Another Newbie to OH forum.

Hi Everyone...I'm new to your terrific site although I've been reading posts and learning lots for a little over a month. I thought it was time I logged on so I could ask my questions and share in your successes and challenges. I'm attending HRRH and my surgeon is Dr. Klein. I do have my surgery already scheduled for April 29th...barring any rescheduling. It's been almost a exactly a year since my first referral...what a long haul. I've been nervous, scared to death (after the info session) anxious and worried...but finally now I am accepting and resigned to it. I'm looking forward to a day when I can just walk without so much pain or just sit in a normal chair. 

I do have a question to start with...I take 9 different prescription meds, some of which are the size of horse pills :) Who will tell me which pills I can still take (crushable, mixable etc...) and which do I have to change? I was led to believe that it is my own responsibility but I'm hoping they will tell me if I need to change any prescriptions at my PATTS session, which is my only appointment left before my surgery. Has anyone run into this problem?

Cheers...Jane

Every center is different... Mine has allowed pill form from day one of surgery (given pills in hospital) no issues at all but again ask your center.

Michelle

I'm through Humber. Had surgery just over 5 weeks ago with Dr Klein. I'm not on any meds myself but I'm pretty sure that it was up to the patient to discuss this with their own family Doctor and/pharmacist. I could be wrong, but if I were you I would be calling the Bariatric Clinic and asking. As we aren't to be taking any pills until atleast 3 months out(unless we take the chance and find we can take them, I'm not that brave lol my luck something would get stuck) everything we take has to be liquid, chewable or crushed. And a lot of medications can't be crushed. 

Good luck with your surgery!

Kim

Thanks for the info Kim! By the way...how did you find Dr. Klein? Did you like him?

Jane

Sorry it took me so long to respond.

Yes I really like him, he made me feel very comfortable right from the start and that meant a lot. As I have heard others speak of their surgeons and some didn't feel at ease with them. I was nervous at first but within the first few minutes I knew all would be well. 

He has a great sense of humour as well. I also like that in a person. It's not all seriousness which takes the edge off things. Some may take it the wrong way, but it makes me feel more comfortable. 

Good luck, if you have any other questions please feel free to write me. 

Kim

Hi Jane,

When I met with Dr. Glazer he told me to take my blood pressure pills the night before my surgery. It reminded me to ask him your question because that blood pressure pill is huge and a dietetic. He said that he would write orders for the prescriptions I am on after surgery accordingly. All the vitamins (anything non prescription ) are my responsibility afterwards as far as liquid or chewable ect.  

Good luck with your journey!

M

I only take two prescriptions (other than the now, necessary vitamin mix post-surgery!) and I too had these concerns. I took matters into my own hands, as it was conveyed to me very early on that it is my responsibility to figure it out.

I spoke to my family doctor about the meds and asked her advice. That was the first step. She told me that for one of my medications, I could probably skip a day or two and not have much adverse effect, so while I took that pill on surgery day in the morning, I did not take it for a day or two thereafter until the surgeon said it was okay.

I then spoke to my specialist (a rheumatologist) about one of my prescriptions -- an arthritis pill. He advised that yes, I needed the prescription, but I was to stop taking that one about one week before surgery and to speak to my surgeon about when to resume it. I did just that. The arthritis was bad during that week (Oh Lord the pain!), but I fought through it and got to surgery. After surgery, I couldn't take that one crushed (it has a protective coating on it) and the only other form was in suppository. I had the prescription for the suppositories, but I never had to fill it because I was taking pain meds anyway post-surgery; I didn't need arthritis pain meds on top of the liquid Tylenol at that time. One week post-op, my surgeon said to go ahead and resume all my medications as normal.

Check with your family doctor or a clinic. Speak to your pharmacist as well. Or if you have a specialist who prescribes some of those, speak to him/her. Take notes so you know what you can and cannot do.

And who knows? Maybe you'll be able to cut down on the number of meds you're taking after you have the surgery!

Good luck!

Hi Jane,

When I went, I was allowed to swallow any pill the size of the tip of my baby finger or smaller.  Anything bigger had to be split or crushed.  I don't know what pills you have but the quickest response will be to go to your pharmasyst.  They will be able to go over your meds with you and tell you if there are any you would have problems with splitting/crushing.  If there is anything that can't be crushed or split, they may be able to suggest things like taking lower dose pills (but more of them at a time).  Then for the ones that are still problems, talk to your GP or a clinic or the WLC and ask if there are any alternatives.

Cathy

You pharmacist can tell you what can be crushed and what can't. Some capsules can be opened nut if they are time release then they can not. I was lucky in that the one that could not be crushed I can off of. I no longer take the 2 blood pressure meds or metformin. So talk to your GP about the pills that can not be crushed and find out if there are alternatives.

Sugar free applesauce is great for hiding pills in

I meant to mention. I keep a surgery list for the forum. I will add you. I post it every Monday

Thanks Pam.... I've already started stocking up on applesauce. Superstore had the organic, no sugar added variety on sale this week.

I'll check out the surgery list. It will be nice to know if anyone else will be at HRRH while I'm there. It's great to have a buddy while going through something like this.

Jane

Jane