Usual meds post op?

[phatmomma]

Hi all

I've learned lots of this site in the 10 months i've been here but i can't remember one thing.....

After my op who will prescribe my normal meds for me? The hospital for enough till i can get to my GP or is it my responsibility to sort it out with my doctor before i go into hospital?

I am on 3 slow release metformin each morning and they are the size of bullets. At the moment i swallow them all together (no comments about big mouths please Lisa or Wendy) no problem but this is going to change in 34 days. The anaesthetist also put me on bp tabs...

Or will the hospital sort it?

 

[Sambucca]

Julie the hospital will sort it hun. They will send you home with a months fast-tab, calcium supps and vitamin drops, plus your usual meds in liquid or dissolvable form.

The vit drops are disgusting though, so many people have had the bassets chewable multivit or similar to get them through the first month or so. The bassets chewable are not suitable long term, but they do the job until you can swallow normal tabs.

 

[Twiggie]

I saw my GP this week to sort out my meds and the first thing he said was that I won't need Metformin after my surgery so not to worry about those (he's a diabetic specialist GP) and has now converted all my other meds to either liquid or dispersible form.

I'm already taking Calcichew D3 and chewable multivits so assume the hospital will prescribe anything else I need on discharge.

Sam... you mention the Bassets ones, which is what I'm currently taking, are not suitable long term... any reason why?

 

[phatmomma]

Thanks for the advice girls...

Twiggie, i asked my gp about my diabetes disappearing and not taking my metformin post op and he told me that the hospital will monitor my bloods and tell me when to stop taking them......

Wonder if its the classic tale of different hospitals saying different things???

 

[Sambucca]

Sam... you mention the Bassets ones, which is what I'm currently taking, are not suitable long term... any reason why?

For immediately pre-op they are fine, well... better than nothing and I actually used to look forward to mine as they taste nice and it was something to have a good chew on which was most welcome during that liquid stage.

Long term, they do not contain all the vits and minerals we need. I was told we need either a prescribed one (Forceval seems to be the most popular prescribed one) or to buy a really good one such as Centrum Plus or Sanatogen that is a complete Multi-vit and Mineral from A-Z.

Someone far more knowledgeable than me may be able to add some input regarding RDA's etc.

 

[Twiggie]

Thanks for the advice girls...

Twiggie, i asked my gp about my diabetes disappearing and not taking my metformin post op and he told me that the hospital will monitor my bloods and tell me when to stop taking them......

Wonder if its the classic tale of different hospitals saying different things???

I guess like any other area of medicine, it depends on how knowledgeable your GP is regarding diabetes and gastric bypass. I'm quite lucky mine is so pro-active in this area and we've discussed it at length prior to being referred. It was actually his suggestion I have the bypass in the first place.

I'll still have to have the blood tests initially, but he's expecting me to be able to stop Metformin completely based on results he's seen so far.

 

[Twiggie]

For immediately pre-op they are fine, well... better than nothing and I actually used to look forward to mine as they taste nice and it was something to have a good chew on which was most welcome during that liquid stage.

Long term, they do not contain all the vits and minerals we need. I was told we need either a prescribed one (Forceval seems to be the most popular prescribed one) or to buy a really good one such as Centrum Plus or Sanatogen that is a complete Multi-vit and Mineral from A-Z.

Someone far more knowledgeable than me may be able to add some input regarding RDA's etc.

That makes sense, thanks Sam. I've noticed there's a lot of crossover with different multi-vits and even the Vit C I take has additional vits & minerals. I often worry I'm overdoing some and not taking enough of others. I think it's something I need to speak to the dietician about, although I assume she'll go through it all with me after the op.

 

[samsmum]

I would sort out all your meds with your Gp before the op as when I was leaving hospital there were a lot of errors with my meds and I had problems getting it sorted.

 

[thinnerangela]

Don't rely on not needing anti-diabetic medication post-op cos they don't yet understand the mechanism behind WLS and diabetes resolution. I was told that after immediately my DS my diabetes should resolve - it took 11 months.

They know it doesn't directly relate to weight loss cos straight after the op you haven't lost that much lol

As to vitamins there are some drops you can have post-op or cut the Forceval caps squeeze the gunk out and mix it - strawberry mousse is best apparently - and swallow

Sanatogen Gold A-Z is best though I tried to get some yesterday and it was just Sanatogen A-Z cos the dietician at my support meeting said that was best after Forceval (I have an allergy to the red colouring in Forceval) but Tesco's A-Z is good. I actually have Centrum cos it's available on prescription. I bought Sainsburys A-Z but the amounts are different for amounts to Centrum and I never thought about that so I'm mixing and matching lol.

It has to be a multi-vit and multi-mineral preparation

Hope all goes well

Angela xx

 

[Twiggie]

Don't rely on not needing anti-diabetic medication post-op cos they don't yet understand the mechanism behind WLS and diabetes resolution. I was told that after immediately my DS my diabetes should resolve - it took 11 months.

They know it doesn't directly relate to weight loss cos straight after the op you haven't lost that much lol

As you say, it's not directly related to weight loss as many patients have had their diabetes resolved within hours of surgery. It is thought to be as a result of the alterations in the gut physiology post-bypass and also an increase in a specific hormone which promotes insulin production.

Not everybody has the same success as you know from your own experience, but more than 80% of patients do, which is a significantly high number. There is evidence to suggest that those below the age of 60 who have had a diagnosis for less than 5 years, and have their diabetes under control with diet & medication have a more favourable outcome.

 

[thinkbethin]

I sorted mine out with my GP before my op so he had time to get the chemist to order most of them in liquid form. Metformin was one of them so maybe speak with your GP before hand. Good luck xx