Medications and other crap

Hey Kev,  I totally understand your frustration with doctors who just can't grasp the ibuprofen/aspirin issue with us RNY'ers.  Been there, doing that as we speak.  But you are right on when you mentioned the modification of our pain meds post-op. The RNY procedure that many of us have had (in which major portions of the small intestine has been bypassed) drastically reduces the surface area for absorption, and warrants the adjustment of drug route and dosage to ensure adequate delivery of the medication.  Drugs with long absorptive phases (extended release, controlled release) should be avoided by patients who have undergone RNY due to the likeliness that the drug passes through the gastrointestinal tract before absorption is complete. (I did some research and got this info from a couple of different websites.) Therefore, it is adviseable to use rapid release pain medications and spread them out:  Say you are prescribed Oxycodone, 15mg every 6 hours...Like me...I have to split the pill and take 1/2 every 3 hours, to be sure I absorb the entire dose.  If I take the whole thing at once, it may pass through my gut before the whole dose is absorbed. Also, certain meds and vitamin supplements depend on fats and acids to be absorbed properly.  My cardio just put me on Niaspan (basically, a mega-dose of Niacin) to help raise my HDL (good cholesterol) levels, but upon researching how this medication is metabolized, I found out it is primarily absorbed in the duodenum.  BONK in the doctor's forehead...my duodenum has been bypassed so this medication will not work for me.  Calcium:  Those of us who think we are getting the calcium we need by taking a calcium carbonate supplement like TUMS EX (RNY'ers anyway) might as well not be taking it at all...calcium carbonate dissolution requires hydrochloric acid to metabolize.  Our pouches no longer produce enough of it.  Calcium Citrate is what we need because it does not require acid to metabolize, but does need fats.  So I guess we could eat some lard with our supplement...LOL. I love this...the more questions everyone asks, the more learning through research I get to do! I hope you get some relief from your wrist injury soon, and take care. KathyG

Kevin, Sorry to hear about your wrist.  I hope they figure out the proper treatment for you and get to it soon!!!!  Take Care!