Please take care (Pills)

Thanks to Lisa O for translating my "tabs" to pills!

Many bandsters can swallow even quite large tabs. But please don't get too casual if you can! Here's my warning story.

Post-op, I had no problems at all with tabs. I didn't have any really big ones to take but everything went down fine. I had excellent restriction .

Then one day, about a year after being banded, this changed. There was no reason for this. I hadn't just had a fill, my restriction level had not changed at all. But my tiny bp capsule just dissolved above the band. Nothing painful, just waves of nasty taste. So next day, I tried again, same thing, but this time a bit uncomfortable.

So I checked with my doc  who told me that some tabs MUST be allowed to dissolve below the band in the more acidic lower stomach - if they stay above the band, they can over time cause damage. I am sure JeanM will not mind me sharing her story. Her pharmacist assured her that the anti-bio she had been given could either pass the band or dissolve harmlessly above it. He was wrong. It turned out to be corrosive and Jean ended up in ER. I can't give names as I have forgotten who the people were, but in my 5 years on OH I have read quite a few similar stories - either like Jean or people getting painfully stuck.

If you are able to swallow tabs - great! But do be aware that you may not realise that the tab has remained above the band! This is why many vets always crush / take liquids etc.. I once posted something like this before and someone said that she would never let her band band be as tight as mine obviously is! So I emphasise - I am not tight! I have always kept my band fairly loose - I cannot explain why tabs don't go down but they don't! And the first time came out of the blue!

Kate

Very good reminder and information, Kate!!  Thank you!

First of all, Kate means pills, (for all of you that don't speak Brit).  Ha!

Great post Kate! 

Just last week I took 2 pills on top of eating scrambled egg whites, (which didn't go down that well to begin with).  I clearly wasn't thinking when I popped the pills for a headache that was developing.  Well, those pills disolved above my stoma and I was messed up for 2 days as a result!  Not only was the burning painful, but it shut my band down completely and I could only take in hot liquids for the rest of the day.  That irritation cause swelling and the swelling closed my band.  Not fun! 

I usually have notissues taking pills but with the eggs already sitting there in the way, it was a disaster!

Lisa O.

I was told not to take any pills.  The other day I had a headache and automaticly grabbed the bottle....  I was about to out them in my mouth and remembered not to,  I dont have a pill crusher so I grabbed my garlic press and made them almost into powder.

That is interesting. I never thought that my pills may be dissolving above the band. I just assumed since I was looser they were passing through. I was planning on crushing them as I got more fills and reached optimum restriction.

Guess I will start crushing them now. Ugh.

I just assumed since I was looser they were passing through.

They may be! Some people seem able to take pills without problem.

For me, I know I can't! And I think that even if i could I would play safe! I am almost 5 years out now and aware that many people don't keep their bands that long!

Kate

Great post Kate, I use liquid when possible or crush them and flush with a lot of liquid

I've just recently had issues with my capsules causing me to be stuck.

It's not the capsules that are getting stuck, but that if I eat too soon after taking them, I get stuck.  Or if I try to take the capsules too soon after eating.. stuck.  I'm learning to give a 20 to 30 minute cushion of time between my pills and food.

And be aware that not all pills/tabs/capsules can or should be crushed.  Check with the doctor or pharmacist to be sure.

Lisa, good point to make. Time release pills in particular must not be crushed.

To date, my doc has alwyas been able to find the meds I need in either solulbe or liquid forms. Once he thought he couldn't but he phoned a senior hospital consultant and she was able to suggest an alternative.

Kate