vitamins/medication

Hi again its me again ,Question? If I have a hard time disolving pills, such as vitamins , and I don't want to lose any, what is the best I can get that I  know will stay in my system longer, so I don't become vitamin deficient? I can't  break down the pills and they come out whole, also the meds I was on before for my crohns/colitis I can't take because they are either controled release, or time release and now I have nothing to protect my small intetine. Bluz 

Hi Judy, Well the last visit I had with my G.I. doctor was if this medicine doesn't work there is nothing else I can give you, unless I have a flare up and he said something about edocort. so in the mean while I am trying to keep myself as healthy as possible, and if that means taking liquid vitamins, which I appreciate you telling me about, I will do it. I'm just trying to figure out what is best for me, so I can keep it in instead of Stella spitting it out for me Bluz

Bluz,

I also have issues taking some pills and them coming out undigested. Many times I find myself cutting pills in 1/2 (I check with the pharmacist first). Even a Tylenol extra strength caplet has passed thru whole. I do break those in 1/2 now.

I have found also that I have pretty good luck with liquid gels. At this point, the only vitamin that I cannot absorb is Vit B12 and that is because I no longer have the part of the intestine this one is absorbed in. I have been self injecting every 2 weeks since July 1984 - my levels have been fine. I'm having some similar issues with vit D and just recently began taking a really high potency RX liquid gel once a week to raise those levels.

I have worked very closely with my GI over the years when I need to take any other drugs. Ileostomates who have a short digestive tract are not good candidates for any timed released drugs. Sometimes he forgets and I always have to remind him that I am "speeecial"!!! Keep a good line of communication with your GI.

I tried Pentasa but I had to take the capsule and open them up and pour them in applesauce , the problem was that I couldn't dissolve them and they would [the med inside the capsule] come out into my bag sharp shards and I wasn't benifitting from the med because it was coming out right after I took it. So the doctor told me along with the pharmasist stop taking it . I even chewed the med in the applesauce both told me not to do that becuse of its properties, being a controlled/time release. I really wish they would come out with something for people like me and other ostomites that are the same way, you know what I mean? Bluz