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MedHelp Member's Question

Duchess Golden - Questions about pills after surgery

by tzt2lady, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
Hi, if you should happen to be lurking I have some questions about some meds I have been given to use after surgery.  They have given me lunesta to be able to sleep for the first week afterwards.  Is this stronger than xanax?  Also, they were going to give me percocet or perco-something for pain but I heard it was much stronger than vicodin so I asked for vicodin instead.  Now i'm worried that I'll get in pain and should have stuck to what the doc suggested.  He also said he would give me demerol for the first couple of days afterwards.  I know nothing about demerol other than I think its an opiate.
I'm researching all this stuff but value and trust your opinion.
I am trying to figure out the best way to do this without going off the deep end with my addiction agian.  ANything I can eliminate from this concoction I will.
Thanks,
tzt
Member Comments (13)

by backpain24, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
lunesta is pretty tame, not like xanax, it shoud just safely help you sleep.  Percocets is stronger than Vic and demerol is a real strong painkiller, what kind of surgery did you get?  How long were you into pills and how much, good for you to be thinking about your sobriety.  This is my first day here , got lots of questions, i take percocets for back pain and it is getter old.  sorry-  well hope you feel ok

by tzt2lady, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: backpain
Hi and thanks for the respnse.  I haven't had surgery yet but am scheduled for July 19th.  Im a former heroin and crystal meth user but had been clean for 19 years through NA before hurting my back and taking vicodin.  I was off and on vicodin for several years, at least four years, not sure actually.  I have been off vicodin for almost 30 days and now will have to be back on pain pills for awhile and am getting a little freaked out.   I just want to set up a plan in my mind and have another recovering addict know what it is so he can help me stick to my doses.   Left to myself, I am afraid I will get right back into the vicious cycle of addiction again.   My body doesn't care that I want to be clean, it just craves opiates.
Welcome to our forum.   Thanks for the info about the percocets.  So you think that if I can get by with vicodin instead of percs it would be better, addiction wise?    I have heard about percocet and percodan since I was on heroin and I am sooo afraid to take them.  I know I will like them too much.
tzt

by backpain24, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
well it is always a slippery slope, give the pills to someone else.  It sucks that you have to be in pain while you know you could be addicted.  Don't worry too far into the future, your in pain, so take the meds, as directed always.  you sound smart and the fact that you know that pills, or other drugs can take a hold of the best of person.  It sucks.  

by marcatj, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: TZT
Hi...

The Lunesta is like a longer-lasting Ambien.  It worked for me, and I did not find it addictive.  It's not a benzo/benzo ... it doesn't have that valium-klonopin-whatever effect.  It's a "sleep hypnotic" - not a big deal.

As for the Vic vs. Percocet.. honey, I don't know.  Maybe one of the ol-timers could chime in here... whether it's better to take you DOC or something different.  My guess is.. it doesn't really matter.  Both may be tempting to abuse, and you may need help with it.

Can ex-H help with dosages if you feel like it is getting out of hand?  Also.. one day at a time honey.. don' worry too much, just have a plan in case..

BTW - you tripped me out about your sister - who blasts everyone when she's hurt.  I have the same sister, same sh**. And I am the one who kicks the **** out of myself, instead..

And the "trees" in your profile... of course, one of my favorite things!  I meant to tell you yesterday...

xoxox
-mj

by marcatj, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: TZT
Hi...

The Lunesta is like a longer-lasting Ambien.  It worked for me, and I did not find it addictive.  It's not a benzo/benzo ... it doesn't have that valium-klonopin-whatever effect.  It's a "sleep hypnotic" - not a big deal.

As for the Vic vs. Percocet.. honey, I don't know.  Maybe one of the ol-timers could chime in here... whether it's better to take you DOC or something different.  My guess is.. it doesn't really matter.  Both may be tempting to abuse, and you may need help with it.

Can ex-H help with dosages if you feel like it is getting out of hand?  Also.. one day at a time honey.. don' worry too much, just have a plan in case..

BTW - you tripped me out about your sister - who blasts everyone when she's hurt.  I have the same sister, same sh**. And I am the one who kicks the **** out of myself, instead..

And the "trees" in your profile... of course, one of my favorite things!  I meant to tell you yesterday...

xoxox
-mj

by marcatj, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: TZT-ps
geez... look at me, thinking I am so important and posting it twice... LOL.

by manonfire, Jul 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: tmz2???
Sorry, forgot your handle already. Lunesta in my experience does not last longer nor work better than ambien. I take ambien CR which lasts longer due to a time release feature. Lunesta leave the foulest most disgusting taste in your mouth for the ENTIRE day after a dose. YUCK! I can't take the taste, I have heard that it gets better about a week after 1st dose with cont. use, but I could never make it that long. I'd rather not sleep.

