Help- I'm Not Feeling The Restriction

[LindaL 0]

I am one week post op and I am not having any feelings of restriction! I don't have to worry about sippping, I can drink- I can take my pills. Should I be concerned that my surgery wasn't done right?

[diochick 40]

I was in the same boat! I drank like crazy, swallowed my pills fine, was even eating Jello like a champ. Then I moved on to mushies. I ate 3 bites of mashed potatoes and was unbelievably full. Once you move on to heavier foods, you'll feel that restriction, no problem.

[Lilee84 648]

It's totally normal - You won't feel the restriction until you start eating dense Protein. Very few actually feel the restriction while on liquids or purees.

[LindaL 0]

Thank you!

[Helo-Tech 7]

remember guys, that you are supposed to be crushing your pills, not because of the restriction but because you don't have as much stomach area to digest and absorb the medication, by crushing them, the digestion part is helped out a bunch.

[Lilee84 648]

remember guys, that you are supposed to be crushing your pills, not because of the restriction but because you don't have as much stomach area to digest and absorb the medication, by crushing them, the digestion part is helped out a bunch.

I have to respectfully disagree with this.

Some pills are time release and therefore crushing them would significantly reduce their effectiveness and could have potentially detrimental effects if too much of a medication is released into the blood stream at once. Please, don't ever crush your pills unless your Dr specifically instructs you to.

[Wheetsin 714]

Ugh, I have super restriction on liquids only. I'm intentionally not moving on to many mushies because I still have to make choices like, "Hmm, Vitamin or Water?" because one is going to fill me up too much for the other.

I do know that with most bariatrics the restriction comes with solid foods. That's part of why we're encouraged to get our Protein from solid sources as early as allowable. (It also keeps you filled up longer.) Things hang out in our stomachs for different amounts of time. And that's another reason why we are encouraged not to drink with meals - the consistency can trigger the pyloric valve to open too soon.

As said by a previous poster, if your medicine is a time release or "enteric coated" medication you do not want to crush it. If you have any questions, just call the pharmacist. They can tell you. If they're crushable, they're also breakable. Even with my restriction I can take a huge horse pill in thirds, I just bite off about a third and then have to wait about 5 minutes for the next piece. You can also slurry meds with Water, or in applesauce, etc (provided they're crushable). You won't want to with some meds, but with others it will barely be noticeable.

[Joni 94]

remember guys, that you are supposed to be crushing your pills, not because of the restriction but because you don't have as much stomach area to digest and absorb the medication, by crushing them, the digestion part is helped out a bunch.

I also have a comment about crushing pills - the University of Michigan where I am having my surgery no longer requires crushing. When my husband had his sleeve a year ago at the same place, he was instructed to crush his pills, and if something was time released they switched him off it until he could swallow. I'm not sure why they decided it was no longer necessary, but I'm glad!!

[Pookeyism 1,143]

Just be very careful with the things you don't feel a restriction on. I've had to remind myself of that over the last few weeks. I've had alot of trouble transistioning over to regular food (3 months post op) and couldn't peg why. I noticed how much liquid I was able to get in, and started moderating it more...so many ounces, wait, like I had to to begin with. I think I was keeping my tummy sore with liquids! Gone back to liquid protien in moderated amounts for about a few days to a week, and going to go back to mushies after that, and see if that doesnn't help the solid food phase more.

About the pills - as the dictor but do not wait to be told. Some time-releases are done so out of convenience or expense, and can be transitioned to a similar med that is not time released - and thus easier to digest.

[Peaceful 5]

I am from Minnesota - can I ask where you went - I have not heard back from Insurnace yet - hopefully this week.

I have not talked to anyone that did it at Fairview and Dr. Laguna.

[gramaof4 58]

I worry about the pills getting caught or lodged ....my doc told me to cut them up in small easy to swall pieces less than 3 cm round...

[mommy794 119]

I was the same, drinking relatively fast and easy, no problems! even after I was eating some normal foods I still felt like I could eat ok just way smaller amounts. Now I'm 8.5 weeks out and feeling more restriction even when drinking... like last nite I drank about 8 oz of my high Protein milk before bed too fast and I had to throw up alittle. So it definitly evolves over time!

[Catracks 865]

I also have a comment about crushing pills - the University of Michigan where I am having my surgery no longer requires crushing. When my husband had his sleeve a year ago at the same place, he was instructed to crush his pills, and if something was time released they switched him off it until he could swallow. I'm not sure why they decided it was no longer necessary, but I'm glad!!

I have a ton of chewable Vitamins that I don't need. I could swallow pills from day one. Now I have all these intensely sweet/sour Vitamins to get down. YUCK!

[Mr_Worm 129]

I have to respectfully disagree with this.

Some pills are time release and therefore crushing them would significantly reduce their effectiveness and could have potentially detrimental effects if too much of a medication is released into the blood stream at once. Please, don't ever crush your pills unless your Dr specifically instructs you to.

This is correct. You are allowed pills in whole form that are the size of an M&M per my doctor. Also, medications aren't absorbed in the stomach nor is food. Absorption occurs in the small intestine/small bowel.

[Liberated Sleeve 148]

I was told I was okay to take my pills as normal. Haven't had any problems so far. It's just quite awesome that I am taking 5 less then I was before! Whoo hoo!