Hey,

I was wondering if you folks take delayed release medicine. As I just got surgery and was sent home. They said something about extended release medicine. But idk. What is your opinion can I take it? Its for my anti reflux.

What medicine was it (not to be nosy)?

I take the generic Prilosec and it is delayed release. I was taking 40 mg's before surgery and was told by my surgeon to take half. He never mentioned any problems with it not being immediate release. I assume they want something that stayed in the "system" for 24 hours, which is what medicines like Nexium and Prilosec do. It is to protect your new stomach from acid.

It is Omepersole basically the generic of Prilosec I think @@Ashlegal

@@jillofalltrades203

That is what I take, 20 mg's and that was suggested (more like required) by my surgeon. I think honestly, if it something that sent you home with instructions to take, then you should probably do it.

EVERY STORE, EVERY WHERE carries 20 mg generic Prilosec OTC. They are small pills (but half them if you feel more comfortable) and take them at the same time everyday as it makes them more effective with no break through acid to worry about.

Do you crush yours? The nurse at the hospital told me to crush all my pills or split open capsules. @@Ashlegal

They have me open my omesperol (can't spell) and mix with applesauce.

@@jillofalltrades203 I checked into this extensively pre-surgery, and a number of sources (including my doctor) indicated that ER medicines (Extended Release) don't work very well with RNY patients.

The reason has to do with our malabsorption of medicine. As a result of our surgery, we have reduced small intestine, so the ER medicines (which dissolve slowly) don't absorb as efficiently and tend to pass through the intestine before the medicine can be fully absorbed. Thus, ER medicines don't work very well, and are not recommended.

See the following article for details:

http://nurse-practitioners-and-physician-assistants.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/Medication-Absorption-after-Gastric-Bypass-Surgery.aspx

I heard that there is no issue with extended release tablets. The only thing I was told was to not take capsules. Also, I had to crush all pills for the first two weeks after surgery. And split anything bigger than a tic tac.

You need to read the bottle or box before crushing. Not all meds can be crushed. I am 5 days out and don't have problems swallowing pills. My surgeon told me it was ok.

It depends on the medication and it's method of ingestion. A great number of XR type medications are absorbed in the Duodenum or Jejunum, well guess what, after a bypass we don't have those to use anymore. So those kinds of meds are out. Some will work, some will not. I think that for that reason they put a blanket "no XR meds" clause in, certain medications are okay, I take nexium in powder form, its DR 40 mg, but works fine. That being said GERD after a bypass is extremely rare, I agreed to continue taking it for 30 days post op, then I am done with it, after being on stomach acid medicine for 20 years. I also take psychotropic meds, some were XR, they had to be converted not just to IR, but liquid. Let's just say I have become a master compounder. Research Ora-Sweet, you can get in on Amazon, you will thank me later.

I had an RNY in May 2001. I had it done a teaching hospital, and my procedure was very complicated and restrictive. I have a metal stoma, and a band around pouch to prevent stretching. My pouch is the shape of a small juice can, and is at the very top of my upper curvature. It was a special type of GB, that they were calling a fobi pouch. My doctor was a perfectionist, and I know I had the best Gastric Bypass I could have. It's funny, because in 2001, no one in or around my life had ever heard of a gastric bypass, no one had one, no one knew what to expect, not really even me. I went from 320 in May to 195 in September. I went on the scale to weigh myself at that goal the morning of September 11, 2001! The only problem I had was that 8 years post-op, I had a bleeding ulcer at the joining of my GB, due to taking NSAIDS and stress. I vomited half my blood and had to have emergency surgery to have it cauterized shut. My gastric system is far, far more sensitive after that than a normal gastric bypass person, and putting food in my pouch sometimes is painful. I have a lot of meals as soups, where everything is chopped up in my Ninja, and cooked thoroughly so it's like a broth full of protein and fiber rich vegetables. I also drink protein shakes with lactose free milk and hemp mix together, with hemp protein powder, local bee pollen, d-ribose, and green food powder. I also take Vitamins and Supplements. I find that B-Complex is key, take a lot. I take a bunch of things from the health food store, and I never felt better. Getting your vitamins is SO important post-op. When I neglected taking vitamins, I suffered, and ended up having severe deficiencies and paid the price. So I get a very hefty supply of vitamins, protein and fiber in one day, and that is really the trick of the surgery. I had gained some weight back between 2012 and 2014. My town, Seaside Heights, New Jersey, has all but destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, and during the initial recovery, I grazed on comfort food. In May 2014, I began to lose weight, and went from 250 to 185, my all time lowest. I lost a significant amount of fat since I started eating primarily protein and fiber and cut out simple carbs for the most part. I'm no saint, my indulgences are fructose oatmeal cookies and rice krispie treats, within reason, and every day. Anything else sugary, I get sick: can't even get it past my pouch. I also walk, walk, walk. I have a routine where I walk my dogs for 10 minutes, 5 times a day. Also, I've made cleaning my house an exercise. I get on my hands and knees to clean the floor with cleaner and a rag every single day. I have a big house, and by the time I'm up and down a bunch of times, and up and down stairs, I have had a total cardio workout. All these things have led me to gain muscle mass, and lose fat. I'm a size 32 jeans and a medium shirt. I'm 44 and I shop at Hollister. People who see me are amazed that not only have I lost a total amount of 140 pounds over the years, I lost 50 percent more than that now almost, I had stopped at about 210/220, only 100 pounds down then. Now that I'm 40 down from that point, the results are incredible. So even 15 years out, the surgery still works perfectly, it's me that has to do the hard work. As far as mediations are concerned, I like to take sublingual anything if I can. I break pills up and dissolve them under my tongue if I can. With malabsorption an issue, I don't want to get less of a dose. Anyone who has any questions, feel free to write me. I know a lot about gastric bypass and helpful tips with my decade and a half experience.

Edited October 30, 201510 yr by Peter James Smith