Question:
This Pill Thing Again...

I am still struggling with the medication issue. I took a pill this morning with some water which I have been doing successfully over the past few days. However, this morning it felt like I had swallowed a brick (I never experienced pain before today taking this pill) I took another drink of water and it came right back up. The pill never came up. Did it get stuck????? Would taking with food help?    — susanje (posted on March 8, 2003)

March 8, 2003
one thing that you can do is crumble your pill or break open the gel cap and sprinkle it on top of something soft to eat like a little bit of eggs and that way it will go down easier and wont sit in your tummy like a rock;) I havent had my surgery yet but I have been a hospice nurse and I would do that for some of my elderly patients that had a hard time swallowing. hope that helps:)
   — harleigh2002

March 8, 2003
Breaking it or crushing it, etc., depends on the pill. There are some things that should not be broken up. I take all my pills with yogurt. I couldn't get anything down with water for a long time. I can actually do small things with just water, my thyroid pill for example, but it's easy to take a spoonful of yogurt and then pop the pill into my mouth and swallow them together. This would work for SF Jello or pudding, applesauce or any other soft food, or even a food you've chewed to a pulp.
   — garw

March 8, 2003
Please, please DO NOT break, crush, or open capsules unless you have first checked with the pharmacist. Some medications can be terribly irritating to the esophagus if opened. I know there are a lot of folks that do this, and I hope that they have checked with the pharmacist before doing so. They will be able to tell you if you can safely crush, break, open, etc. a certain medication. If not, ask them if there is another formulation, and discuss that with your Doctor. What works with one person and one type of med, may not work with another person or med. Renee D
   — Renee D.

March 8, 2003
I'm having the same problem with many of my pills. Just like they said earlier, before you break it, make sure it is okay to. I cut my calcium in half b/c they are horse pills and ALWAYS get stuck, so bad it hurts and I almost want to cry, I def. panic. I feel like my throat got smaller since my RNY. Maybe they cut off half of that, too. lol j/k But I have found that food can sometimes help the pills go down easier. Do whatever makes it more comfortable to swallow, b/c you don't want to hurt yourself or it get stuck, etc. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.