Question:
How do you take oral medications?

If the hole in your stomach is only the size of an M&M, and you have to chew everything up, or on liquids, or pureed foods, how can you take any medications for pain or anything else. Are they in liquid form, and if not does it cause dumping?    — Tamauralee H. (posted on March 6, 2003)

March 6, 2003
Hi, I was scared too about taking medication for pain. I have migraines, and regular headaches pretty often, and couldn't have imagined not being able to take something for it. I asked my surgeon about it before hand, and while I did have to lay off of Pills for a couple of months after my surgery, now I can take them. I have not had any problem, I know some of the people who post on here are very adamant that you only take liquid vitamins, etc. I take whole solid vitamins, and calcium. Nothing has ever bothered me, but it all depends on your surgeon, some are stricter than others. Everyone is different, if your surgeon says it's ok I would try. Also now though, since losing some of the weight I don't have headaches quite as often. Lap RNY 10-11-02 -93lbs.
   — Lorine L.

March 6, 2003
I have had a fear of something getting stuck in my stoma ever since I got out of surgery. In the hospital, they gave me my oral meds crushed into powder form. I took it like that once and NEVER AGAIN! It was so disgusting! The next dose, I asked the nurse to just cut each tablet into 4's instead and that went down MUCH better!! That was 7 weeks ago. I now cut only the tablets that are larger than an M&M in half and those seem to go down fine that way now too. Good luck to you!
   — thumpiez

March 6, 2003
in the begining, I cut them up. THen i got brave and started to take them whole and did fine! (took about 3 months before i felt comfortable doing that though)
   — Vicki L.

March 6, 2003
I took my medications since day 1 of surgery. I was pretty shocked she just handed me a pill right after, but I tried it and it was fine. I do have problems with calcium pills, I have to cut them. I also have a pretty strong stomach, I could hanle almost anything. But as the previous posters said, it all depends on your surgeon and on your personal comfort. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

March 6, 2003
My general rule of thumb is that if it will not dissolve in water pretty fast (about as fast as advil does) then I do not take it unless it is very very tiny. I have been taking my pills since about 3 months out with no trouble and I take alot of them. I even take Immodium AD whole, and those things are HUGE. All my vitamins and medications dissolve in water so that makes it easier. I take chewable calcium because it is too large in pill form. good luck, talk to your doctor if you are uncomfortable **1 year PO, -195lbs, crrt Wgt 125**
   — smedley200

March 6, 2003
They never really told us we couldn't swallow, so we never had a problem. All the stuff I use today dissolves easily in water OR saliva. So, I've never had a problem.
   — vitalady

March 6, 2003
My doctor says that the stoma size is the size of a dime. The pills will dissolve in your stomach before they pass through.
   — joeandteri