Emergency Surgery

Well guys I was doing real good then bam my gallbladder took a dump and had to have surgery at 7am yesterday morning.Now to problems first it was the size of a gratefruit so it wasn't a simple removel (removal) they had to make a 6inch incesion thru my abdominal muscle and the surgeon gave me 7.5 tabs for the pain lol so I ended up back at my old pain doc out of desperation and he gave me percs and oxy.I have noone to hold my pills me and my wife r seperated now.Need advice and I'm in a lot of pain. Thanks guys

[vicki595]

Okay...you had your gallbladder out yesterday and the surgeon sent you home without an rx?  That's strange.   Then you saw the old doc and got TWO rx's??  Stranger.

I'd take the percocet for the pain ONLY and as directed. Is it oxycontin or oxycodone?
Oxycodone and percocet is the same thing.

You have to be strong here...

Good luck~

[IBKleen]

Dave, this whole thing doesn't sound right. What is really going on?

[vicki595]

IBK~  I agree.  Usually(almost always) gallbladder surgery by lithoplasty or laparoscopy is a day surgery procedure.  If the abdomen is open,you stay at the hospital.

Post back Dave..

[cpdave]

He sent me home with 7.5 tabs which wasn't coming close to covering the pain the nurse called this morning and asked my pain level it was a solid 7 maybe 8 she said I would need to contact my pain magement doc for stronger meds he is the one who gave me oxycodone ir and oxycotin not the surgeon the surgeon said that even though I was honest about my drug addiction and that he new I had a tollerence he didn't feel comfortable about prescribing me those meds.Sorry for the confusion I'm not feeling very well right now.And the nurse said I probably would have been better off in the hospital in retrospect for a few days its a screwed up situation.

[IBKleen]

It is really screwed up and you put yourself in a sticky situation. I understand the pain but you may have jumped the gun.

I don't know what to say except get through the pain and when it is time to come off, let us know and we will help you.

[vicki595]

Okay...yes it is screwed up and I'm sorry for you.

I've had this surgery so I know how painful it is. I had the pleasure of getting these horrible muscle spasms at the incision site. They about knocked me out!!

Just take the meds as you would for pain. Don't take more than two at a time (depending on strength...if strong,only take one)  In other words,don't take a bunch to get high. Just make up your mind that these are ONLY for post op pain. I know you can do this. Be strong.

I'm sorry you're alone there...is there anyone you can call?

[cpdave]

Thanks for the support guys I just got off the phone with my oldest daughter she is a nurse she is taking an emergency leave and will be here tomorrow she is mad that I didn't tell her about my surgery and is well aware of my addiction that being said knowing she is coming is such a relief.

[vicki595]

Dave~ That's great news!!  What a girl!  You'll be in good hands now...

Keep posting and let us know how you are...

[cpdave]

I will vicki at least I know now unlike before that I am powerless when it comes to my doc and I have a few meetings under my belt so I no the end result if I think I can take em like a normal person this is life or death I just wish this surgery would have been a year from now......lol

[dominosarah]

Thank God your daughter is coming to take care of you.  Please just rest and recover and stick close to the forum so we know how you are.      sara

[cpdave]

Thanks so much sara for the kind words she should be here within the hour.I feel like someone is ripping my stomach muscles apart.But I have not even taken my prescribed dose even being up all night in pain.

[cpdave]

My daughter is now here has control of my pain meds she counted them first thing broke down in tears and gave me a big hug cause as I said I'm in a lot of pain but I'm taking the minimal amount possile.As soon as I can control the pain with tylenol cause I can't take ibuprofren I have instructed her to flush em cause I just don't want to take em and if I thought I could stand it I would go to a meeting.My sponser calls about every hour and he will be over after work also

[IBKleen]

I am so glad that she is with you. You had me worried last night. You hang in there and let her take care of you. I hope you'll be feeling better soon.

Get her to make you chicken soup---it's a cure all!!!

[vicki595]

Dave~  I know the issues here BUT you have to be comfortable. If you wait until the pain is unbearable,it will be impossible to cover it and you'll be stressed which doesn't help the healing process.

