Hi All! I've 5days post op and I'd like to know if it's safe to swallow my meds, in pill form. They are little pills, once a day. Not Vitamins.

My discharge instructions from the hospital says to crush them for 6wks, but that seems a little ridiculous to me. I can't bear to smash and swallow anymore. They burn going down and taste DISGUSTING.

Any words of wisdom?!?!? Thanks everyone!!!!

I was okay with pills immediately postop, when I had little restriction or swelling. A few days postop, I got stuck on a pain pill---and though my doctor had not required crushing, learned that that was the route I need to take (and still need to take--actually, even more, now that I have restriction) with pressed tablets.

Gelcaps and powder-filled capsules don't cause me any trouble; they dissolve before they move through the stoma. But pills, unless tiny, really are a problem for me. (I take 1/2 of a tiny BP med each morning; it is okay. Anything bigger = stuck and swollen for me.)

If they're not, for you, I wouldn't sweat it. It means you don't have the swelling/restriction some people do.

Just be aware that you may reach a point where you need to switch to liquids or caps/gelcaps whenever possible.

When I had my surgery and spent the night at the hospital, they brought me my regular Rx pills the next morning to swallow whole (three pills). I was a little apprehensive, but they all went down fine. I asked my doctor about it later and she said even a larger pill will not get stuck... that basically it will just sit in your pouch and dissolve if it can't fit through your stoma.

I was still a bit apprehensive about taking larger pills for a long time. But, the last time I ran out of my Calcium citrate pills, I decided to try Citracal petites (which are still pretty large despite being called 'petite'. And, I am able to take them fine. I can feel them sitting in my pouch, but it doesn't hurt. A little warm liquid helps to dissolve them faster so I often have them right before some tea.

Some tabs are really resistant to dissolving, and many are enteric-coated (designed NOT to dissolve until they reach the intestine). They can and do get lodged in the stoma. They eventually break down and/or pass through, but as someone who has experienced this, I can assure you that, if avoidable, avoiding it is the route to take.

I don't crush, but break up larger pills if there is no gelcap, capsule, or liquid alternative. i use the "nothing bigger than a pencil eraser) rule of thumb that I was given for chewing food.

Getting a pill lodged in the stoma is an experience I don't care to repeat.

I was swallowing pills the same day as my surgery. I've been swallowing most of my other meds w/o any incident. The only capsule I open isn't much bigger then my bp rx but my doc said to open it for about a week and then I should be able to swallow w/no problem. I plan to swallow it today. Good luck.

I'm almost at 3 weeks post op and have had no trouble at all with pills. FWIW, when I took Tylenol in the hospital the night after banding, they brought me pills, not liquid.

As Betsy said, this may change so I'll be careful once I start getting fills.

kagead

My doc sent me home with pills for pain... I don't have any problems with any pills all- I take all my vitamins regular... I guess you have to see what works for you... I also don't have restriction yet so I realize this may change.

Thanks everyone for the boost of confidence! When I get home tonight, I will take them, broken up into peices and see how it goes!!

Now, if only I could rid my body of this gas I'm harboring in my gut. Ugghhhhh.

I have no problem taking pills... big or small.