Post-Op & Migraines

I just had my orientation yesterday and we were informed that we can't take pills after surgery.  Most things I can do without, so its fine.   But I suffer from serious migraines (up to 4 days a week) and was wondering what can be taken post-op?  I know some migraine meds are NSAIDs and those are verbotten and I also know that having the surgery might decrease my migraines, but I'd like to have something ready just in case..   Is there a liquid that can be taken?  Or a pill that doesn't taste horrible if you cru**** up? 

Well I haven't crushed pills, and Im a preop myself, but I was told Tylenol was ok to take.

From what they explained to me, the "hole" (I have no idea what the official word is) at the bottom of our new pouch can be too small to let pills pass through, so I'd have to crush up tylenol to take (which would be fine, except tylenol doesn't work for migraines.  And tylenol migraine has asprin....which is a no no post-op)

I had this same concern going into surgery.  Talk to your surgeon or PCP. I'm sure they can find something to manage your migraines until you can take your normal pills again (if they're approved).  BUT, keep in mind that your body will be full of pain medication and blood thinners (to prevent clots) as well. You most likely won't get a migraine too soon after surgery.  I didn't have one until I was almost a year out (marked improvement from pre-op) and that one was totally a stress induced headache that turned into a migraine (now that I think of it, a migraine is almost as bad as a serious dumping isn't it? HA!).   Hope that eases your concerns....but talk to your Drs. either way.

So eventually I'd be able to take pills again?  They told us at orientation that we'd never be able to take a pill after surgery.  For the rest of our lives, we'd have to be on crushed, chewed or liquid medication.  (I know everyone hears something different, but do most people go back to pills eventually?)

Well I can tell you that isn't true - I wasn't allowed to take pills for about 10 days (and believe me crushing them sucks - they taste so bad - I used to use a popsicle (SF) to freeze my mouth so I could not taste them as bad) - then was allowed to go back to small pills and now I just take all my normal vitamins. So once your insides heal you can go back to taking pills again - you just have to make sure that they are not pouch burners like aspirin etc I have never heard of anyone never taking a pill again although some people do crush their pills for a longer period of time to be sure - and then again some people are never told about not doing it and take pills from the next day. All depends on your surgeon... Jackie

Hmmm....interesting.....so now I'm just on the hunt for a non-pouch burning medicine just in case! Thanks!

Are you having RNY? I had to crush them or find chewable pills for about 2-3 weeks, but after that I was cleared for the smaller vitamins, and now take pretty much anything. If you're having a different kind of surgery, that might be why....I'd double check on that requirement. I can't imagine having to chew or crush forever...ick!

I'm supposed to be having RNY.   Now that I think about it, it was the nurse who said the chewable, crushable, liquid thing.....but she was adamant!  There was even a lady in the room who had had the surgery before and has no problems with swollowing pills and the nurse said something about, "you're not supposed to, you're supposed to chew them".....but I'm wondering if that was an attempt at scaring some of us off.  Who wants to chew tylenol for life?  *gag*

You will need to talk to both, your PCP and your surgeon about this.  Tylenol is fine, but as we know, it does nothing for a migraine. But, I can honestly tell you, that since surgery, I have not suffered from a migraine (why I really don't have an answer for you). But, definately talk to both.  And I say both, because there is alot about this surgery and its after effects that they do not know or understand. Good luck!