Gastric Bypass, Pain Managment Meds

Hello All!
I am brand spanking new here! I located you all by googling: gastric bypass norco.

I'm a train wreck! I believe I had my gastric bypass 5 years ago. I've suffered from back problems for 18 years. It was only since I had my beautiful twin girls (after four rounds of IVF and a perforated intestine in the process) that I've been dependent on a pain management regiment 24/7 for multiple bulging discs in my neck and back, spinal stenosis, 30% scolosis, osteoarthritis,and osteoporosis.

I'm currently taking norco 10/325 2 pills 3x daily, baclofen and gabapentin both 3x daily.

My problem is that the norco only works four hours on average. I have maybe 12 hours a day of pain relief (assuming I do little) and I am busy 16 hours a day. I'd like to have a life aside from laying on a sleeping pad while my children nap so my house doesn't look like an episode if hoarders!!

To further complicate things, I lost my job and insurance due to pregnancy. I'm fortunate to have MediCal and a narcotic prescribing doctor. However, he's only given me 5 norco a day even though I need 6 minimally. (This seems to have been an administrative error..) My doctor seems uncertain of the effects of bypass ( not to mention my even more extreme case, as my perforated intestine was at the junction on my stomach pouch and intestine) But, he seems open to the idea that I have absorption issues and offered me a patch last time I saw him. Oh, and we are still working to get lidoderm patches covered by MediCal!

I've got some questions! What will kill me faster? Norco laden with acedomephin or fentynol patches? Any other suggestions for a pain managment pain regiment excluding NSAIDs? I see the doctor again in 3/5. I'd love to have some ideas! Thank you in advance!

Amber....

Welcome to HW and the Chronic Pain forum. I'm sorry for the issues that you have - but I'm glad you found your way here :)

I have beautiful twin daughters (age 2 1/2 years).... mine were a definite surprise...! But I love, love having twins. How old are yours?

Anyway - we have a couple of members that have had gastric bypass surgery -- and have absorption issues.... They have some unique ways of dealing with it (liquid meds, etc).... Hopefully, they will be along soon to give some input.

Fentanyl patches work very well for some.... some have issues keeping them on.

Anyway - welcome to the board.... and hope to get to know you better :) --Tina

Neither acetaminophen nor Fentanyl patches will kill you at all if you're using them correctly :p

The general consensus is that you'd have to take over 4,000mg of actaminophen a day, every day, for it to begin being harmful.

so that would be...12 norcos a day, at the 10/325 dosage. Double what you take.

As for the Fentanyl patch, it would probably be pretty effective for you considering the bypass. The medication is absorbed through the skin via the patch.

You'd probably be started on a pretty low dose and move up as your tolerance increased. As long as you follow the directions (like you would do with any other med) it's as safe as any other pain medication.

I used the Fentanyl Patch for a while, and it worked well in terms of pain relief, it just made me super nauseous, so I switched to something else.

Lots more people will come by I'm sure. Welcome to HW :)

My ex-wife had a Roux-en-Y bypass that worked too well about 10 years ago, when some of the after-effects data was still coming in. She actually had to learn to walk all over again, and we nearly lost her. The malabsorption is built in to the procedure, great for calories, not so much for anything else.

We found that the smaller the pill, the better. The problem with liquids or crushed pills in liquid is getting them down. Some we had to dilute with some kind of flavored drink so she could tolerate it. Meds hit her a lot harder right after the surgery, but went away quickly as you describe.

What we ultimately found, with the OK of her doctor (and you may want to check with yours) was crushing the pills and diluting it with something she could tolerate (flat diet Mountain Dew was what we found for her - she had major problems with nausea) that could be taken over a 20 minute period. It still gets absorbed, but we avoided that kick in the head she was getting when swallowing them whole. And don't drag it out for more than 20 minutes, because then it becomes something like the "sizzurp" (and I'm not making that word up) that's popular amongst the young for recreational use. Then avoid liquids if possible for about a half hour to make sure it's all absorbed.

We did a lot of trial and error, so what worked for us may not work for you, but it's worth a shot to ask your doctor about it, right?

One thing I forgot to mention, I've found that taking my medication with something very acidic helps. A couple sips of orange juice (not too much for me, it has a lot of sugar, and even ten years later I'll get the dumping from too much), coffee, or something else that's pretty acidic. You will want to clear that with your doc though, if they haven't cleared you for that already, it was a year after my ulcer before I was allowed higher acidic foods and such. And also, I have to mention... going on what living color said, diet Mt dew is great for taking meds lol, just not in the evening. I don't drink it flat though. With me, I dissolve all my pill form medication in a swallow of something before taking it, that's what works for me, doesn't work for every one. It's all trial and error.

Wow! You people are amazing! Talk about "ask and you shall receive"! Thank you for the warm welcome and sharing experiences and thoughts. Today I needed some hope. (And everyday I need reminding that my back and body issues feel hopeless, not my life) Thank you for the hope. I'm determined to feel better.

Reading these replies reminded me of when I first had bypass surgery. I'd line my vitamins up and attempt to swallow them down one by one. It would take forever! Then, I tried crushing, only to vomit up whatever I'd just worked so hard to get down! This is a great walk down memory lane, as it seems I'd forgotten about my truly altered state. Which seems so dumb to say because I'm no stranger to malabsorbtion issues! I've had IV iron infusions annually since the surgery, do b12 shots monthly and take double the normal amount of vitamins (Learned that trying to support two other human beings in utero)!

