ASMBS guideline saying we need chewable or crushed pills, but they still might be easier for people who have severe swelling during healing.

Thanks, Gwen. My center recommends 2 months, but I wondered if that recommendation was based more on RNY needs. Sounds like it definitely applies to us sleevers too.

I had my 2-month post op visit with the doc and but yesterday and am clear to swallow vitamin pills now. I still have a lot of chewables and sublinguals left, though--so I'll keep with those for now..especially since my vitamin levels were excellent across the board. The only adjustment is that I need to switch to B12 every other day, because my levels for that were high.

Thank you! My center recommends 2 months as well. I was kinda hoping I could negotiate with the nurse a shorter time frame, but it sounds like going the full 2 months is the sensible course of action.

I never took chewable or crushed vits. Swallowed them whole from day one,no problems.

Thanks, hollykim. I've had no problems swallowing my medications whole, and no problems getting my water, shakes, yogurt down, so I wondered if I could tolerate proper vitamins too. Maybe I'll ask about this at my post-surgery class.

Same here, I never crushed or had chewable vitamins post-op. I took normal vitamins, just not in a huge handful; instead, one-at-a-time for a period of time.

My plan said as long as the pill/capsule was no bigger around than an aspirin there was no need to crush them. I never did and had no issues.

Thanks Kathy, that's good to know.