Question:
Any suggestions on surviving the crushed med pha?

I am 6 days post-op and still need to crush or chew my meds. This is cruel and unusual punishment!! I've tried using sf jello to mix them but there is still the bitter taste. Maybe there isn't anything to do but suffer through this stage. Any suggestions?    — Debbie F. (posted on September 1, 2002)

September 1, 2002
I was only required to cut my meds up to be smaller than an M&M. I didn't have to crush them. Call your doc and ask if you may just cut them up smaller not crush. Tell him it makes you sick to crush them.
   — DRutherford

September 1, 2002
You are right! It IS cruel and unusual punishment. I simply didn't take my meds until I was about 10 days out and then I cut them as small as I could. Crushing them and mixing them in various things I tried just wasn't happening - it made me gag! Hang in there! - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -58lbs.
   — Anna L.

September 1, 2002
Hi! I borrowed a trick from the hospital. I took the medicine dosage cups (I brought a stack home with me) crushed me meds then put in just enough boiling water to melt them into a liquid (I used a straw to stir with). Then I topped off the cup with full strength apple juice. Chug back the meds and immediately follow it with more juice to kill the bitterness. I haven't been able to drink apple juice since I passed out of the crushed med phase, but it got them down. Best of luck! ~Peace
   — Joscelin

September 1, 2002
I crush mine, mix them with liquids (liquid protein, liquid medicine or water), slurp them up with a syringe and shoot them down my g-tube. It sounds gross but it sure beats having to take all that stuff orally. Good luck!
   — Rebecca T.

September 1, 2002
Many of your pills can be changed to a liquid exhilar. Was worth the cost for 1 bottle which was all I needed. Call a pharmacy and ask, then call your doctor. Be careful with crushing and cutting, some meds are not to be done. Always ask a pharmacist. I got liquid prozac and it still tasted bad, but not anywhere as bad as emptying the capsule into applesauce. This too will go away. I can even take 'horse size pills' now.
   — Elizabeth K.