Taking Meds Post-op

[LAJ23 70]

My dietician told me that any Vitamins I take post-op need to be chewable for maximum absorption, but what about regular medications? Don't they work the same way? Absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach? I'm just wondering about post-op pain meds, my regular daily medications, etc. (which also usually require a decent swig of Water 😕).

[Sammi_Katt 303]

I had no problem with my regular medicine. I only take a PPI now (pantoprazole to stop my GERD), and it's been working just fine since day 1 of recovery.

I did have a little trouble at the beginning with my pain meds, but seeing as I was only on tylenol right after, I was able to find sugar free liquid tylenol, and took that. If you talk with your surgeon, they might recommend how to take your meds for a little while. I've heard of people having to split or crush their pills while they are fresh out of surgery before.

[kellym1220 472]

My post op pain meds were melted in hot Water and I drank them. At first it was pretty nasty, but pretty soon I was saying "Bring on the Opium Tea!" (It wasn't Opium it was Oxycodone, and I was on it for about 4 days.). I have been taking my other meds (Crestor, Thyroid, Benadryl) with no issue, although who knows? Maybe the absorption isn't as great, I just know I don't have a problem taking any pills right now.

[Officially Not Fatty Matty 459]

They had me taking giant purple horse pills (antibiotics) in the hospital next day, they went down fine. Some doctors say no pills for a while... best to just ask and comply with your doctors requirements.

[Arabesque 6,565]

People get told different things by their surgeons. A friend’s daughter was told she’d have to get a contraceptive implant as she wouldn’t be able to absorb the pill correctly after her sleeve surgery. My surgeon said that was hogwash because with a sleeve the digestive path is not shortened. I swallowed all my meds, not that I was on many, from day 2. (I initially had a little trouble but that was because of post surgical swelling.)

However, meds are absorbed in different parts of your digestive tract so check with your prescribing doctor to be sure.

[ladyJ2198 10]

I was told I have to crush any pills to take, I don’t know why but I haven’t taken a regular pill since surgery 7/14 I had gastric sleeve

[catwoman7 10,922]

I never had any issues (and I only had to take a chewable multi for the first few months after surgery - then I could switch over to a regular tablet. With my other Vitamins, I had (and still have) to take B12 as a sublingual, but everything else I've been taking as a regular tablet as soon as I got out of the hospital. I never had issues with meds. As someone else said, check with your prescribing doctor - it could be that some meds may need to be adjusted. And you can't do extended release versions any more. But outside of that ????

[Rose57 7]

2 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

Quote

I never had any issues (and I only had to take a chewable multi for the first few months after surgery - then I could switch over to a regular tablet. With my other Vitamins, I had (and still have) to take B12 as a sublingual, but everything else I've been taking as a regular tablet as soon as I got out of the hospital. I never had issues with meds. As someone else said, check with your prescribing doctor - it could be that some meds may need to be adjusted. And you can't do extended release versions any more. But outside of that ????

Edited August 19, 2020 by Rose57

[Rose57 7]

I had DS 6 weeks ago and I was told that I shouldn't swallow anything larger than a tic-tac. This has been fine with most of my meds but one. I just cut in 1/2.

Also, be sure to wait at least 2 hours after you take your regular meds before you take your Vitamin because of absorption.

[BigSue 1,322]

17 hours ago, Sammi_Katt said:

I was able to find sugar free liquid tylenol

@Sammi_Katt Where did you find sugar free liquid Tylenol? I looked for it but couldn't find it anywhere. Every brand of liquid acetaminophen I could find contains high fructose corn Syrup.

Edited August 19, 2020 by BigSue
@ wrong person

[Sammi_Katt 303]

3 hours ago, BigSue said:

@Sammi_Katt Where did you find sugar free liquid Tylenol? I looked for it but couldn't find it anywhere. Every brand of liquid acetaminophen I could find contains high fructose corn Syrup.

I do apologize. I'm trying to find it, but I might be mistaken. I did take liquid tylenol, but it may have been the corn Syrup one.