Swallowing pills after lower jaw surgery?

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#1 Post by **sauerkraut** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:32 pm

Just wondering how easy it is to take pills after surgery to move the lower jaw forward (Iâ€™m assuming BSSO but not sure of technical term). Anyone with experience to share?

The thing is, I have this obscure autoimmune disease. Itâ€™s nothing immediately life-threatening or anything, but has restricted my lifestyle for years. Finally the docs seem to have found some medication for me which actually has some effect. Whatâ€™s bothering me now is that if and when I eventually get round to having orthognathic surgery Iâ€™ll have trouble taking the pills. Theyâ€™re sizeable capsules which have to be swallowed whole and youâ€™re supposed to take them at mealtimes to avoid an upset stomach.

I remember not being able to take pills for quite a while after SARPE (though actually that was more because they were likely to get stuck in the expander!) so Iâ€™m hoping BSSO veterans will be able to reassure me that pill-popping is manageable somehow...

#2 Post by **candycin** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:50 pm

i am only 2 weeks post op from both top and bottom jaw and i was worried about this also....my surgeon gave me pain meds,motrin,and antibotics all in pill form and i as thinking are you freakn nuts? I was able to swallow them all!!!! if you need something in your belly first i would suggest drinking some boost or ensure, make sure your mouth isnt dry have a small drink first, and look in the mirror to see where you can put the pill between your teeth, i am still banded together and am able to get it in there, take one at a time and take your time it is doable!!!

#3 Post by **HkyGrl s2k** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:56 pm

I guess it depends on if they band you shut, or wire you shut. I'm wired shut and cant fit anything through my teeth at all. They gave me my antibiotics in pill form, so I was popping the capsules open and mixing them in liquid. They tasted so horrible I couldn't take that anymore and had to have them get me my antibiotics in liquid form.

So if you cant fit the pills in try mashing them up or opening them and mixing them in something if you can handle it. Hopefully they wont taste too bad for ya

#4 Post by **sauerkraut** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:58 am

Thanks for the replies

I've been told my jaw will be held in its new position with plates and screws so I'm hoping that speaks for NOT being wired shut, but I guess I'll find out nearer the time. The problem is the capsules I take are supposed to dissolve slowly in the stomach so I probably wouldn't get the proper benefit if I broke them open.

Fancy being given your post surgery meds in pill form, though! That sounds a bit daft to me. But I suppose they must think patients can cope with it or they wouldn't do it. (Would they

?)

#5 Post by **trish222** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:32 am

hello sauerkraut,
I was given both liquid pain medication and antibiotic pills. The liquid tasted awful and I was so afraid of gagging and throwing up, I went without. The pills-I bought a pill crusher and mixed with food. That, too tasted awful and was very difficult because, again, I was afraid of throwing up. Someone blogged that adding applesauce to crushed pills or even liquid-and blend-killed strong taste. It definately worked and wished I had known sooner. I had plates and screws to keep position of upper and lower jaws but was still banded shut for over 2 weeks. I could barely squeeze a sudafed tablet in-needed for congestion and post nasal drip. Good luck and definately rely on this site. I found it 8 weeks post-op after alot of post-op complications. It has been a lifesavior ever since!

#6 Post by **descantus** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:47 am

Hi Sauerkraut,

Really glad you posted this question, as I was about to!

I have recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease and have to take a mountain of pills each day. I'm not allowed to crush them either so figuring out how i'll get them down is an important issue which MUST be resolved before the big op. I'll be meeting my surgeon in a couple of weeks and will be questioning him on this very issue, so will report back on this thread his reply.

I'll also be asking my Crohn's specialist what I should do, and will get them both to agree the best way to get my meds into me.

Sauerkraut have you asked your autoimmune specialist for advice on this?

#7 Post by **sauerkraut** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:11 am

descantus wrote:
Sauerkraut have you asked your autoimmune specialist for advice on this?

Yes, and he's said that if need be he'd suspend the treatment until I can take pills again. Which would be really annoying because it would set me right back. But for you that would probably not even be an option, and there must be others in a similar position so I assume the docs have contingency plans. I shall be very interested to hear what your OS has to say about it. (I won't be seeing mine for quite a while yet). Sorry to hear about your illness, by the way. That doesn't sound like much fun

And trish222, you're right about this site. A great resource

#8 Post by **jdon** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:43 am

Hi sauerkraut,
After my jaw surgery a week ago I tried to swallow a pill last night but could not swallow hard enough.

I've tried cutting the pill into 4 pieces, then puting the pieces between two metal smooths and grinding them up. Fill the spoon with a liquid and drink it.

Hope that helps

#9 Post by **sauerkraut** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:38 am

Thanks, yes, the tips for crushing up pills etc are great if it's medicine you can take in that form. Unfortunately mine needs to be slow-release. I have to swallow these clodhopping great capsules whole, so they can dissolve slowly and be digested over time. Sounds like it might be a problem

#10 Post by **srs** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:42 am

I had to trouble swallowing pillas from day 2 on. I pushed them in between the front teeth and once they were in the mouth it was like normal. I have bands and had a splint, no wires

#11 Post by **sauerkraut** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:14 pm

Thanks for that, srs, you've given me hope again. It seems to vary from case to case, then, so I'll have to wait and see what my OS says... when I eventually get to see him!

#12 Post by **ossiander** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:05 pm

For my blood sugar meds a few years ago I had this problem. I had to cut the pills smaller and then take part of one every few hours.

#13 Post by **jdon** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:12 pm

sauerkraut wrote:Thanks, yes, the tips for crushing up pills etc are great if it's medicine you can take in that form. Unfortunately mine needs to be slow-release. I have to swallow these clodhopping great capsules whole, so they can dissolve slowly and be digested over time. Sounds like it might be a problem

Whoops missed that part of your first quote. A ossiander said, you may be able to partition the pill into smaller bits that you take more frequently...

#14 Post by **sauerkraut** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:33 pm

Yes, clever idea from ossiander. I never thought of that! I think my capsules are full of granules so presumably I could empty them into liquid and drink them over time. Will have to look into that. Thanks for all the help, everyone

#15 Post by **descantus** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:26 am

Just another quick suggestion for Sauerkraut (and anyone else with the same dilemma) whilst we all figure this one out. You might want to check with your doctor to ensure you're currently taking the smallest possible pill size available - I was having trouble swallowing some of my large pills (800mg size), and it was only when I asked that I discovered that they make the same medication in 400mg pill size.

You'll have to take more to get the same dose, but if they going down easily who cares