PILLS?????

Hi ALL!  I am concerned about taking my meds post op...the vitamins are huge...and I take several coated tabs.  How did you guys manage your home meds as far as getting them down?
Thanks! 

I was o.k. at first, then had gagging issues, now o.k. again.  When it was the hardest, I took one at a time, now I can take a small handful at once.  Some people cut them in half, and have heard others have to go to chews, sublinguals or liquids.  You will just have to see how you do personally.  Good luck.  When is your surg. date?  Good luck in advance!!!

Jane

THANKS!  I am talking with the scheduler for the surgeon and hopefully the week after TG!  If not then...I'll need to wait til the week after Christmas.  I am ready!  Any advice?  Looks like you are doing awesome!

THANK YOU!!

I have certainly not been a poster child, and have not deprived myself.  I worked out an hour 5 days a week for 6 months before my surg and about 4 months after surg, now down to 2 x wk. (I'm slipping LOL).  I eat around 800-1200 cal a day, incl approx 80gm protein, 80-100gm carbs (higher than a lot on the LW board, but what my NUT recommends).  I have sm treats or bites of just about anything I want to eat, but I do watch it and keep within my calories. You will find your way.  Best wishes.

Jane

I picked up a pill splitter at the pharmacy - cost a couple bucks. It slices pills very nicely, even the coated ones. Early on, if it wasn't chewable, I cut it in 1/4 or 1/3, then graduated to halves, and now just swallow (but still one at a time). Chewables, just take bites and chew those until the whole thing is gone.

However, check with your pharmacist/physician about the coated pills. Some of those are coated because without it they will irritate your stomach/intestines, or because they are time-release. If that's the case, you may need to change the medication to something else.

2 years out and I still take as many chewables as I can. I just can't do the horse pills. I found when I cut them they were jagged and scratched my throat.

The pills I take now are very small... works best for me.

Which pill(s) are you taking that you're having problems with?

I got a pill crusher (and oh, were they nasty) but could NOT swallow them whole.  Everyone said to put the powdered pills in applesauce but that was awful for me.  I finally found SF Jello pudding (dulce le leche was best... it had a lot of carbs but I only used a small portion) and that was do-able.  I am still taking only chewable multivitamins, liquid D3 with calcium citrate and B12 by injection or sublingual. That has worked best for me.  

I am back to swallowing the smaller pills now (surgery was 6 weeks ago) and breaking the bigger ones in half or in fourths.  I am taking a lot less medicine than I was.

What type surgery are you having?

Kat70