Surgery

[britney1663]

I am having lapriscopic surgery on Monday. Im also trying to taper my pills. What can I expect from the surgery? Will they administer pain meds in the hospital? Im really scared...

[wannabefree330]

It is going to be easy for your addicted mind to tell you it's ok to use more pills, or request as much narcotic as they'll give.  Just remember what your ultimate goal here is....to get off these pills.  Make sure you let them know you have a drug abuse problem.  If they don't know and you do have pain, it will be way undertreated because your tolerance to pain meds is so high already.  They need to know how much you take so they can give you a high enough dose.  But as other posters have said, try to manage it with the ibuprof first.  Then if you absolutely must, go to the percs.  Only take enough to TOLERATE the pain.  DON'T GET HIGH!  or you'll end up in the same circumstance you were when you started your taper!  Good luck, and remember.....just get through today.  Don't worry about tomorrow, or monday.....You only have to get through today!

[kimmieb]

i had two lap surgeries.....for huge ovarian cysts and endo....both laps were a piece of cake....both were done outpatient....i was sent home with maybe 5 or 6 days worth of tylenol 3's....basically didn't even need them....pain was SO minimal....i was set for some major pain and recovery, but it was sooooooooooo much easier than recovering after giving birth, i swear!  it really isn't a big, painful ordeal at all.....very common these days and very easy outpatient "surgery", if you can even call it that :-)

after the two lap surgeries, i did end up having to have a total and complete hysterectomy 10 months later.....even with that surgery (a little more painful, but still, not horrible), i was sent home after 2 days in hospital with a week's worth of percs....and that was that....took care of the pain quickly and easily and i really didn't even need to use the whole week's worth....and that was considered "major" surgery

so, all of this to say, relax and don't worry about the procedure itself....it's simple and pretty uncomplicated and just about pain-free.....no more pain than some bad period cramps for a day or so :-)

good luck and many blessings to you!!

~kim

[worried878]

laporoscopic surgery is just about pain free....very little discomfort and most are outpatient and go home the same day...ust keep ur goals in mind...they will use meds to put u to sleep but very little after that unless requested...u will be fine and good luck

[avisg]

yes you still need to let them know you have been abusing drugs you will need more to get you and keep you out .I had an ERCP in feb I had been over 4 months clean and I remeber parts of it because it did not knock me all of the way out because of my past useage they ended up going threw all of the meds they had (without ODing me of course)

[britney1663]

Thanks for the advice! Im doing the taper on my own off of percocet...do you still think Ill have trouble with the anesthsia?

[christos24]

during the surgery make sure you let them know you have a past addiction with drugs i.e opiates, if you are in maintenance treatment then youll need a higher dose of  anaethesia..then afterwards if its neccessary have them control the pain meds while in the hospital, if its an outpatient surgery, like I stated before, only if its neccesary, use pain meds sparingly, first try taking non-narcotic pain relievers like motrin or ibuprofen 800 mgs, but if its a serious surgery and pain relief is needed, which at times its definitely understandable, have someone watch over the dolling out and use of them. I fractured and separated my wrist at the beginning of april, I was on 32 mgs of suboxone and almsot 8 months clean from any opiate, but from the combined pain and the work I had to have done, I went down to one 8 mg suboxone pill and 120 mgs of ms contin. My prior drug of choice was oxycontin and heroin, and hella lots of of it. I now ahve a bone stimulator and will ahve surgery in foru weeks, I am now on 180 mgs of morphine a day and the pain is still really bad. I defintely understand the fear of what to do cuz i know i was. I didnt want to get abck into the addiciton routine or for it to be considered a relapse, but when pain mediaction is needed for the health of your body, as long as you have a will to follow the rules, have a good support system, and loook at it as a purely medical aspect then you will be fine and able to stay clean. I know I can honestly tell how much fo a diffeence I ahve had since november of last eyare when i was a t teh pits of hell in my own world of addiction. My tolerance, dependance, and addiction to anything possible was outrageous and for being 22 I was living a life only dreamt aboutint eh worst mightmares. homeless, borke, and desparate were the most common problems in my lfie and i ahd come four eyars earlier from a nice, well off, great family. I am just so glad I aknowledged my problem when i did, with the help of others, had such a good supportsystem , got clean and can feel a 100% better about my self I am confident I can perservere over this medical hump.

[joann1975]

brit....thanks for the congrats...he is my little "big" man!!!

avis... i felt better days after but not immediately after.....but i am avoiding the surgery right now til i am further in my recovery... and see if i can get prego again... now how's that for tmi!! lol

[avisg]

joann, LOL i guess the endo pain was bad enough when they lasered it I felt better. I had to have it done every year and 1/2. I needed a hysterectomy at 33 but I was able to have to kids .

[britney1663]

Congrats on your baby! That is wonderful! Im really worried about infertility.

[joann1975]

sorry on the top right of the screen it says inbox...click on that and you will see your messages!

AVIS....OMG...you are tougher than me... I could not do it w/motrin...and it was before I was an addict.... or addicted or whatever...NOT SCARING YOU BRIT .... I was back to work in a few days... and it helps a great deal w/your endo!

i was told I couldnt get pregnant w/o fertility treatments & my hubby was told as a child he was sterile so 1yr after my last lap for endo....waaaalaaaa I was prego w/o trying. sorry just had to share....

[avisg]

look up at the right corner of the screen look where it says inbox/outbox.click on that.

[britney1663]

How do i get the pm?

[avisg]

I have had endo removed boy 7 or 8 times by laser .I promise you its not bad at all .They gave me a shot when I was coming out of recovery ...I was fine when I went home it took Motrin it did the trick ....

[joann1975]

i sent you a pm...

[britney1663]

Female stuff...they will be looking for endometriosis. Im still using between 10-12 perks a day. I kind of feel like whats the point of tapering if Im going to be in legitimate pain and have IV meds...

[joann1975]

What kind? Like gallbladder girl stuff? I've had several that's why I ask.... yes, they do administer them....I've always gone home w/a bottle of them. How far into your taper are you? I was on a high dose of meds when I had my gallbladder out....so it was kinda rough but we are all different...