Question:
Absorption of daily medicines...please help
Hi everyone....I need to ask a quick question but an important one...I am 4 years out and had trouble last year absorbing Warfarin...Anyway they took me off of it but I am wondering how do we know if ANY pills we take are being absorbed and our bodies are using them ?? Seems like playing russian roulette with medications..I have lost my medical insurance so I cannot ask a doctor....I take Nexium,huge fat vitamins,iron pills,aspirin,Diltiazem and Immodium on a daily basis....I do not take any timed released pills and take a sublingual B-12.....Thanks — potbelliedsuz (posted on April 19, 2006)
April 19, 2006
From periodic labwork that the physcian should be performing which would be
testing of the levels to see the effectiveness of the drugs or supplements.
— robin.s2000
April 19, 2006
I'm a pre op but I use to take warfarin/coumadin now I inject
lovenox...couldn't handle the pills, see if you can get the lovenox. I
inject twice daily but don't have to have blood tests because it's based on
your weight
— needyvermonter
April 19, 2006
Suzannae just because you do not have health insurance doesn't mean you
cannot call and ask the doctor that question. Someone is prescribing those
for you so you have every right to call and aska question. Also as someone
mentioned above you NEED periodic blood work regardless of ins status if
you are taking coumadin.... very dangerous to take it blindly. You will
have to pay for a periodic blood test and if someone is prescribing it
without checking labs you/they are doing you a disservice. Please get
follow up they will often give a sliding scale to pay if you do not have
insurance. You had this surg to get rid of one life threatening illness so
why risk it with another one... you could bleed to death if you are not
regulated properly.
— SteffieBear15
April 19, 2006
Suzanne I have a list from my doctor of the type of meds we cannot take and
the size of pills we should avoid and what type of Rx our absorbe properly
and what to avoid. I would love to email the list to you. SHe gave the
updated list last Wednesday, If you want a copy please email me tour email
address and I will send it to you. It is pretty simple and informative.
It also list over the counter meds and vitamins.
Dani
— Dani96
April 20, 2006
DANI FM....I cannot access your email sor some reason...can you please
email me at [email protected]
— potbelliedsuz
April 20, 2006
Actually, Lovenox is a great idea. But the reason Lovenox does not require
blood work follow up is because it is considered "low-molecular weight
heparin". This means it does not affect the ability of your blood to
clot like regular heparin or coumadin. --From a long time (27 years) RN
— precious504
April 20, 2006
Hi, I see you take immodium on a daily basis, which means you have loose
bowel motions and this could be the reason for mal-absorbing medication. I
was like you where I sometimes took up to 6-8 immoduim a day!!I have tried
a new supplement in capsule form called Maca and after a few days found I
only have to take immodium about once a week now and I feel better in
myself which I think is because now the muli-vits and sub B stay around
long enough to be absorbed!! Please talk it over with a health food shop
person or a medical type person before taking . E
— elenav
April 21, 2006
I was on Warafin/Coumadin after my RYN in '03 and never had a problem with
it being absorbed properly. You do need to have regular PT/INR blood work
done when you are on it. The things that can mess up your numbers with this
drug are foods that are high in vitamin K. My husband takes Coumadin also
and I have never heard him say that he was told that his body is not
absorbing it properly. His GP does his PT/INR every 30-60 days and his
doctor is aware of his RNY also and follows him closely.
I question why you take aspirin, not good for the pouch (if you had
RNY)unless you are under doctor's guidance for it. As for as big pills I
was told nothing larger than the size of white end (non ink end) of a
PaperMate pen.
— ChristineB
April 22, 2006
I had the same problem with the coumadin. Not only did me body not tolerate
it I got dastardly sick. After being sick a whole month, feeling like I was
dying on that rat poision, my doctor finally put me on lovenox. Our bodies
are surgically altered to not absorb so that we loose weight, so I was not
surprised that the coumadin was not being absorbed but my body properly. I
was just upset that it took them so long to do something about it. I guess
we have to become really vigilant about our health as never before and see
about our health issues in a more timely fashion than our peers because
this surgery is a new way of life and our bodies are brand new. Things
affect us differenly now than others. Never stop asking questions and if it
doesn't seem right get another and another and another opinion if
necessary. Medical science is a big guessing game because man is not the
manufacturer. Congradulations on your decision to take care of you and I
wish you well in the future.
— YVONNELEE
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