Question:
How do you take oral medications?
If the hole in your stomach is only the size of an M&M, and you have to chew everything up, or on liquids, or pureed foods, how can you take any medications for pain or anything else. Are they in liquid form, and if not does it cause dumping? — Tamauralee H. (posted on March 6, 2003)
March 6, 2003
Hi, I was scared too about taking medication for pain. I have migraines,
and regular headaches pretty often, and couldn't have imagined not being
able to take something for it. I asked my surgeon about it before hand, and
while I did have to lay off of Pills for a couple of months after my
surgery, now I can take them. I have not had any problem, I know some of
the people who post on here are very adamant that you only take liquid
vitamins, etc. I take whole solid vitamins, and calcium. Nothing has ever
bothered me, but it all depends on your surgeon, some are stricter than
others. Everyone is different, if your surgeon says it's ok I would try.
Also now though, since losing some of the weight I don't have headaches
quite as often. Lap RNY 10-11-02 -93lbs.
— Lorine L.
March 6, 2003
I have had a fear of something getting stuck in my stoma ever since I got
out of surgery. In the hospital, they gave me my oral meds crushed into
powder form. I took it like that once and NEVER AGAIN! It was so
disgusting! The next dose, I asked the nurse to just cut each tablet into
4's instead and that went down MUCH better!! That was 7 weeks ago. I now
cut only the tablets that are larger than an M&M in half and those seem
to go down fine that way now too. Good luck to you!
— thumpiez
March 6, 2003
in the begining, I cut them up. THen i got brave and started to take them
whole and did fine! (took about 3 months before i felt comfortable doing
that though)
— Vicki L.
March 6, 2003
I took my medications since day 1 of surgery. I was pretty shocked she just
handed me a pill right after, but I tried it and it was fine. I do have
problems with calcium pills, I have to cut them. I also have a pretty
strong stomach, I could hanle almost anything. But as the previous posters
said, it all depends on your surgeon and on your personal comfort. Goodluck
to you!
— Lezlie Y.
March 6, 2003
My general rule of thumb is that if it will not dissolve in water pretty
fast (about as fast as advil does) then I do not take it unless it is very
very tiny. I have been taking my pills since about 3 months out with no
trouble and I take alot of them. I even take Immodium AD whole, and those
things are HUGE. All my vitamins and medications dissolve in water so that
makes it easier. I take chewable calcium because it is too large in pill
form. good luck, talk to your doctor if you are uncomfortable **1 year PO,
-195lbs, crrt Wgt 125**
— smedley200
March 6, 2003
They never really told us we couldn't swallow, so we never had a problem.
All the stuff I use today dissolves easily in water OR saliva. So, I've
never had a problem.
— vitalady
March 6, 2003
My doctor says that the stoma size is the size of a dime. The pills will
dissolve in your stomach before they pass through.
— joeandteri
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