My transpalnt and pain meds???

[jollyman069]

Hi looking for some of your alls thoughts. As most of my friends here know hopefully sometime in July, I will be getting a kidney transplant. Thanks to my wonderful daughter who is donating me a kidney. I am a addict, was addicted to pain meds. My transplant team knows this becaue i told them all about it when I went to the center 2 weeks ago. They told me that I will have to be on narcotic pain meds for about 10 to 14 days. Now they did tell me that they will ween me off the IV drip pain meds that I will be on. I guess I am just scared of relapsing, afterwards, just not sure if the 10 to 14 days will kick that old habit back in..I have 63 days in and will be real close to the 90 day mark when the transplant happens. Am I worriued about nothing? would love to hear anyones thoughts on this..thanks..brian

[10356]

Hello Jollyman.. First I'm so thrilled for you and so humbled by the generosity and love of your daughter. I too em having surgery in July.. I'm having a shoulder replacement and as you I will have a Need of pain med.. Like you I never want to go back to the misery of active addiction. I also told my surgeon I was a Addict my Dr. already knows. we spoke of helping me through the worst of the pain and a taper then meds in case I have symptoms for sleep and the dreaded rls..  I will be handing my meds over to my son he is the best suited for this job :) I feel I have done all I can do to protect myself.. My greatest protection is I want to live.. and as you feel as if I have been given a second chance.. I do not think we will screw with our gifts.. I wish you all the best life has to offer Brian.. my prayers will include you when I ask for strength and courage through our trial.. warmly lesa

[dominosarah]

I think having someone hold your meds for you will be the best option.  When you no longer need them then flush them.  I know you will be okay and you have been honest with your doctors which really helps.  You will always have to keep your guard up against these pills but with a plan in place you will do fine.  What a great thing to be happening right now.  You are clean and getting a nice healthy kidney.  I am so excited for you.        sara

[lonewolf07]

I agree with all the above comments, especially boogieman's suggestion about letting someone else "control" your meds.  Never forget that you are a right wing, conservative man who hates drugs .... yes, I'm just kidding.  Your concerns are valid but I think you are a strong minded man who has to take meds to get your new kidney.  Just having the kidney and knowing where it came from will help give you strength not to become an addict again.  You also will have a lot of help from the Almighty if you ask Him for it.

Hugs .... wolf

[boogieman]

hi. it would be a good idea to let someone else (maybe your daughter) dispense the meds to you prn. this will make it less stressful for you and show your desire to remain accountable. take care,  gm

[Ella789]

  What a wonderful daughter you have!!  The pain meds will end when you do not feel the need for them.  Meanwhile you will need them and that's just the way it is!.  Take them for the pain, and quit when you feel you can make it without them.  You probably won't have to deal with much w/d if you can keep it under a month or so.

  Best wishes to you!

Ella

[sadjt]

i do believe u have a very valid reason to be worried but that worry is not a bad thing it can be looked at as a positive and use that "fear" to keep u committed to stayin clean and kudos on almost 90 days i have a bad problem with percs myself but this website is helpin me get back on track cuz i do uinfortanitly need the pain meds do to chronic pain issues maybe u can ask the doctors to only give u narcotic pain meds while you are in the hospital being monitored and then when u leave have them give u a non narcotic pain med that may not help you as much but will make the pain bareable that way you dont have to worry about relapsing i dont envy you right now thats for sure im sad to say your a rock stuck in a hard place but just think if your family especially your daughter loves you enough to give u a kidney you cant be that bad of a person and u also dont want to chance ruining your new kidney the very best of luck to you and your daughter during and after the surgery if u evr wanna chat feel more then welcome to message me!

[nick30]

I don't think you are worried about nothing. It is really bad timing for you given what you've been through in the last few months. Perhaps you can tell the dr's to give you what they would consider the bare minimum dose, and importantly, not to give you any drugs that you previously had a liking for. There are a couple of opiates that make you less high than the others while still giving pain relief. perhaps these are the ones your dr's might put you on. I'm sure you will tell them of your concerns and they will no doubt work with you to provide the best outcome.
The last time i had surgery I asked my dr for minimal meds, and after i left hospital i took nothing. It is possible to tough out post op pain. with a good anaesthetist you can minimise the painkillers required to help you through it. My Dr gave me heaps of anaesthetic internally inside the wound to help me cope without opiates post op.
You can talk to your dr's about all these things.
Best of luck, if there's anything you want to talk about with me(regarding dealing with post op w/o narcotics)just give me a buzz.

Nick.

[outotown]

You may want to holler at beatingthis, she had surgery on her teeth, had alot of pain, then today she found an abcess in her mouth when she touched it, it busted. My point she had pain meds, and was in bad pain, she talked to people everyday, and used 2 on avg. pr day. She is tuff, and done real good with the meds in her house. She may be able to give you some pointers. AND CONGRATS you have an awesome daughter there, Good luck to you my friend Aaron