Stomach Incisional surgery and oxycontin dependancy

I have had Crohns disease for 25 years and have been on pain meds since then. I now take Oxycontin, 80mg every 7-8 hours. I am scheduled for hernia surgey in 3 days and am terrified that I will have terible withdrawl (withdrawal) symptons from not taking the oxycontin. I am sure they will give me Demorol because I have had surgery in the past and Morphine made my heart race to dangerous levels and gave me no relief. The demerol had worked in the past but I wasnt on the oxycontin the last time I had surgery.  My question is will I get the relief I need on the demerol? I know that with demerol you get highs and lows and with the oxy you are at a constant level for the 8 hours or so. its the lows on the demorol I am worried about. Will I be comfortable or am I in for a terrible battle.
Thank you for your time
lockj

[Jaybay]

Talk to your doctor about your concerns.  Since your surgery is coming right up, you might follow up the phone call with a fax listing out your questions.  That way the doctor can jot down the answers and have his nurse call you back with them.  I've used that tactic in the past when I had last-minute questions.

Ask the doc if he will provide PCA - patient-controlled analgesia.  That's the machine that pumps pain meds directly to your IV when you push a button.  It will be set to dispense in such a way that you will not overdose.  Push the button too soon for the program, and it simply won't dispense.  If that doesn't provide enough pain relief, the doc can leave orders for the nurse to override the program and give you a bolus.  

Make certain that you review these questions with your anesthesiologist.  He's usually the person to leave orders for pain meds while you're in recovery.  Since you usually don't know ahead of time who that person will be, you might bring in your list of questions when you get to the hospital.  The more people who know your worries ahead of time (docs, anesthesia, and nurses) the better result you will have.  

I've not used oxycontin, but have had several surgeries while on the fentanyl patch.  So far, I haven't had any problem with post-op pain management.

[bj31]

Well I was on oxy for a long time.  Along with other pain meds from one time or another and I have dealt with many of them for years along with many surgeries and let me tell you this,  you should have no problems with the demorol if your body does not have  an allergie to it.  Also if you do have problems with it that is when you should talk with the nurses obviously because that is what they are there for is to help you.  I am concerned though that with the length of time that you have been using oxy that you are worried about withdrawing from it.  Let me tell you first hand that you do not want that too happen and if you are at the point with these meds that you think you may have trouble getting off them I think you should think about triing sooner than later.  I was on them for years and I means years.  I went through hell getting off them and I am lucking to be here today.  I know that life with pain is a hell of a way to live and yet I know that sometimes the outcome of pain relief does not outweigh the benefits.  I think that you need to have a one on one with your doctor and talk with them about this situation and see what would be best for you.  I wish you all the luck in the world.

[cirella]

Hi,
I think bj31 and jaybay are right.  Communication is key. I know you didn't ask about addiction specifically but with pain management it can happen so subtly.  (that word doesn't look right, hope I spelled it correctly).  There is a fine line between needing it for pain and needing it mentally.  Only you can determine your pain level and what you can tolerate.  Please speak with your doctor and pain management doctor.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery.

[lockj]

I just wanted to thank all of you for your advice. I really appreciate it. I am going in tomorrow morning for the surgery and I feel much better and not as worried. When this is all over, I'm going to talk to my family doctor about my options.
Hopefully one day I can give you all advice on something.
Thanks again
jim

[Jaybay]

Good luck tomorrow!