As far as surgery, is it elective or a life/death thing? I know lots of addicts who will get surgery in order to keep the pills coming. I don't know your story, and I am not judging (God knows!) but I would ask myself those hard questions before going under the knife.

If you have to, the Demerol is very strong narcotic, and they don
't usually dispense outside of a hospital. I'd stay in the hospital as long as you can with insurance, and get the Demerol. Then when I got out, I'd make sure Dr knows addiction history and watches the vicodin use. Perc's are stronger, but not by much. If vicodin has worked for u in the past it will again. I'd stay with the vikes if I could. I think giving the pills to a trusted loved one or ex is a good idea as well. I wish you all the best and I'll say a quick prayer for a good surgery and healthy come back.

by DutchessGolden, Jul 08, 2007 07:40PM
To: tztlady
hey sweetie how have you been? You stay away from Mission Beach this past Wed.? Even thinking of going down there is NUTS! Especially when you can sit on balcony and see every fireworks show in town right? Anyway, Yes the percocet is stronger instead of hydrocodone with tylenol like vicodin it's oxycodone with tylenol usually 10mg of oxy. Demerol is a LOT stronger than both of them. This, you will usually get  through your IV in the hospital push through a syringe not on a drip like you get morphine. In simple terms morphine is like the strongest form of codeine and oxycodone (in that order b/c codeine is an extremely weak opiate) oxycodone is a quite strong opiate but these 3 are all in the "morphine family" derivatives of morphine. Here's the thing, with a lot of opiate addicts, if they are or were hooked on something in one "opiate family" they will be much more likely to get "hooked" on something in that same family again. If you were hooked on hydrocodone before you are more likely to like demerol (the "strongest version of hydrocodone") Hydrocodone is not a close derivitave of morphine like oxy's are, it is much more "chemical" than a natural derivative. Demerol is similar but much, much stronger. People that get Demerol in pill form to take home are usually cancer patients or sometimes, like yourself, someone who has just gone through a major surgery. Even so, doctors often give vicodin, after cutting into my husband's spine they sent him home with 5/500 vicodin. It's rediculous but it's also pretty common.

If you can control your pain with the vicodin the Dr. gave you then there should be no problem with that. If you don't trust yourself and feel you can't control it (here's the part where you have to be more honest with you than anyone else including me)-the fun part!  Then you have to make a choice based on what will work best for you. I don't know what type of surgery you've had so I have no idea if trying NSAID's like Motrin, Naproxen, or more targeted NSAID's like Celebrex would be worth a try or if you even have any experience with these med's (usually very effective in prescription doses even for moderate to severe pain and not habit forming) Mucle relaxants are also very effective for a lot of people after surgery, flexeril is fairly standart but there are stonger one's like soma. I know you're staying on top of yourself the best you can and watching very carefully. As we all know that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't get "caught up" again. At the same time it's not a good idea to scream fire every time someone lights a match right? Unless, of course, you know you can't trust yourself with a few weeks worth of hydrocodone. And if you need to talk you have my e-mail addy sweets!

xoxi- D.

by tzt2lady, Jul 08, 2007 10:50PM
To: Duchess
Thanks so much for your response!   I am scheduled for an extended tummy tuck and a little bit of lipo on July 19th.  I have spent some time on a cosmetic surgery forum and I would say half of the people who have had this procedure say that they are off all pain meds by a week or two.  Many get percocet but just as many get the vicodin.  My surgeon is really nice and knows I want to stay away from opiates as much as possible.   He usually puts people on the oxycontin but at my request offered the vicodin as it is not as strong coupled with the demerol for short term (2 days worth I think).


I just hate to think about wds again.  

Aside from all that...........it is so good to hear from you and yes, I stayed away from Mission Beach, much too crowded for me!   I hope you had a great 4th of July.   I am sorry but I don't have your addy.  Perhaps someone I know does and I'll get it if its ok with you.  I'd love to stay in touch and that offer still stands if ever you are in town and would like to grab a latte!! (-:
tzt

by DutchessGolden, Jul 09, 2007 04:29AM
To: tzt
Well this all sounds great sweetie! And it sounds like you are doing just fine. Just try to taper your vicodin at the end and maybe substitute some naproxen or motrin for any pain that usually does pretty well and you can avoid w/d. Road2recovery, cinnamonstix, tink all have my e-mail addy and I think Fish does also.

xoxo-D.