Question:
How and when did you test your pill swallowing capibilities?
How far out were you when you swallowed your first whole pill? Did anyone have it get stuck? What did you do? Im having surgery in Dec and dont want to crush my pills. I figure Ill just break them in to pieces until I can swallow them whole, but how do I know when I can? — curliequu (posted on October 17, 2003)
October 16, 2003
I started taking pain pills on day two while I was still in the hospital. I
started taking my vitamins in capsule form around two months out. I could
not stand the chewables and switch to a prenatal capsule with no problems.
I think that it totally depends on the size and consistency of the pill.
Find out how big your stoma will be and then you can measure to make sure
they will go down.
— Carol S.
October 16, 2003
My true test came when I was in the hospital with those huge potassium
horse pills!! One got stuck and I had esophogeal spasms and vomited all
night. However, that was the worse. I really have had no problems
otherwise with swallowing pills.
— Happy I.
October 16, 2003
I gave it a shot the first day I was home from the hospital, about 4 days
post-op (with my doc's ok) Had no problems with small pills but the
calicum citrate horse pill got stuck. Thought I was gonna die. I drank
warm tea and cussed alot until it moved. I hurt for several hours after
that and to this day, I use liquid calicum citrate instead of those dang
pills. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 120+ and counting
— Siddy I.
October 17, 2003
I had a capsule when I was 8 days post-op. It was prescribed by my surgeon
and I didn't have any problems at all. I've swallowed pills and capsules
and tablets of all sizes since. My surgeon says the biggest problem isn't
the pill getting stuck, but whether the medicine irritates the pouch and
makes you ill. I have just (July 30) had a total knee replacement and I
can take pain meds whole with no problems.
— Patty_Butler
October 17, 2003
Melanie: My first pill was a capsule (Actigall) that I was prescribed 6
weeks post-op. I started taking whole calcium citrate pills at 6 weeks
post-op as well. Never had any issues. I would check with your surgeon,
but for the most part, they just want to be sure your pouch has
healed/swelling down before you take large pills. I crushed my calcium
citrate first & tried to mix it with my yoghurt a couple of days
post-op...but YUCK...it was gross.
— Amy A.
October 17, 2003
I started my vitamin regimen at about 2-1/2 weeks post-op. My doc
recommended starting with one, then two the next day, and so on. My
calcium is in capsule form, and it dissolves really quickly, so no problems
there. Everything else is chewable, except my iron tablets, which I take
at bedtime with two chewable Vit C. I also take a soft-gel stool softener
every day. I really recommend the capsule form for the calcium (I got mine
from vitalady.com). Good luck and don't worry. You'll be fine. I know
it's scary at first, though. You get a little scared to put anything down.
— Carlita
October 17, 2003
I swallowed my preop meds the day after surgery, while I was still in the
hospital. The nurses also gave me anti-nausea meds and pain pills on that
day. I have been fine to take my meds and vitamins since then. I had my
surgery 10/6/03 (only 11 days ago).
— tntwildlife77
October 17, 2003
Our surgeon starts his RNY patients on pills for pain management the day
after surgery. We were discharged from the hospital on the second day
after surgery and were instructed to resume our medications as usual...no
crushing, or cutting, or liquid medications. We did just fine with no
problems at all. Best wishes!
— Diana T.
October 17, 2003
I was given pills for my diabetes, thyroid, and Claritin-D in the hospital
the day after my Lap RNY. I was told that any pill that is the size of an
M&M or smaller was fine to take whole. So far, at 14 months post op, I
haven't crushed my first pill. I did take the chewable calcium for a
couple of months after the surgery. I also had bought them prior to the
surgery.
— Peggy B.
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