Oxycontin and Surgery

by vettezr1, Mar 19, 2003 12:00AM

To: Bob

In all honesty you should talk to a Medical Malpractice attorney. Yea lawyers suck.

But I would think his advanced age 75 Cancer and major surgery could very well be the culprit. I am a lot younger and healthier and had surgery while I was taking lots of pain meds and it did not have any ill effects. Did you ask his doc why or what he thinks is causing the blood pressure drop and other problems? They might have him on blood thinners and many even a Beta Blocker, you need to ask lots of questions.

Good luck.

by earlygrayce, Mar 19, 2003 12:00AM

To: bob

i also had surgery while addicted to pain meds and had no problems, although i was 26 at the time(28 now). i was mainly addicted to oxycodone which is the drug in oxycontin. before, during and after surgery i was given pain meds like morphine, fentanyl(sp?) and more oxycodone. i had no withdrawal symptoms during my stay in the hospital or any time directly after that. that is only my experience so i'm not sure if you can apply it to your father's case or not. i would suspect that at least a little of his problems are a result of his age and condition and possibly even the type of surgery he had. hopefully someone with additional experience in this area can give you a more definate answer, but it might be wise to take vettezr1's advice and talk more extensively with his doctors. both you and he have a right to a full explaination and if they won't listen to you, again, maybe an attoney or at least the threat of talking to one is the right way to go. good luck to you and your dad.

by dancinginthedark, Mar 19, 2003 12:00AM

To: Bob

Was about to hijack your thread & noticed your post.

Your father is suffering from hypotension & I know this because I have it as well.  It's now relatively under control.  I was diagnosed at 35 (42 now) & with florinef & potassium, felt like I had a 90 yr. old's disease! It's a bear & I've had a skull fracture, coma, 8 broken ribs (not all at once), broken tailbone, etc. from standing up & blacking out.

Going off opiates (did he for surgery?  I was confused by that) will drive UP bl. pressure. When I quit I was ecstatic because mine was 115/65.  Alas, saw specialist yesterday & after standing after lying down for 30 min., it was 80/40.  Not abnormal for me even with the meds.  All they worry about - and me - is how I feel & that I don't black out.

I'd strongly recommend you consult with a blood pressure specialist which is usually  an internist.  There is a list somewhere of the top in N.A. & I'm very lucky to have 1 of them as my doc. Just try & find someone who is not general but runs a bl. pressure clinic, or specialized in b.p. disorders.

How was his bl. pressure before?  Always low?  OK?  Typically, docs check it every time an elderly patient goes in for a visit.

The diff. in before symptoms & before Oxy would be very telling.  For eg. I have always run low, then very low & then it started skittering southward as did I, far too many times!  I've had every test & they can't identify what has caused this.  Mine is called orthostatic hypotension.

There are physical "diseases" where low b.p. is a symptom.

A lot can contribute to this and/or bring it on & for most ppl, it is a transient condition, not chronic like mine.

Narcotics affect the autonomic nervous system which is where the controls reside to control b.p. I still don't entirely understand it all but it is a consideration.  Generally, opiates are *not* the bad guys in these cases but I know when I was abusing codeine, I'd get symptoms almost immed. after taking it.

The elderly are much much more susceptible to this.  It will hit them much harder, whereas same factors wouldn't affect someone younger at all.

Lack of salt can do it & believe it or not, I *have* to add salt to my food which I hate!

Diuretics, or water pills, and many anti depressants will lower b.p.

Why don't you do a search on goggle for "hypotension causes" ?

Please keep an eye on Dad.  I honestly can't tell you how many x I've blacked out & seriously hurt myself.  When getting up, he must do it VERY slowly.  As in sit up & wait 3 or more min. until he feels secure.  Then someone should help him stand & hang onto him. If I lie for awhile, my b.p. drops 30 some pts.  2-3 min. after I'm aright.  (Once I'm up& about I'm normally fine but it's when they make me lie there at b.p. clinic & then jump up, or 1st thing in the morning).  You might be able to identify "attack" of hypotension. You get very pale, shaky, a bit confused, start swaying, sweating & if you really get an attack - projectile vomiting!

I wish I knew more about the Oxy connection but I urge you to get him to a doc who specializes in this.  I got called every crack-pot name in the book & suffered numerous injuries before I found my specialist who literally changed my life.

Good luck!!!!

Dancing in the Dark

by kilo, Mar 19, 2003 12:00AM

To: Bob in TN

Hey Bob - Consider speaking to your father's physicians about vasovagal reactions. The vagal nerve is a central receptor throughout the autonomatic nervous symptom. Increased vagal tone typically presents first with hypotension, then bradycardia (heartrate below 50 bpm), which can present itself as mini-seizures (do to low cardiac output and systolic blood pressure). In reality these are not seizures, but normal response mechanisms from the brain due to a temporary interruption of bloodflow.

Vagal tone is almost always increased following a tramatic event such as surgery. Pain perception is usually the leading suspect in vasovagal reactions.

Bottomline is that his pain levels may be quite high and this triggers a vasovagal reaction. Just my two cents worth. Good Luck.

Peace to you.

Kilo

by damn lucky, Mar 20, 2003 12:00AM

Hi everyone,

I have had problems with many drugs including, oxycontin, vicodin, cocaine, lorcets and alcohoal. I am 23 years old and have experienced many hardships and I now sleep on the coach at my parents house. I am currently seeking treatment in a 12-step program. It has really helped me. Also, I do have to endure lots of pain. I get constant migraines that I am now taking blood pressure medicine called clonidine. It is not an opiate. My entire family, including my fiancee' has a problem with drugs. This problem will never disappear, however it can be treated. My father is in an emense amount of pain after back surgery and takes opiates quite often. If you or anyone in your family has a problem with perscription drugs or any drugs or alcohoal, it is important the entire family seek treatment. This is because addiction affects you and everyone around you. If there is an addict in the family, there is likely violence, co-dependency, financial problems, emotional problems and mental problems. If an addict is unwilling to recieve treatment, it is important that the people that care about the addict seek treatment to learn how to live with someone that has such a disease. Pain and addiction is by far the worse and the most difficult to treat. Physical therapy, to help get through the pain is available versus drugs that can and will kill you. They almost killed me.

***@****

email me if you want to talk.

by Erika_Ann, Mar 24, 2003 12:00AM

To: Dancinginthedark

Where you a poster from webmd? I would just like to say welcome. You always have so much caring thoughts and comments to give. I was happy to see your name here.

Just wanted to say hi!

Take care----erika

by dancinginthedark, Mar 24, 2003 12:00AM

To: Erika Ann

Hi Erika,

What a sweet post. It completely made my day until I realized....hola....that may not be me!  Could there be another me?  Pas possible seeing I'm such an original.  :-)

I haven't posted at webmd but much at drugabuse.com under the looooooong fiorinal thread.  Could it be from there?  Oh, pls tell me it is so! We F folk had a long thread going here until everything was deleted so by the time medhelp was up & running again, everyone had moved over there.  I  still hang out here as I still crave codeine - like tonight - but the devil on my shoulder is definitely fiorinal.  It's no wonder they deleted our thread here as we write A LOT!  I also love the ppl here.

I'm going to pretend the kind compliment was for me because I need it tonight!  BTW; I too enjoy your posts.  BBTW; where

Your Name:
Your Email:
Friend's Email:
Message:

	Enter the code shown:



	Leave a Note Send Message Add as Friend Bob in TN Member since Mar 2003

Addiction: Substance Abuse Community