Medication Absorption

CrazyGrandma · Mar 3, 2022

Hi Everyone:. I am a 70-yr-old grandmother of two precious little girls who had her complete gastric bypass surgery back in July of 2017. Ever since then I have had all kinds of problems trying to absorb my medications and vitamins/minerals. I have had depression for many years and have always been able to control it through medications but they stopped working after my bypass. Are there any medications that anyone is aware of that absorb easier so that you can get at least some effect from the meds? My doctor and I have tried many medications but they just don't seem to work and I would appreciate anybody's ideas about what works for them or any other thoughts. Thank you so much.

Kcuster83 · Mar 3, 2022

I am no doctor, but have they tried to increase the dosage?

3momchaos · Mar 3, 2022

Are there medications that you aren’t supposed to be taking in conjunction with each other? For me, my endocrinologist said that the biotin, which is unfortunately in all multivitamins, can block the absorption of my thyroid medication. Luckily it’s in a smaller amount in vitamins, and I do not take extra to supplement. To help reduce that interference I take my thyroid med in the morning and multivitamin at dinner. Calcium, I believe, can also block absorption of some meds. It might be worth bringing a list and the time you take them to your trusted pharmacist to see what they say. I find my favorite pharmacist knows a lot better on when to take certain medications.

TraceyT · Mar 9, 2022

Hi -

My brother in law had bypass surgery 6 years ago I think. He also had issues with absorbing the vitamins he’d require the rest of his life. He would take the vitamins and other meds he was on and within 15 minutes he was throwing up so bad it was awful! His WLS team put in a port where he now gets his vitamins injected into the port once a month along with whatever other meds he needs.
Good luck!

Kcuster83 · Mar 9, 2022

TraceyT said:
Hi -

My brother in law had bypass surgery 6 years ago I think. He also had issues with absorbing the vitamins he’d require the rest of his life. He would take the vitamins and other meds he was on and within 15 minutes he was throwing up so bad it was awful! His WLS team put in a port where he now gets his vitamins injected into the port once a month along with whatever other meds he needs.
Good luck!

Is this the rest of his life plan? Living with the port forever? Or temporary to get his deficiencies resolved and then going from there?

TraceyT · Mar 9, 2022

Kcuster83 said:
Is this the rest of his life plan? Living with the port forever? Or temporary to get his deficiencies resolved and then going from there?

That’s totally up to his WLS team. They’ve tried him taking meds orally and he still throws up. As far as I can remember he had issues swallowing pills. It may be life long.

Kcuster83 · Mar 9, 2022

I hope it all works out for him either way. Ports are serious risk for infections as they create a passage right into the blood stream.

TraceyT · Mar 9, 2022

dianeseattle said:
I agree completely. NEVER make a hole in a body unless you plan to sew it back up right away. It would make more sense to me to put in an IV, but whatever the reason he's having trouble orally, he needs to consult a different doctor. Surely he can get liquid supplements. I mean, people in comas get bagged nutrients and food.

They have tried liquid as well. He is one of those people that cannot take meds orally. He has a nurse that comes out weekly to check his port. He’s been lucky he hasn’t had any type of infection so far.

I truly think his issue began when he had the sleeve done. He had the surgery done at Duke Regional in Durham NC - not a good hospital. He went home and 3 days later he couldn’t keep water down- much less shakes or anything else. He lost almost 20 pounds in the first week. He threw up so much the stomach acid made tiny holes in his esophagus.

Three weeks after sleeve surgery and 79 pounds lost they went from sleeve to bypass. He still had issues with meds and vitamins. Couldn’t swallow them and if he did manage to get them down he was throwing up within 15 minutes. He was in the hospital being fed through a tube for almos 3 months. They finally got him stabilized and he went home with a port for vitamins and all other meds. He ended up having to have surgery/banding on his esophagus - due to the stomach acid eating holes in his esophagus and ended up having to have major dental work because of all the damage that the stomach acid did to his teeth. He is perfectly content having a port for his vitamins and other meds. It has a cover/stopper/cap for it. He lives a very active lifestyle.