OxyContins

[VL_Marchesano]

Hi there!
I am visitting because myself and my siblings have grown very concerned about our father. He currently is in need of a knee replacement. His doctor has warned him of many Severe possibilites, as he is overweight, only 49, and is a smoker. The doctor has specicifally requested he drop some major LB's (pounds) in order to do the surgery. THis has not happened. Infact he actually STARTED smoking again recently in hopes he would "Eat less" to lose weight...this has not happened. He is also being prescribed Oxycontins for the pain, which we KNOW he is taking more than he should be! My mother has just informed me that he does not sleep (Also has sleep apnea but will not talk to his doc about it because then they "won't do the surgery", he paces around their home and his leg even twitches. She tries to talk to him about it but he just starts a fight. She even told me that she hears him in the bathroom taking something and whenever she mentions it he just argues saying he knows what he is doing! We are most defineitly thinking this is an addiction and whenever we bring it up he just says something like "it hurts! I need them! Wait until you get to be my age"...His surgery is coming up..Novemeber 28, 2008 and we are growing more and more concerned for his safety. We also think he is as well since he is now making a point of speaking about his life insurance and saying he needs to donate some blood (luckily I am O Neg)...He also fell and went right tot he hospital to ask for some T3's...We are assuming it is because he was out of his "limited" oxy's...Should we be contacting his doctors and letting him know the extent of the problem? We know tehy cannot discuss his business with us but just to let htme know what is up...And also should we be bringing up his sleep apnea that is also putting too much strain on his heart? What are the risks of going through with this surgery?? PLEASE HELP! We want to go about this the proper way and not offend anyone...Our family does not discuss these kind of things and the truth often gets swept under the carpet...ANY info will help!! THANK YOU!

[worried878]

contacting his doctor is a good start...discussing the case with him...would be good if u could talk to ur dad first but i know sometimes that is not the case....sounds like he is seeking drugs...and he may not even realize what he is doing....the doctor could taper him off...surgery coming tho and if he keeps abusing, pain control post op could be an issue....he needs to realize he has a problem...

[ladybuglola]

Im so sorry your family is going thru such a hard time.  
If the docs will not do the surgery because he has sleep apnea, then I would feel inclined to say something.  There is a reason why they wont do the surgery otherwise,
I dont know what the risks are but strain on your heart and surgery doesnt sound like a good combo.    
Yes age could slow you down, but being 49 doesnt mean you have to be in pain.  I get around with no problems or help; I am also 49.  
My husband has been addicted to norco and soma and it started as innocently as shoulder and back problems, It will just get worse and not better. I hope this helps.  
I'll be praying for your family
hugs

[PanSinoeis]

He is going to need to quit smoking for sure.  (cigarettes will lower his immune system and will Greatly conflict with the antibiotics.  That increases chance of infection, to a Dangerous level even)  And he has to have only very few Oxycotins if any.  If he smokes, is over weight, and is taking a lot of Oxycotins, they Will have complications with the surgery.  (And he will get an infection, nasty one too plobably)  The anestesiaologist will have a hell of a time trying to keep him under if he has been abusing Oxycotins and not to mention Oxycotins lower the immune system a LOT, so then there is an increase in his chance of infection again.  Plus being over weight complicates things right off.  Most doctors take patients off pain killers weeks before a surgery because of how they greatly lower the immune system.  He better not have surgey.  And the doctors will go ahead with it, because they just want to get paid.  And if the patient don't listen and has more complications, well that's more money in thier pockets.  So if they can get him in there, they will.  Sugeons love to cut people open, believe me.  They addicted to it even.  Good luck to you all.  I hope things get better with him.

[ladybuglola]

I forgot to mention because his abuse was so bad on the pain meds that when he went in 2 wks ago to remove his thyroid his pain tolerance is so hight that giving him morphine was barely working which meant more suffering
worried 878 is right he might not even realize that his underlying reason is to get drugs

[PanSinoeis]

Surgeons...sorry mis-spelled it.

[stnick_77]

One of the reasons he might be gaining weight, or at least not losing weight is because of his addiction to oxycontin, usually when you are dependent on narcotics you usually eat alot, or very little. Just from reading your post, i would say he deffinately has a problem with the oxys. And not to mention his drug seeking behavior...The docs deffinately need to know about his sleep apnea, I think he would be ok during the surgery b/c he will prob. be intubated, but his docs still need to know. I dont know if its the best idea to call his dr. thats prescribing the oxys and say that he is an adict and taking too many. I know it may be hard to talk to him about it, but if you're truly concerned you need to tell him how you feel, and i'm sure he will tell you that he doesnt have a problem, but lying to the ones you love comes with the addiction. I would let him know that you are worried, and if he continues to deny it....then maybe tell him that you are thinkin about talking to his dr....that might scare him enough that he will admit he has a problem...hope i could help. good luck!!

