Are you able to take meds?

[Jen40 12]

I am scheduled for surgery in March. Just wondering if anyone here who was on any meds pre-op, are/were able to take the same meds immediately post-op??

I take 3 pills per day. Just wondering what I will need to do about those once I have the surgery?

[BigGirlPanties 957]

I take 2 pills per day, and I took them right after the surgery... depending on the type, the dr may have you smash them up... mine were small, so no problem... good luck...talk to your doctor!

[Mrs.RRn 2,110]

You need to ask your surgeon. Because some surgeons may want you to crush some medications-- however, not all pills are safe to crush!

[Schmincke 118]

Also: your medications may change after surgery. I immediately went off one of my two blood pressure meds, and the lady in the next room stopped her type 2 diabetes meds. The surgeon sent me home with a different list of medications. They should know what to do!

[Recycled 2,182]

I take quite a few pills every day. I was off all of them a week before surgery and resumed a couple of days after. Only one I stopped taking as it was just really large and I didn't think it would go down right. Like others have said, you may have to have the levels adjusted as well. My doc is running a full blood panel at 5 wks to determine all my levels and if there are any absorption issues and will make any adjustments after that including adding the appropriate Vitamins if needed.

[gomekast 559]

I wasn't allowed pills until week 8. Check with your nurse or surgeon, each has their own rules on this.

[Recycled 2,182]

week 8??? I'd probably be dead. When it comes to who's in charge, my cardiologist is the boss. She's actually the one that kept me 2 extra days in the hospital and was the one to discharge me, not my Surgeon.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Recycled

[gomekast 559]

week 8??? I'd probably be dead.

Ha! I wasn't on any major life saving pills. They said they do that because the more pills you take early on, the more barfing and nausea the patients have. They just try to make it easier on the patient in that regard.

[macman 603]

I was on blood pressure medication that stopped after surgery. I had a hospital stay due to blood clots and I took oxycontin and oxycodone for three weeks. The surgeon has me on an antacid, colace and lo dose aspirin, all pills. The Calcium pills I took in the hospital had to be cut in half so I could get them down.

I do know there are some medications that you might be asked to stop for a few days before and after surgery.

[fotogrphr 69]

They told me to check with my pharmacist about my meds. They looked up each med to see if tablets/caplets could be crushed or the capsules opened. I was lucky that mine could be opened/crushed. My problem is getting them down when I take them that way. They are really nasty tasting and I burp the taste back up. It makes me nauseated. I haven't actually thrown them up, but I've come really close. I will be happy when I can take them whole again!!

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

Best thing I did was get a good liquid Multivitamin to go along with 12 pills I have to swallow morning and night. No problem swallowing.

[fotogrphr 69]

Thanks.. I might try that. I have tried taking them with my liquid Nexium. It is still tough, though. There are a couple of super bitter ones. I can't seem to disguise them. I've tried applesauce and pudding, too.

[gomekast 559]

Cream of mushroom Soup. I had to crush one and take it quick...I would add in salty spoonful of the soup and I could get it down then.