Question:
Do we dissolve vitamins differently?

I am 6 post op lap RNY. I've been taking adult chewable vitamins since my surgery. However, I have to take SIX a day to meet the requirments my doc set out for us. I bought some Theragram M last night because the bottle said they are tested to dissolve with 60 minutes. I want to swallow a vitamin, but I do not want to block my stoma. If these dissolve in an hour, my assumption is that even if I did block it, it would be unblocked fairly soon. Is it safe to say that I could probably swallow these without issue? Can anyone help me out here? If I have to chew one more vitamin I am probably going to go bonkers. Thanks.    — Tina P. (posted on February 21, 2002)

February 21, 2002
You might want to ask your surgeon a question like this because each surgeon suggests something different. I know that mine said it was ok to swallow a pill if we felt we would be able to (depending on how big it is). If it's too big, he said to cut it in half first. I mean, I am sure you wouldn't consider swallowing a horse pill anyway, so if it is fairly small, then you may not have a problem. Your surgeon would know best though.
   — Kelly M.

February 21, 2002
My surgeon said to subject pills to the 30 min water test. Take the pill and a 4 oz cup of room temp water and see if it dissolves in 30 min, If it does it's fine. I take theragram m or centrum, whichever is on sale when I shop, and haven't had any sticking problems.
   — Becky K.