Can you take pills after LapBand surgery?

I am considering all of the weight loss surgery options, and one thing I have to factor in is a medication I take.  The tablets will not be effective if they are crushed.  The bariatrician suggested that I have my doc write a prescription for a different medication, but I've tried many different medications in the past, and this is the one that works best for me.

So - I am curious if LapBanders are able to take pills after surgery, or if the pill would get stuck in the band?  The medication I take isn't a huge tablet, certainly nowhere near the size of my Fish Oil supplement (that sucker is huge!)  If you're not able to take pills after surgery, how long until you can swallow tablets w/out them getting stuck?  From what I've read on here, getting stuck can be pretty darn unpleasant!

Thanks!

The Dr recommendation is nothing bigger than an M and M. But I have had no problems with bigger meds. I usually take them with some food or warm liquid to help them dissolve faster. Good luck with your decision.

Can you split it in two? I can take pretty much any standard size pill so long as it's split in two. I crush larger pills (metformin) but if I needed to, I could quarter it instead.

I was told to judge the pill using my pinky finger....from the tip of my finger down to the first crease just below my nail, if it fits within this area I can take it.

I take the calcium petites (which are still a little big) without a problem.  I dont have much restriction yet though.

I have no problems swallowing pills. And cutting it in half might be a good options, especially if it can't be crushed as was suggested earlier!

If your surgery choice depends on this, beware. I am not someone who has major problesm with any food and for the first year post-op I could take all but the most enormous pills. Then suddenly, for no apparent reason, I couldn't. I take a daily bp tablet and it is a tiny capsule (Ramipril 5mg  if you wanted to check out the size).

I am not too tight, although tighter in the mornings. I could probably swallow my bp med if I took it midday, after having a hot drink. But to be honest, I personally do not take ANY tablets at all. i get everything in crushable, soluble or liquid form. Luckliy all the things I have so far come across can be dealt with like this.

Several other vets have had really nasty experiences with tabs although most have, I think, been from forgetting and taking a larger one. But I am not alone in finding even small ones hard. Someone was assured by her doc that capsules woudl be OK as they are designed for easy swallowing. Sorry, that is not the case! That dcotor clearly did not have a band.

Sorry to be the bearer of such a negative message. If the tab is bigger than a baby aspirin, you cannnot be certain you can take it whole. You might be OK.

Edited to add, I had no problesm at all immediately post-op. This only happened about a year out. 

Kate

Hi Naomi:

I may be an exception but I have never had a problem with any type of pill post-op.

Talk to your pharmacist to see if it's available in liquid or if is made (somehow) in a smaller size or could be cut in half.  How big is it in comparison to your pinky, for instance?

I am taking HUGE antibiotic pills right now for a sinus infection.

Although I have stopped taking my giant fish oil pills... For some reason those scare me. 

I think it depends on where you are with your restriction.  My vitamins are chewable now.  Everything else I can swallow. 

The benefits of the surgery FAR outweigh any inconviences of pill size....   It's something you just adjust to over time.  Really not a big issue.