Question:
How do you take pills post-op?

I take many medications each day and am concerned as to how I will be able to continue with them post-op.    — jorielulof (posted on June 25, 2001)

June 25, 2001
Seems different surgeons have different rules. I had to crush or open mine to take them. Some are pretty nasty too.
   — Cindy S.

June 25, 2001
My surgeon has his patients take Zantac as an antacid for 8 weeks post op. They are a 'home plate' shaped pill, too irregular for me to swallow so I cut it into 5 pieces and put them in a small spoonful of SF pudding or applesauce. My vitamins and calcium are chewables.
   — SusanMaria

June 25, 2001
I also had to crush my meds post-op; just as a precaution. I'm now almost 4 months post-op and have no problems at all taking pills. My surgeon has me taking pre-natal vitamins (just because they're loaded with vitamins) and I have no problem with those. (They are a bit large) I know some people are different and always will have problem taking pills but there are some of us that don't have problems.
   — Deniece H.

June 25, 2001
My (bariatric) surgeon does not require his RNY patients to take crushed or liquid medications post-op. I was taking pain medication in tablet form the day after my surgery and resumed all my previous medications as soon as I was discharged from the hospital 2 days post-op. I never had any problems with tablets or capsules. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

June 26, 2001
I am crushing my pain meds and then putting them in a shot glass with some water. They don't disolve, so I just tilt my head back and forth with the shot glass and use the water pressure to mix up all the powder and then swallow the whole thing down (sometimes I need a second dose of water because of a clump left behind). For my vitamins I am using Flintstones with Iron and Tums for calcium.
   — Peter S.

June 26, 2001
We were not asked to cut or crush pills post-op. I was a chicken and DID cut them for 30 days, but I think it was unnecessary. Most pills will dissolve in saliva in less than 5 minutes, so it'd be liquid by the time it tries to exit your pouch. Just check to be sure that all your meds do not have any reputation for being abrasive to the stomach lining. (Ow)
   — vitalady