When Could You Swallow Pills?

[Lovemylife 3]

Just wondering ready to stop crushing after 2 weeks lol

[geno5150 168]

I started after about a week when my surgeon said it was OK to do so. Omeprazole in yogurt is pretty nasty.

[suepeeps 230]

Most of my pills are small so I never crushed them. They gave them to me whole in the hospital. I did have to empty the capsule of prilosec but only for a week or so. I am 2 1/2 months out and can now swallow big pills.

[LadyK 164]

The smaller pills they made me swallow in the hospital, the bigger ones I broke in half. I was able to swallow the larger pills at about 4-5 weeks, I'm 7 weeks almost 8 now. They told me also not to swallow any pill larger than the size of an M&M at first. It varies for everyone, ask your surgeon and then test it, if it doesn't go down try breaking them in half, that's better than crushing. I had one nurse crush my pills in the hospital for her shift, and I was sick the entire time she was there , I'm glad the other nurses make me take the meds they brought whole or broke in half.

[AStephenson 159]

Good thread, I have multiple supplements I take now that i'd like to continue taking after surgery. Only thing I foresee giving me a problem is my fish oil..those babies are HUGE! No way to break or crush them cause they're oil. LOL Sounds like I will have to wait a while to resume them..

[suejersey 263]

I have resumed all my pills (without crushing) with no problem swallowing, except for my fish oil. I agree, I think they are too big. I am five weeks out.

[firebelle10 80]

I never crushed pills- I always took them whole. My surgeon said it was ok but everyone is different so follow what your dr says.

[MrsM 31]

Most of my pills are small so I never crushed them. They gave them to me whole in the hospital. I did have to empty the capsule of prilosec but only for a week or so. I am 2 1/2 months out and can now swallow big pills.

Please tell me what you mixed your prilosec with!!! I tried with Jello and that was a major fail!!

[suzthebrit 146]

The day after surgery my doctor told me to take all my pills. The antibiotic they have me was huge and I could take that just fine. Give swallowing it a shot, if you don't see any negative effects, like sliming, then you're good to go.

[MSinNJ 6]

I am 12 days out and took pills whole with the doctor's okay from the minute I left the hospital. My blood pressure pill is a time release so it couldn't be crushed. So far, no issues. I do space my pills throughout the day now instead of taking them all at once.

[Belinda 17]

I had to crush mine for 1 month it was so gross I mixed them with my Protein Shake. My prilosec I just open the cap and put it in my mouth and swallow with Water. I do have to cut my Iron in half still they said anything bigger than a M&M I will have to cut.

[Lovemylife 3]

You guys rock! Great feedback thanks all and I will try my first mini pill today

[Newfoundlove 95]

I emptied the Emeprozole (sp?) for about a month, but started taking the chewable vitamins at three weeks with my docs permission. I think it was about three months out that I started taking my fish oil and evening primrose capsules.

[joyful noise 101]

I simply have trouble with all capsules; none of mine can be emptied into applesauce, etc. It always feels like they are "stuck". I am still taking chewable vitamins and Calcium. The rest of my meds are small. The coq10 is the worst. So, ther nurse tole me to get alpha (something) but that is a capsule too. I haven't gotten to the fish oil pills. I am not looking forward to this. Wondering if it ever gets better. I am 5 weeks out.

[LHT 21]

2 days post op