When can I start to take regular pills, like just swallow my iron tablet instead of having to crush it!

Right after surgery, I lost my ability to swallow large pills such as the large calcium pills and I had to crush them. It was like eating chalk. The only way I could down these was by mixing them with crystal light and drinking them down. Because they formed a paste at the bottom of the glass. I had to remix these and chug them down several times. Luckily my inability to swallow lasted only a couple months and then I was back to normal.

there was only one tablet I waited a couple of weeks on because of its size (can't remember which one it was, though). Everything else I started taking as soon as I got home from the hospital.

I was able to take pills a week out from bypass.

I was told by my dr/ hospital before and surgery NO swallowing pills for 8 weeks after surgery (RNY) because they didn't want them getting caught or plugging up new pouch. So I would check with what your dr recommends.