Side effect of Fentanyl, morphine maybe???

[mellie4]

I am trying to ignore something as best I can but I know I can't.  And before my anxiety-ridden self goes truly crazy, I thought I would just ask if maybe this COULD be a side effect of my medication.

About a month or so ago I was getting a pedicure and the girl doing it asked how I hurt myself.  I thought she was talking about my hand, which was splinted.  (Her English was really poor.)  Then I realized she was talking about my left ankle.  It was really swollen.  Didn't hurt at all.  The right was fine.  This was during a REALLY bad heat wave and I sort of chalked it up to that.  

It went away within a day and I sort of forgot about it.  Since my surgery last Friday, I've noticed it again.  This time both ankles are swollen but the right isn't too bad.  Another thing I noticed was before my surgery on Friday my blood pressure was a little on the low side (the bottom number.)  The bottom number was 62.  Normally, that wouldn't be a worry except it hasn't ever been that low.  After my last baby, ten years ago, it was high enough for meds.  But after my divorce and losing a good amount of weight, I was able to get off the meds and my pressure has been normal.  At times, it might get a little high from pain, but in general, it's been okay.  But the lowest the bottom number has ever been is 80.

The only changes have been my medications.  I'm wondering if all these meds and high doses could be causing the swelling and lower BP??  New medicines in the past couple of months have been the Fentanyl, 75 mcg., and morphine 30 mg.  They switched the morphine out post-op to oxycodone 30 to 45 mg every three hours.  (I also take Cymbalta 30 mg. 2 x/day; Clonidine .1mg (which is being given for nerve pain but was originally used, years ago, for high blood pressure.)  I take Ambien, 10 mg. as needed, though I try to stick with melatonin (though these nights sleep doesn't come very easily.)  And I've been taking Ativan 1 mg. 3x/day as needed for the past month due to some major stresses.

I'm getting really worried about the swelling.  (Of course, I've let it get to 5 o'clock and can't call the doctor.)  Has anyone experienced this at all?

[mellie4]

I have a nurse friend who hates Advil and tells me to take something for my stomach.  I told her it doesn't bother me that way and she said it can do damage without you knowing it.  I won't take any until next week to see if it affects my feet.

Today, my right foot is almost normal and the left has gone down a lot, though still swollen.  But it's not pitting ...  Someone else mentioned it could be anemia, and I've always been borderline anemic; maybe I'll have them check that.

Sherry, does your stomach and esophagus bother you now?  Or are you okay with the medications?

[namnam46]

My Dear Mellie,

Please do cut back on the Ibuprofen. Before I received my Social Security Disability in 2003, I was taking 10 to 12 Ibuprofen tablets 5 to 6 times a DAY!!! I did that from 1998 to 2003.  I now HAVE to take Protonix  AND Nexium because of the damage that I did to my stomach and esophagus.  I will be taking them for the rest of my life.  So PLEASE be careful.  I was EXTREMELY fortunate that it didn't hurt my liver.  My Doctor's were very concerned and SURPRISED that it didn't!!

I TOTALLY understand about your concerns because of your "small heart issue" and I assure you that I would have the SAME concerns as you.

How is the swelling doing this morning?  I HOPE that it has gone down some over night.

PLEASE give us an update on how you are doing today.  :).......Mama Sherry

[mellie4]

I called the pharmacy last night and they said my medications wouldn't cause it.  I did neglect to mention the ibuprofen I take ... 800 mg. about every 4 to 6 hours pretty much around the clock.  

This morning I talked to the NP at the pain clinic.  She said cut back on the ibuprofen.  I probably won't take any for a while and see if it helps.  I know it can affect your kidneys and I've been taking huge doses for probably 6 years.

Interesting, Sara, about the carbs.  I'll have to pay attention to that.  

I haven't had high blood pressure and years and my weight is fine, the best it's been in 20 years.  By nature I'm anxious about things and I overly worry.  But I do have a small heart issue, and of course, that's what I jump to.

If it isn't gone by Monday, I'll check with my PCP.  

[Sarajmt]

Mine were swelling but the doctor put me on a diuretic and they're fine now.  But my husband's swell when he eats carbs.  Don't know why.  He does take meds for high bp and high cholesterol.

Please do ask the doctor about this and please let us know what he says.  As stated above there are several things that could cause ankle swelling.  Make sure he checks your liver and kidney function.  That could be a reason as well.

Good luck.
Sara

[namnam46]

Hi Mary,

I don't think it's anything from the meds as I haven't experienced this at all.  Are you on BP medicine now?  I take Lotrel and Hydroclorothiazide as my pressure used to be stroke level as 185/110.  I've been on it since 2003 and my pressure usually runs between 120/80 and 110/60.  If you are concerned about your BP you need to go and check with your Doctor.  Maybe he can get you in tomorrow.  I KNOW that everyone's BP will fluctuate but you should check with him.  If you have your own BP kit you need to take it in and calibrate against your Doctor's BP unit.  I did that and mine was off and we were able to calibrate it to match his. That way I know that it is the same. :)

As far as your swelling is concerned why don't you check with the Pharmacist as they will know if ANY of you meds OR a combination of any of you meds would cause ANY of these symptoms.  They would PROBABLY know MORE than the Doctor will when it comes to the side-effects and the interactions.  :)  

Have you been retaining water like this for very long?  Has it ever happened before?

Sweetie, be sure and give you Doctor a call tomorrow morning and get this taken care of so that you will have answers and won't worry anymore.  :)  ALSO be sure and give your Pharmacist a call NOW and find out about the interactions and the side effects fo your meds.  I've never known those to be a side effect of the Fentanyl Patch BUT I don't know ANYTHING about the side effects of the Morphine.

PLEASE let us know what you find out from the Pharmacist. ALSO read your inserts that came with the Fentanyl Patches and see if there's something that I've missed.  BECAUSE I Certainly could have missed something!!.

Waiting to hear what you have discovered.  Good Luck.......Mama Sherry

[vicki595]

Hey!  I just happened to see this!

Just go in and get the ankles looked at. It's possible you're retaining fluid from the oxycodone but you weren't on that prior to surgery. Your B/P is okay. At least the diastolic. What's the top number?

Have you gained weight? You could be holding on to fluid for some unknown reason.
Maybe increased salt intake?

So,see the doctor and get a weight check, B/P check and visual exam of your ankles. Edema can be caused by many things. You may just need to walk more!

PM me anytime okay?  I've missed you!
xo