[PanSinoeis]

Oh, and yes you tell his doctor anything about his condition that you feel may put him at further risk during this surgery.  I would, it's for his safety.

[PanSinoeis]

As for his Oxycotins, there is no way for you to gain control of those for him and hand them out to him daily?  That would be best.  But I don't understand everyones relationship with one another, dad may not allow that.  Because he wants to take them at his leisure.  I know how that goes.

[ochooked]

Sounds like you really love your dad and are willing to do whatever it takes to save him from himself --- not an easy thing to do when someone is on a dead end road.   Please contact his doctors and give them the whole story --- If he doesn't get help before surgery - it will only be worse afterwards ---- they will be giving him some big doses of pain med that will only fuel his addiction when the surgery heals.  What he needs is "tough love" from those who want to keep him around a few more years --- not those who will just give up.  I wish you all the best---- just be prepared to incur his wrath for awhile --- when he is clean, he will thank you that you cared --- may be rough for awhile though.

[Cupp78]

I have a slightly different opinion from the others.  I think you should talk to your Dad and let him know you are concerned.  But I wouldn't try getting him to stop taking the meds until after the surgery.  If he is using it for legit pain, and has developed a tolerance, then he may be taking more than prescribed.  But, I think you can deal with that post surgery.  I was in a similar situation, I have had 2 knee surgeries and a 3-level spinal fusion.  I could not have made it through the day without the pain pills before my back surgery.  I literally could not walk, tie my shoes, take a shower...etc.  Howerver, post op was PURE HELL.  My tolerance was so high, they could not control my pain and I spent two weeks in the worst pain I have ever felt.  Once I was past all that, that is when the real battle began.  I tried quitting the OC several times (I had my surgery in Jan 08) with little sucdcess.  Tries methadone, fentanyl patches, MS Contin, etc...  Finally decided that I was done with it 21 days ago...Sept. 11th.  And I haven't used since then and I feel GREAT today.  However, if I still had a very high level of pain (that was real and not created by my addiction) I don't think I could be clean right now.  That is why I think he needs to have the pain issues dealt with first.  I would make sure the surgeon knows about the pain meds he takes now, so he is prepeared for post op pain management.

Also, the sleep apnea thing.  For my two surgeries, they gave me an epidural and a very light sedative.  I was awake during most of it and didn't feel a thing...until afterwards anyways.  Maybe that would be an option for him if you are worrried about general anesthesia.

Either way you choose, good luck and God bless you.  My father is a lifetime abuser and alcoholic and we could never change him.  I pray that you can reach him before it is too late.

[VL_Marchesano]

Thank you sll so much for your help and support. This morning my sister did call and speak with the secretary at his doctors office. We are currently awaiting his phone call back as they seem to realize the severity of it. For those of you who suggested we speak to him first..we have and we get nowhere. He is very one track minded...he can do no wrong and arguing with him gets you nowhere! I know this becasue I am exactly like him! (lol) So we have token this as the first step and the more i hear from all of you the more and more certain we are that it is a full blown addiction... Also For Cupp78...I was doing some reading and actually one of the main symptoms of withdrawal is pain..so you feel much beter now after it has left your system...no doubt that the surgeries were the real culprit for 95% of the pain but just thought I would let you know!!!
Any more info that anyone should have would be fantastic!!! Please keep them up and again thank you so much!

[Beargizmo]

I recall when I had surgery implanting my pacemaker 1.5 years ago, at the height of my vicodin addiction (with occasional oxy's)..of course I did not tell the doctor/anesthesiologist about it and while it was rather minor surgery ("twilight") I was aware of what was going on and they though I was at least in the "doesn't know what's going on" state...I  COULD FEEL it as they cut into my chest and I told them...all of a sudden there was a lot of activity and a mask over my face and the next thing I knew I was in recovery..I'm sure all the vics I was taking at the time contributed.  

And just reading above, I'm concerned for my wife who is due for day surgery later this month as it's just been recently (2-3 weeks) she's been off of, or at least cut WAAAAAAAAY back on her pain meds.


Jim