When can I start swallowing capsules?

[April Dawn 8]

I have 3 capsules that I have to take. I have been told to empty the contents into something like yogurt. I have tried yogurt, applesauce, and today V8. I am really struggling to get these down. Gagging with each swallow. I'm 5 days post op and just want to swallow these meds. The largest is the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins with Iron. When did you all start swallowing pills that are larger than MnMs? Any advise on how to get the powder down?

[Lynnlovesthebeach 626]

I’m 3 1/2 weeks post op. I was told 6 weeks. I have the Bariatric Advantage chewable vitamins and chewy Calcium. The Vitamins are gross but I manage to get it down. I also take chewable Pepsid Complete and a small blood pressure pill that I have to crush and I just put it in Water.

[GettinSkinnywithit 180]

You need to check because some meds are time release and you need a different formula if you crush them.

[Lynnlovesthebeach 626]

@GettinSkinnywithitYes I know. Before surgery I was switched from a time released med to one that could be crushed. Hopefully I won’t need it much longer.

[MIZ60 1,291]

I take the same Vitamins and my PA told me at my two week check up that it was okay to just swallow them. Opening them and putting in a bite of yogurt was NASTY so I feel your pain.

[ElectricBoogaloo 337]

19 hours ago, April Dawn said:

I have 3 capsules that I have to take. I have been told to empty the contents into something like yogurt. I have tried yogurt, applesauce, and today V8. I am really struggling to get these down. Gagging with each swallow. I'm 5 days post op and just want to swallow these meds. The largest is the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins with Iron. When did you all start swallowing pills that are larger than MnMs? Any advise on how to get the powder down?

Check with your team, experiences shared here may not align with your team's wishes. For example at my first week follow-up, my surgeon said I no longer have to sprinkle omeprazole on a spoonful of yogurt, but could swallow whole and I didn't have to cut tablets in half, while @Lynnlovesthebeach is okayed at 6 weeks.

Do you mix them into the entire container of yogurt, applesauce? If yes, don't do that!! 😊😁 For the omeprazole, I dipped a spoon in the yogurt, carefully poured it all on the yogurt on the spoon and swallowed the entire dose at once. The nurses mixed the meds in the Jello and it was difficult to get it all in because it was disgusting. Yuck.

[catwoman7 11,212]

I took most tablets and capsules whole as soon as I got home from the hospital. The only two I had to wait on (maybe three weeks?) were those Calcium horse pills and ursodiol, since those were too big for me to swallow at first.

[mousecat88 2,280]

I just got home from the hospital today and they said I can swallow any capsules. I just have to crush the potassium pill because it's huge. They were even giving me capsules in the hospital.

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[Frustr8 7,886]

My Carafate are huge white kinda oval pills, I have to pour boiling or very hot Water on them. let them soften , I usually use a shot glass, let it cool and then stir up the slurry. And lucky lucky me, I get to do this every 6 hours around the clock. Either Dr Noria my Bariatric Surgeon / endoscopist has great faith that this is going to shrink/eradicate my 5or6 newer ulcers or she is benefiting from a major drug industry kickback! And it has all the charm of ingesting white flour paste.👅

[notmyname 593]

I have one capsule that I have to empty to take. I put one swallow of Water in my mouth, dump the capsule into that water (trying not to dump any of it on my lips or gums) and swallow. Then take another sip of water, swish it around my mouth, and swallow. It’s the only way I don’t get a nasty aftertaste.

[Susiern56 1]

Talk with your doctor, my doctor let me start back right after surgery

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[AshMarie794 164]

On ‎11‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 6:43 PM, April Dawn said:

I have 3 capsules that I have to take. I have been told to empty the contents into something like yogurt. I have tried yogurt, applesauce, and today V8. I am really struggling to get these down. Gagging with each swallow. I'm 5 days post op and just want to swallow these meds. The largest is the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins with Iron. When did you all start swallowing pills that are larger than MnMs? Any advise on how to get the powder down?

I honestly started capsules as soon as I got home. My meds that I had to open and take did nothing but make me throw up. I went very slow with it and took one at a time obviously. But multi that was recommended by my surgeon is even larger than my capsules I take daily and I do just fine. Just depends on your pouch really.