Crushed Meds for new RN-Y post op YUK!

 Had my RN-Y 5/28  I was told i have to crush meds for the first two weeks. Oh my go****'s horrible.   BITTER,BITTER,BITTER (The pills- not me) LOL. Anyway- please tell me this crushing thing is only temporary.  Plus my potassium was a little low at discharge- so they prescribed liquid  potasiium to take for a week. It's like drinking sal****er from the Pacific ocean.    Anyone else had to endure?... I know I'll survive- but it's awful!! Thaks for letting me whine a little. Any tips always appreciated.                                        Thanks  Jenny R.

The nurse at MMPC told me I could use a tiny spoonful of unsweetened applesauce with my crushed pill.....it sure helped. Some of my pills were just awful.....but after 2 weeks Dr. Kemmeter said I could swallow them whole with just a sip of water - whew, was I ever glad!

Pat R.

Try mixing the potassium into orange crystal light ... it makes it palatable. I had to take that for awhile too ... although mine was orange-flavored to begin with, and mixing it with the orange crystal light made it taste kind of like orange crush (although not carbonated.) Actually, I found mixing anything with orange crystal lite took away the nasty taste ... and believe me, I had to take liquid zoloft, which is super nasty tasting stuff. Yes, it's just temporary ... you will survive this ... we all did.

Thanks Eileen. It's funny- I seem to be able to tolerate orange flavored things best at this point. I'll try it.  Thanks for the reminder that it's temporary. You did it- so can I! Thanks again- jenny

I agree with the applesauce trick!  I did it, too.  It was the only way I could take them.  Never tasted them mixed in the applesauce. 

  Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sticking with physician orders but just wondereing- would a capsule or small pill likely get stuck in the first two weeks, or is the surgeon being overly cautious? Jenny

Hi Jenny! My husband had a horrible time getting his meds in.  After the 2nd day of not being able to take them, we cut the pills in half.  Some of them we quartered.  He didn't have any problems with that.  At two weeks, you will be able to swallow them whole.  I wish MMPC more education about taking medications after the surgery.  That was the worst part for my husband. I hope you are doing well, despite this temporary bump. Jenn

Hi Jenn! Thanks for sharing  about your hubby having a horrible time too with meds. I agree that MMPC could educate a little more on med taking............ Honestly this has been the most frustrating thing for me!  I finally called MMPC and they merely offered the suggestion of mixing  them in unsweetened applesauce. I just tried my lipitor quartered-  it went o.k. I don't want to screw anything up- but not getting meds down, isn't smart either. I am SOOOOOOOOO........ looking forward to the next food stage!      -     Jenny