Question:
Worried about taking all meds after surgery.

Right now I take 13 different medications daily, some more then once a day. It's a handfull in the AM and a handfull in the PM. How am I ever going to be able to take all those pills after surgery? Pills are for high BP, high cholesteral, gastric reflux, depression and diabetes.    — Glenn O. (posted on September 6, 2004)


September 6, 2004
Well the GOOD NEWS! You will likely be off some or most of those pills shortly after surgery. Diabetic meds espically must be watched closely. Post op eating so little your sugar will drop like a rock and you can have troubles with low blood pressure. If your getting the RNY threres a excelent chance your GERD will be gone:) Cholestrol normally drops too. Mine was 275 pre op, dropped to 143 some months post op and at 3 years has settled wonderfully at 153. My wife had severe asthma it left completely as the weight dropped:) They will keep your depression meds going even the day of surgery. All this happens in cooperation of your PCP, surgeon and other docs. Congrats! My wife went from 23 meds 18 of which she took daily to just 3 within a couple months. 2 of 3 for allergies. Dont do any of this on your own. But do keep close eye on blood pressure and blood sugar so they dont get too low. My BP dropped to 85 over 58 and I had trouble standing up. I LOVE being off all the prescription meds. I ONLY talk ith the pharmacist on a social basis:) He erodically asks hopw I am doing:)
   — bob-haller

September 6, 2004
Glenn, Depends on which surgery you're having. Different surgeries have different outcomes in terms of the ability to swallow pills and the like. With some of the different forms of WLS it's advisable to move to a liquid form of a medication. If your medication can be crushed and added to a liquid, that might be an option, as well. For me, because I have the DS - not a gastric bypass - I still have a fully functioning stomach, so taking meds as a post-op is not changed at all. Well, except for the fact that I used to take 23 prescription meds, and now I take none. I do keep a stash of pain meds on hand because I have degenerative joint disease - these are monster sized pills! - but I take them just as easily as before surgery. Be sure to ask your surgeon what his/her opinion on this is. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

September 6, 2004
You will be off some, if not all of your meds eventually. You may need to make a schedule and take them 1-2 at a time to avoid getting sick from a pouch full of meds. Check with your MD about any meds that need to be taken at a certain time. Most meds give you flexability with time--just need to be consistent from day to day. I take Celebrex and vitamins but only take 2-3 pills at one time. If I fill my pouch with pills it makes me nauseated. Good luck. It will only get better.
   — dianne E.

September 6, 2004
I can only say for *myself* I was able to go off diabetes meds, cholestrol meds, bp meds, and thankfully all the gastric reflux meds I was on..Best of luck to you..
   — Kathy S.

September 6, 2004
I had the surgery almost two years ago and so did my husband. We both took handfuls of meds both am and pm. We haven't taken most of them since. I lost 120, he 125. So many of the symptoms we had prior to surgery have disappeared. We are sooo blessed. May you have a good experience and God bless. Have a great journey and remember to take "before" and "after" pics. It helps to keep a journal either in a book or on your computer.
   — Martha P.

September 6, 2004
I had the surgery almost two years ago and so did my husband. We both took handfuls of meds both am and pm. We haven't taken most of them since. I lost 120, he 125. So many of the symptoms we had prior to surgery have disappeared. We are sooo blessed. May you have a good experience and God bless. Have a great journey and remember to take "before" and "after" pics. It helps to keep a journal either in a book or on your computer.
   — Martha P.

September 6, 2004
Consult your doctor first Glenn. My PCP told me to stop taking my cholesterol med (Lipitor) about a month before surgery--his reason, that surgery would bring down my cholesterol--it has. I was taking over the counter Zantac for acid reflux 2 or 3 times a day before surgery--haven't even had a hint of reflux or any acidity in my stomach since surgery. My sister (RNY 9/3/03) was on diabetes meds and has not taken one thing since the day before her surgery--her blood sugar has been normal ever since. It's all very individualized, but it's most important to talk with the doctor who has prescribed these meds for you. Good Luck to you. Terri
   — greeneyes1961

September 6, 2004
AMOS MOD NOTE:<P> Isnt it WONDERFUL seeing reports like these! <P> Anyone on time released pills need to talk to surgeon and the doc who perscribed it. The RNY effects absorbtion of time released pills.
   — bob-haller

September 6, 2004
Glenn talk to your surgeon and your PCP about this my meds were changed when I left the hosptial and within 8 weeks I was taken off everything except my antidepressant. My PCP did blood work at 8 weeks and cholesterol was down 90+ points and down 180+ on triglycerides (making these normal levels) and glucose was down also. When I had my 6 month blood work all still in the middle of normal range and A1C levels are now 5.7 and say NON DIABETIC which is great since I went from the maxium dose of glucophage and actos and insulin 2X a day the day of surgery to just get my levels low enough for surgery to no meds now for 5 months. I was also taking prilosec 2-3 times a day before surgery my reflux was so bad my esophogaus was bleeding and my surgeon has you take something for the first 30 days after sugery and now nothing and my gastro Dr can't believe the results I eat spicy and no reflux where as before even water would send me into pain. Good Luck to you ...Nancy
   — nefish

September 7, 2004
Glenn, I know I'm a day late, howeve, I also took alot of pills. I took a total of 17 pills per day, I had gerd, acid reflux, diabetes type 2, manic depression, bipolar, etc, etc. I got shots of insulin in hopsital after wls for 3 days, no signs of diabetes since it's all gone, I of course no longer had the gerd, and most the depression went away rapidly with the weightloss and my self esteem. I now take 2 pills a day for my bi polar and my vitamins, that is all. Good luck to you. Patricia 9-30-03 314/162/162 past goal.
   — pateblkbrn

September 7, 2004
Glenn, I was taking 24 medications a day before my Open RNY a little over 2 years ago. When they discharged me, I was taking those 24 medications a day plus the pain medication, my vitamins,etc. The nice thing is that shortly after surgery (about 2.5 months out), they started to take me off all the medications. By the time I was 3 months out, I was off all but one of the medications! You will be able to get off a majority of them when you lose the first 10% or so of your excess weight. Until then, if you have pills, you can swallow them! I did and I was fine. My doctor simply told me to stagger them throughout the day.. I did and I was fine. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. You will do great! Hugs, Kathie in Hawaii (Open RNY 08/07/02.. Down 200 Pounds)
   — KathieInHawaii

September 8, 2004
I also took over 13 pills a day for Type II diabetes, heart problems, arthritis pain and depression. My surgeon told me that I would be off of my diabetes medication by the time I left the hospital. I was sceptical but it was true. The last medication I took for diabetes was on Jan. 6th, 2004. I had my surgery on Jan. 7th 2004 and my sugar has been within normal range since my surgery. My heart medicine has been cut back also. I now only take 4 pills a day and I have no problem. Usually the day after your surgery a doctor will come and talk to you about all your meds and if you can take them or they might have to change some to make them smaller than a M&M candy. I do not regret having the surgery because I am now down 115# and I am no longer a diabetic from what the doctors say. Good luck.
   — patticake222

September 13, 2004
My advice is to check with your surgeon pre-op. I was able to get some of my meds in liquid form when I was in the hospital. Others could be crushed and put in clear capsules I bought at the pharmacy. Good luck.
   — Esse




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