Gastric By-pass

Question

Iwas wondering if anyone on here has had this surgery and if so, have you found that your body does not absorb the meds meaning either you don't get any pain relief unless you take a higher dose and/or does your tolerance build up quicker? 

I have been on this site for a long time and I used to post a lot, but haven't for a while...I suffer from chronic pain and I go to a pain mgmt Dr. I am on Roxi and Morphine and it just seems that my tolerance goes higher and higher so quickly and I wondered if it has anything to do with having the surgery.

I know this is a forum about addiction and I know there is a pain mgmt forum I could go to. However, I have built a few friendships on here and I just like to hear what people have to say. Plus I openly admit I am addicted to these meds and one day I will get off of them, but I am not ready right now...mainly b/c I don't want to live in pain.

So if anyone knows about this I would appreciate your thoughts..

Denise

mtgoat911 · Answer

i am curious, post this question to the addictions doctor, it may take a while to get an answer
until tonight i had not done any research on opiate metabolism after gastric by pass, from what i have found, your metabolic function has speed up, maybe it is from the surgery
liver disease patients metabolize opiates faster, i do know that, but thats not very helpful to you
try the professional forum

bluespence · Answer

The surgery lasts a lifetime, I know that I have built up tolerance, but I am wondering how much this surgery affects how the pain meds work for me? We are told when we have the surgery that we will not absorb all the nutrients in food which is why we are supposed to take vitamins for life. I also was told that some meds won't have the same affect either so that is why I am bringing this up now. Since it has been so long since I had the surgery I had not thought about the absorbtion thing, but a few weeks ago it came to mind, so I now ask the questions...because just like the other poster stated, when I drink alcohol I get drunk or buzzed very quickly, but it also goes away very quickly and that is because of the surgery.

mtgoat911 · Answer

2003, you left that out, no girlfriend its tollerence,

bluespence · Answer

Yeah I was thinking the surgery may affect this. I actually had the surgery in 2003, so it has been a while. I also have a friend who takes liquid meds, but my Doc knows I had the surgery and he never said anything, plus I do get relief from the pills, it just does not last very long. I have an appt tomorrow so I may bring this up with the Doc to see what he says. 

Thanks to all who posted, I appreciate the quick response.
Denise

mammasisk · Answer

iam positive this is related to our surguries because we also dont get nutrients out of our food either and have to take vitamins the rest of our lives as well as a b-12 wshot once a month and because of this i believe we should also be on liquid meds they would work mych better i know i have been put on liquid loritabs to find it to be way stronger and do you notice you cant drink anymore if i was to takd a little wine i would be beyond drunk simply because its is oing in as a liquid

mtgoat911 · Answer

i do not think your problem is related to surgery, (not %100 sure) you have been on heavy duty meds for so long your body is asking for more,
our bodies build up tollerance in many ways

DISPOSITIONAL TOLERANCE 

The half-life of a drug is a measure of the time required for the blood concentration of the drug to be reduced by one-half.  The half-life of any drug is a function of the rate at which it is metabolized and/or excreted from the body. 

CELLULAR TOLERANCE

  This occurs when the body adapts to the presence of opiates so that normal functioning persists at abnormally high blood levels of opiates

BEHAVIORAL TOLERANCE

A third type of tolerance is behavioral.  This is learned behavior exercised by a manipulative patient in order to obtain higher doses 

seasoned addicts have come up with ways to avoid this issue, they take certain meds that enhance effect, these drugs are dangerous so i cannot post them, other addicts will stop using opiates for a few days, many overdoses happen this way, they go back to taking the same amount of pills they were taking before their opiate break

your body develops a tolerence when you give it opiates, its just how it works, i hate to give you this advice because i do not want to feed someones addiction, but you just had surgery, start taking an acid reducer (your doctor must approve) at the time you take your pain pills,or grapefruit juice....... whatever you do, do not up your dose!! it seems like you want to get off the pills one day, hopefully sooner than never, pain managment centers can be a big no no!! man did i get a ton of pills from one of those, those places are a trip, you dont have to lie, just say i have chronic pain, give me a large amount of leagle herion please.....oh, the days i have spent in waiting rooms

Holliee · Answer

not sure on that but i was thinking of having gastric bypass how long was you down for and if you don't mind me asking what did you loose or want to loose...any info thanks message me if you want

mammasisk · Answer

finally someone on here with my same problem i was wanting to know the same thing iam wondering what to tell dr about pain meds since nothing wrks we just dont absorb anything thank god subutex is working maybe cause it melts under tounge who knows pleas get back with me if you find anything out im thinking of going to something liquid but dont know what to ask for.