When can I start swallowing my pills again instead of crushing them? I remember asking the doctor but don't remember what he said. My thyroid and sleeping pill are small...do you think it's ok to take them normally right now?

Also, when can I start chewing gum again? It is a habit for me and I love to chew gum! I miss it.

My doctor allowed me to swallow anything that was no bigger than an M&M right after surgery. I would say when you are comfortable in swallowing and when you can swallow enough water to take your pills. Just make sure that they do go down completely.

I was swallowing pills within 6 hour of waking from surgery. Before I went home the doctor reviewed my list and said they were all fine. I think time released are usually their main concern, apart from size.

The only OTC I mentioned that I occasionally need was sudafed. He said it was fine for me to take it but that it might hit me faster than normal and wear off faster than typical. So I make sure to use the 4 hour version. In that case there's a 12 hour version and I think it's logical to avoid a type of pill like that without clearing it first.

I feel your pain with the crushed pills!! My doc let me start swallowing them 2 weeks after surgery. Something my hubby thought of was putting the pill in a jello shot so you don't have to taste the nastiness. Worked great for me as I had to take 10 a day those two weeks. Now I'm only on 3 a day. Yayyyy!

I had bought a pill crusher before surgery because my handouts said I would need to crush them but at discharge I asked the doctor about a capsule and he said I dont make my patients crush them or break them open, you can take them normally. I think you should be fine like they said if you doh't have trouble swallowing and if they aren't time released. Good luck!

they brought me pills in the hospital to take. i swallowed them with no problem.

each dr. has their own rules, so check with yours first.

Kelly

Sarah, Dr. Aceves says to wait 3 months before swallowing whole pills. In the same email, it says that most patients are fine at 1 month out so the 3 month thing is a safety net so that people don't have problems. I'm crushing everything and ICK! nasty nasty!

XOXO Renee`

My doctor says anything pea size or smaller is ok whole otherwise cut in half. I've been swallowing pills sice day 1.