medication question

What do you do with them, crush them how, swallow them....how do you continue to take any pills, especially the ones that are for a duration time frame? Need to know ASAP, next week my surgery... Thanks Al

Slow down a bit there. Take a deep breath, take it in........now let it out........OK. Make sure to only take tablets. No more capsules or coated pills from now on. Now, all the smallish round pills I never had to do anything with, just pop them one at a time with water. The bigger round or oblong pills I would cut in half with a knife, pop one at a time with water. Give the pills a moment to slip into the pouch before taking the next one to keep them from getting stuck. And I say one at time because your entrance to the stomach (stoma) will only be big enough for one at a time. Try to take more and they will get stuck, then up they will come.  Relax and don't worry so much. It's a little rough to begin with, but gets sooo much better in no time at all. Monday is just around the corner. While in the hospital: Enjoy the pain meds, and be nice to the nurses. That first SF popsicle is heavenly! The ice chips are terrific as well. Let us know how you're doing.  By the way, I'm nearly 8 months out and don't have to cut pills anymore. I do still take them one at a time though.  Ronnie

Al, Prior to surgery, I was taking 9 prescriptions.  After surgery, I'm only taking 2 which are very small.  One of the vitamins I take I do break in half.  I had a banded RNY, so everything I swallow has to be smaller than a dime.  I haven't had any problems with the pills.  There's so many that are small, liquid, or dissolve, so it's not too much of an issue.  Good luck next week. Floyd

AL -=- Greetings

My program won't let me take any pills for 6 months. Now they did relax it some for me at 3 months and said I could take some pills the size of my little pinky. The problem they told me is that the larger pills just pass through and don't dissolve fast enough to do any good.

I run nursing homes and have a pharmacy that compounds medications for my kids. I did take a couple of my meds to them and they made a real nice liquid pill for me that I drink daily.

Since surgery I have gotten off most of my meds. I hope to be off all but a couple by the 6 mo mark.

Time released pills are different, you might have to open them and take them with soft foods, SF puddings etc.

A trick to taking pills might be have a SF popsicle first to "numb" your throat and tummy then take the pills. Another thought is after taking the pills or gell caps try drinking some warm tea or liquid to help dissolve the pill quicker.

Good Luck and welcome to the losers bench !

KIM

Al, Be sure to ask you doc. They are used to patients with the need to continue taking pills/meds after surgery.  Many docs have their patients use a ‘pill crusher’ which turns the pills into a powder.  Just mix it with water or food and consume.  I found just putting the powder on back of tongue and rinsing with a sip of water easier and with less ‘nasty taste.’ Some meds Don’t work by crushing.  Such as time released meds and such.  Those may have to be switched to a different form of administering the same dosage, in a different manner.  Some of my pills were Capsules, that were opened and the ‘little beads’ poured on back of tongue and rinsed.  In the hospital that did the same in a small sip of juice.  You doc will know how to have you take your meds.  Just ask if they don’t bring it up first. Yes?  It won’t be their “first trip to the rodeo,” just yours. Have the Greatest!! Best Wishes- Dx