Question:
Headache Meds

Hi! I'm 3 weeks out and can't take pills yet. Does anybody have suggestions on what to do for headaches?    — CourtCourt2009 (posted on April 6, 2010)

April 6, 2010
They make liquid Tylenol..good luck
   — rosesrbl

April 7, 2010
Hi Courtney, congrats on joining the loser's bench. 1st, I would recommend you contact your surgeon's office and find out what they recommend. 2nd - My surgeon allowed pills right away. For headaches, this soon out, it was tylenol. But each surgeon's protocol is different. You paid (or your insurance) paid him/her big bucks to guide you thru this new life... seek their advice.
   — Kathleen O.

April 7, 2010
Not know which surgery you had I would also recommend calling your Dr. However, I was not allowed pills either. Haveing had RNY I still try not to take pills becuase you will not get the full affect of the meds. I have migrain issues and my migrain meds are pills and there is nothing that I can do about that but I also take childrens liquid tylenol. I take a double dose of the liquid.
   — phyllismmay

April 8, 2010
I chew up (uncoated)tylenol tablets and swallow with a little juice or flavored drink...Doesn't have a really awful taste and melts rather quickly...Even after years post op..I still chew most pills, vitamins etc...
   — .Anita R.

April 9, 2010
I'm 10 years post-op from a revision from VBG to RNY and after both surgeries I was allowed Adult Strength Liquid Tylenol for fever, mild pain and/or headaches. As I recall, it worked well and fast since it is liquid and even the taste wasn't horrible. Hopefully by now you have already spoken to your doctor and have his or her instructions regarding what is ok for you to take and what to avoid. To the lady with the migraines, Phyllis? (If I got the name wrong please forgive me, I got interrupted in the middle of this response and totally blanked on the name.) Anyway, I suffer from frequent migraines that last for DAYS. I currently take Relpax as my migraine abortive but I had a very nasty concussion late last summer with a 16 day migraine to accompany it. My neurologist was out of the country on holiday and had a senior doctor covering for him. He prescribed Maxalt MLT to take as the abortive. He prescribed so much of it that I still have refills left that I go into if I run out of my current med. Anyway, the Maxalt MLT is a thin wafer that is smaller than a lifesaver. It dissolves almost instantly once you put it in your mouth. It has a peppermint flavor to it but it has a slight bitterness to it (after all it is medicine and you can definitely tell that). Anyway, with it melting in your mouth it is able to get to work faster than a tablet and I would imagine it has better absorption than a tablet. Also, when I have to take my migraine abortive if it is a really bad one I take a dose of children's Benedryl Liquid along with it. I am not exactly sure how it works but I noticed that a lot of patients who end up in the ER get a cocktail of several meds, one being Benedryl. It seems to help it work better for me. So, I hope my experiences will be helpful all the way around.
   — Kellye C.