Really,take the pain med consistently until you're more comfortable. Then you'll be able to walk around,shower,etc...you don't have to suffer so much. You're in good hands...
You are still freshly post op...don't be a hero here...just be careful...
xo

[cpdave]

Vicki I realize that and my daughter being a nurse said the same thing I'm
just scared for obvious reasons but with her handing them out to me I will take both of ur advice and thank all of u so much for the careing and kind words yall brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks and God bless

[Dav125]

For the life of me I just don't get it when it comes to surgeonns and being prescribed a pain med that will honestly deal with post op pain. When I had my first round of surgery 5 years ago on 2 ruptured discs , he sent me home that day with 5/500 hydrocodones (or lortab,vicodin or whatever they are called..At 4am the next morning I was screaming in pain, called him up when the office opened, and all he would do is bump it up to a 10/325 hydrocodone..I just don't get it. Even in the latest surgery, he was a miser and only prescribed a short script of 5mg oxxcodone (roxies?). If it wasn't for my regular Dr, I would have not had anything to effectively deal with the pain this round..Even with the complications I'm still dealing with in regard to the latest surgery, the surgeon "still" won't prescribe me anything of consequence..When I saw him a week and a half ago to talk about this continued pressure on the nerve which has my threshold at the same level it was "before" the surgery,,he finishes up the appointment by closing the file and saying "come back and see me in two months!"..Geez!,,thanks alot Doc!..

As Vicki says, don't wait on the pain to feel its the right time to take the meds you've been prescribed..Take them as instructed. They are not as effective once the pain has spiked on you. Its more effective by staying one step ahead of it taking what your being prescribed..Or at least thats what I was told by the nurse's that attended to me and told me how I was to be taking it upon being discharged.

Hope you start feeling better soon..

[dominosarah]

Dont let yourself be in a ton of pain here.  It takes longer to heal.  Your daughter is there now and your sponsor is right there too so you have a good people around you.  You will get thru this.   sara

[cpdave]

Wow Dav125 that *****.I'm like you what r the surgeons thinking and what makes matters worse is I had mine done 2hrs away from the house because we just moved he was fully aware of this but blamed it on his RN as she does the scripts and stamps his name.LOL

[dominosarah]

How are you feeling?

[cpdave]

Sorry I have not posted recently had to go back to the hospital fever got 103 but I'm back home and fever broke.Still having a lot of pain but I question myself to make sure its real pain or is it my mind trying to get a pill my daughter says I need to take my meds reguraly till I se the doc on monday and she called the surgeons nurse and she told me the same thing that I'm letting my pain get out of control which is not helping my recovery but I'm just scared if that makes sense.

[vicki595]

Dave~  Don't be scared! Take the meds! You can't let the pain get out of control! If you can take Motrin take it with the pain pill. 800mg up to three times a day. Also,Benadryl 25mg. helps the pain med work better.  I'm sorry you had to go back to the hospital. Honestly,you should have been kept there for a few days!
Keep forcing fluids...and check in later...
V.

[laurel453]

Hi, dave... i have been reading your thread and please, listen to the others, you don't need to suffer more than you are already with this surgery...take one thing at a time, the first thing now for you should be keeping your pain under control... you will have time to go back on your fight with addiction, you are not gettin them to be high but not to be in really bad pain , ok ? :)


wish you the best :)

[cpdave]

Thanks for all the kind words and I will take your advice.

[dominosarah]

You have a legitimate reason to be taking those meds now and you have your daughter there to help you.  Once the pain starts to subside your daughter will start tapering you down.  You need to rest so you can heal.    Let us know how you are doing when you can.   sara

[cpdave]

Thanks sara I'm trying to rest as much as possible so if I don't post for a while please don't be offended.Thanks for all the support.

[dominosarah]

We will consider no news good news!!!  Get some rest....that is what is important.

