Are you guys able to swallow pills post op or do you grind them up...take liquid etc. also, I have a pineal problem and I need a lot of MRIs, can you get an MRI with the band?

I have no problems with pills or MRIs. I take pills daily and have to have MRI's yearly.

Early on post op I did have to crush my pills. Talk to your doctor before hand. I had some that were extended release so they had to change my prescription so that I was able to crush them.

Initially post op, I was advised not to take my pills orally without crushing them. Prior to my surgery I had as many of my medications revised to forms I could tolerate post op ( liquid or chewable). As others have posted, you are not supposed to crush time released medications ( you would risk possible overdose) or open capsules.

I hated crushing pills; no matter what I used to disguise the extreme bitterness, I could still taste them and they made me gag.

Within a few weeks post op, I was able to swallow the majority of my meds whole...a major improvement that continues today. I just have to remember to take a sufficient amount of Water with each pill, and to take them 1 at a time, and wait about 30 seconds between pills. The only "stuck episode" I ever had was with a pill and not having enough water to properly swallow it...life lesson learned; it only happened 1 time.

Since having my band placed, I have had both CT and MRI studies completed without incident. I was told that the band has no metal parts, so there is no cause for concern.

Like the others immediately following surgery I was told no pills unless crushed. My surgeon gave me liquid lortab for pain. But now 3 months post op I am taking small pills.

Are you guys able to swallow pills post op or do you grind them up...take liquid etc. also, I have a pineal problem and I need a lot of MRIs, can you get an MRI with the band?

firstly... i use morter and pestle to grind my tablets up and put them in black coffee... Im sure i did read somewhere here where an MRI is perfectly safe with the band in place. I dont see why it shouldnt be.

I knew I would have many MRIs and CT Scans in my future (I have a small benign brain tumor) so that was one of the first things I checked into when seriously considering lap band. I was told there were no issues with it. Given my diagnosis I don't think I would have been cleared if it was an issue, nor would I want to be!