Question:
what about prescription medications following surgery?
I am still waiting to be approved for this surgery but this really has me concerned about after surgery if approved. I take medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, anxiety. I have to have these medications everyday, but I read it says after surgery you cant eat or drink. how is someone suppose to take their meds ? I can't be without these for that many days that it says. any info is appreciated. thanks — taterbug898 (posted on February 28, 2004)
February 28, 2004
Well the good news is that soon after surgery you probably will not need
the blood pressure and cholestrrol pills. The anxiety drug can be handled
with liquids they shiould discuss this with you before surgery.
— bob-haller
February 28, 2004
After surgery, even immediately after I was ale to take all of my
medication.....I have fibromyalgia so i had quite a few...Some I had to
crush or halve and some I had to switch to the liquid form.
— jennifer A.
February 28, 2004
Hello, after my surgery (6/11/03...56lbs down) I was given liquid meds and
crushed meds in applesauce. I also take a great deal of meds and just
crushed them all up once I was home. I will be honest here and tell you
that the taste is horrible, but it's worth it. This should only last unti
you meet with your surgeon for the first time after surgery.
Good Luck and Hugs....Deborah
— Deborah
February 28, 2004
It depends on your doctor how he/she wants you to take your meds PO. I had
to crush my meds PO for 6 months or take them in liquid form. Find out from
your pharmacist if any of your meds come in liquid form. Do not
automatically figure that you can crush your meds because some of them are
time release.
— ChristineB
February 28, 2004
I have a kidney transplant so I HAD to take my anti-rejection capsules the
night of surgery. The only thing I didn't take for first four weeks were
the huge iron capsules. After that month iron and 2 multivites were no
problem. Tell your surgeon what drugs you must take. Do not stop any
medication unless a physician authorizes it. My DH is taking lipitor 2
years post-op because of other good effects not because of high
cholesterol.
— Janis D.
February 28, 2004
Hi Melinda...I'm gonna touch base on another way that you can still take
your medication that has not been mentioned yet. I'm not sure about the LAP
surgery, but with the OPEN RNY, which is the surgery that I had, there was
a gastric tube that was put into the larger portion of the stomach (during
surgery), that is no longer used once you have surgey done. That is how I
took my meds until I was able to take them by mouth. They were crushed up,
had liquid added, was put in a syringe and put into the gastric tube, no
pain endured at all. This was only done for the first few days until I was
taken down for my drink test that is done to check for leaks. Once this
test was past I was able to take my meds by mouth. I had chewable vitamins
until the doctor told me I could go back to my regular ones. My other pills
that I took were about the size of birth control pills, so they were fairly
small and went down easy. I hope this helps and good luck on your journey.
— Deb S.
February 29, 2004
When I went for my pre op visit to the hospital, the nurse went over which
of my meds to hold off on the day of surgery. The ones I needed I was
allowed to take the morning of surgery with a sip of water. Prior to the
surgery, I checked with the doctor/pharmacy to see which of my meds could
be crushed or prescribed in liquid form. You are now longer able to take
time released caps. The meds I had in pill form had to be crushed and
taken in juice or applesauce for one month, then I was able to swallow them
whole. I was told to bring my own meds with me to the hospital, the nurse
crushed them for me and I took them in my gatorade. I all works out.
Blessings,
— Carolyn B.
February 29, 2004
Don't worry about that at all, hon. Your doctor and hospital nurses will
see to it that you get all the meds you need. Not eating or drinking
doesn't include medication. And they will give you a drink to get the pills
down if you need it. In my case, I had several meds to take. Several meds
they are able to give you in liquid form. Also, some liquid meds they are
able to inject straight into your tube, if you end up having one, as I did.
That was the best!For me, taking the orals was still a bit uncomfortable
for the first week or so, and I had to open them and hide them in
applesauce.The best part, though, is that within a short wh ile after
surgery, you may find yourself not needing as many meds, or in the same
dosage, as before, and your doctor may recommend you discontinue
altogether.
— christied
February 29, 2004
I made an appointment with my primary care physician for about 2 weeks
after surgery. He was the one that put me on my medications for elevated
B/P and cholesterol, and he was the one that decreased dosages until I
could come off of them as I lost weight. I was able to take my medications
after surgery in the hospital (lap RNY) and was told to take my regular
medications when I got home. Please follow up with your regular doctor and
don't stop anything until you are told that you should. I am also on
thyroid medication and he has also adjusted that dosage up and down as
warranted since surgery. Generally, the surgeon really only cares about the
surgery results; follow up with your PCP on the medications.
— koogy
March 1, 2004
I know what you mean! I had 10 prescriptions to take after coming home
from surgery and two of them were horse pills. I just took them one and a
time throughout the morning and the same way through the evening. My
family doctor took me off the cholestral med (horse pill #1) and one of my
diabetic meds (horse pill #2) within two weeks. The good news is now that
I'm 8 months out, I'm off almost all my meds for heart, BP, diabetes; I
still take my anti-depressant and a pill that helps me relax a bit in the
evening so I don't grind my teeth. What a marvelous journey!
— Gail G.
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