[cpdave]

Just wanted to give yall an update.I am feelin a little better no fever in 24hrs still having pain but after the follow up with the surgeon Monday I told my daughter I will start my taper.I have not taken any more of my pain meds then what was prescribed in fact I have been taken less.Today I have only had 2pp and I'm allowed 6 will take 1 more before I go to bed.I will check in with eveeyone this evening.Good Luck and God Bless

[dominosarah]

This is good news!!!  I am still so happy your daughter is there for you!!!

[cpdave]

Thank u sara and the support yall have given me I can't even begin to show my gratitude and I'm eternily gratefull to everyone

[dominosarah]

Just get better cpdave~~~~

[cpdave]

Just wanted to give an update.Well the pain was easing off then I fell down 4 stairs last night and this morning can't get out of bed....If there wasn't bad luck I'd have no luck at all.So tomorrow its off to se the surgeon and I will have him look me over I was scheduled for tomorrow anyway for a return to work date.Anyway I will update tomorrow evening.God Bless everyone and I hope yall have a good day.

[cpdave]

Just wanted to check in.Went to my follow up with the surgeon yesterday and he told me I would be off for 5 weeks I exploded and told him noway after some back and forth we agreed on the 7th as long as there were no complications.The reason he wanted me off was because of the excessive cutting he had to do but he agreed I was healing extremely fast he just wasn't used to a patient wanting to go back to work.lol.So we are tapering my meds as my pain level is decreasing and I'm going to a meeting tonight.Hope everyone is well and keep up the good fight ya'll.

[dominosarah]

Nice to see this post cpdave!!  How long is your daughter staying with you?  Glad to see you are hitting a meeting tonight.  Makes a big difference when we are surrounded by others who are supportive doesnt it.  Lay low and keep up the healing.  You dont want to overdo it.....Lecture over!!!         sara

[vicki595]

Dave~  Glad you didn't break anything with that fall!  Wow!!   So,it sounds like you're coming along...is your daughter still with you?   It's good you're going to a meeting,also.

You're a strong guy...I'm happy you're doing so well..!

xo

[cpdave]

My daughter will be with me till after the holiday and longer if need be.Thanks to all of u your support means more to me than I can express.So many people gave up on me and I'm in tears as I'm writing this because I cannot believe strangers can be so suportive.Thank u all from the bottom of my heart

[avisg]

Are you still on the pain meds???? what are you still taking I had mine removed 2 years ago I know its not fun but you should be healing quite well have you changed over to motrin ? if you you are still on narcs what all are you still on

[LeaAnn807]

I'm glad you are doing so well!  That's an answered prayer!

[cpdave]

I am alternating between percs and tylenol cause I cannot take nsaid's due to my stomach but the percs are getting further and further apart not because of my doc he says that because of the big incesion he made in my abdominal muscle and the complications during removal I'm supposed to be on them reguraly for another week but I no my body better then him so I have instructed my daughter to wean me off I will be done by thursday I don't want to take them any longer and a little pain never hurt anyone......lol

[IBKleen]

Hey Dave!

I am so glad to hear that you are healing. That was an intense surgery you had there. Listen, nobody knows your body better than you do so go at your pace. You have support at home and you have it here. We are behind you. It is not a matter of using, it is a matter of necessity and it is good to hear from someone who is doing it and getting through it the proper way. It is a big help for us, it is for me anyway in the event I need it someday.

Again, I am so glad to here you are getting better!!!! I will still keep you on my prayer list.

[avisg]

dave,it sounds like you have a good plan set inplace I too can not take any nsiads but honelsy everyone in a while when I cant handle the pain with just the tylonol I take an aleve its works great on the pain but tears my stomach up .I know I really should not .Be careful when you start eating foods again make sure go slow and one food at a time so you can see how your body reacts ...we will be hear for you :)

[cpdave]

Once again thanks so much and I owe so much to ya'll for giving so much and askl for nothing in return.I really believe addicts are some of the most intelligent careing people out there,when they aren't  in active addiction that is.....lol....I am eating still tryin to figure out what will hurt me a what won't my surgeon gave me some general guielines but he says u won't really no till u try it so that's what I've been doing.I think the hardest part for me is boredom but my daughter has been keeping me occupied with board games and movies.

[dominosarah]

How are you doing?  Hopefully you are feeling better......sara