I'm thinking that today I'll try crushing my norco! Gabapentin is new to me. It's a capsule so I'm not sure how that'll work. It's also sounding like liquid would be the conservative progression for my pain managment path. ( I've tried bustran it worked well with a norco for breakthrough pain. Half the doctors haven't heard if it, very hard to have insurance cover it, and being an opiate antagonist I don't understand how or why it works and why it was given to me with norco!)

Maybe I am just a bit of a conspiracy theorist. Or maybe I'm just ignorant. Regardless, my worry is this acedomephin issue. Having had gastric bypass my understanding is that anything I put in my body goes to my liver faster (hence the several " no alcohol" warnings I received prior to the surgery).

Do opiates have the same harsh effect on organs as does the acedomephin?

I'm 36 years old with 16 mo old twins. Grey hair and toddlers!! I need to live long enough to raise my children. I'm buying time right now. I can do nothing surgically until they are old enough to walk up and down many many stairs by themselves. (We have a tri level home)

I've been on norco including almost 2000mg acedomephin for a year and a half now. Do I ask for a stronger drug like roxycodone, liquid oxy sounds promising? Or do I try the fentynol patch? I just wish I knew what was the least damaging! And it's hard when what your doing isn't working!

I've been taking my regiment on an empty stomach with coffee. I bet what's left of my stomach loves that! Lol. I try taking one norco now, one in two hours; it doesn't make much of a difference!

Matt: perforated ulcer and a bowel obstruction!? Man! Would you still have had bypass? I ask myself often. Especially now that I'm no longer a size four! (not even close buddy) :(
Tina: idk what your issues are, but you made it to ages 2 1/2! You go Wonder twin power mom!! Every day my little twins grow stronger and I just keep saying " we've made it so far!"
Thank you SE, Gina, Lexirae, Shell and LivingColor!

My heating pads auto off hit, my hand is completely numb, and it's time for another norco! Thanks so much everyone! Have a Lovely day!

Amber, one of the nerve meds is comprised of a capsule with little pellets inside, I cant remember which one though. That one they had me just dump out and take. I didnt tolorate them well though, side effects were to much for me to continue to work.

I have been on this combo for nearly 8 years, doses vary depending on whats going on. So far I have had no ill effects on my liver from the use of the narcotic meds. I am past the part for surgical intervention. After several back surgeries they cant do anymore. I have a spinal cord stimulator now which works pretty well.

I will need to try taking my meds with a sip of dr pepper 10 (which is my weakness), see if maybe that kicks up my absorbtion. Its worth a try.

Amber, I am 38 and have custody of my 4 year old step grandson, its tough being so young and dealing with chronic pain, wouldnt wish it on anyone. I will be two years out in August so I am pretty new to this. Went from size 22/24 and 3x to a size 0/2 and sm, what a change. I am hoping to gain about 15 pounds to get to a more healthy looking weight. Never thought I would say I wanted to gain weight,lol.

Great thing about HW is that there is always someone here to offer support. Its a great family! Welcome.

Hugs~ Michelle

LC, I always get the joke from my hubby about being a cheap date. I wish they would make me a 1/3 drink when I go out for dinner, since we arent aupposed to drink while eating either, I usually end up leaving 1/2 behind, or giving it to hubby. If I do a shot anymore I a typically ready to hit the floor within a few minutes.

Usually I either sip a drink over an hour or sign up as the designated driver. We have discussed on a WLS group that you get hit really quick and hard then it goes away just as quick as well, but your BAL's still remain higher than someone else with normal digestion because of the area the alcohol gets absorbed. So even one drink can give you an over the limit several hours later even though you feel physicaly fine and could pass a sobriety check with no problem. Just not worth it all around.

I made the mistake a few months ago when I went out with friends. I opted to not replace my ER patch due to being in a hot tub and not take any IR because we were going out to a club for some drinks. Ended up with some pretty nasty acute withdraw symptoms. Just easier to stay away from the alcohol with the pain med and bypass combo.

The gabapentin does appear to have a liquid version, may be harder to find but it should be able to be special ordered for you if needed. I still cant remember the one I was on but it was specifically designed that it could be opened, called sprinkle capsules.

Just wanted to add in here, the reason for no alcohol after gastric bypass isn't really to protect the liver, the liver won't get any more alcohol through it than beforehand. 1 alcohol turns into sugar in your body, when a gastric bypass patient drinks regularly, they can turn into a diabetic. 2 alcohol interferes with food and nutrient absorption, in everyone, not just gastric bypass patients, but that can be a dangerous side effect in a gastric bypass patient. 3 because a gastric bypass patient absorbs alcohol so quickly, it's very possible to consume enough to cause alcohol poisoning, without much effort. I've seen a few people with gastric bypass who had a shot of something (their 1St drink of the night) and five minutes later, they were passed out drunk.

No, I don't regret my gastric bypass, I weighed 400 lbs, today, 175. I think the other complications I had are very minor compared to possibly dying of a heart attack, or other health problems from being super morbidly obese. It does get very hard to stay positive (especially when your flying in the back of a helicopter strapped to a back-board and you're bleeding to death), but it's always important to try to put a smile on your face once a day. You may not be a size 4 anymore, but you get to be a mom instead, speaking as a single father, if I had to trade my dashing good looks for my son, I'd do it in a heartbeat, having him is worth any cost to me.

Anyways, I think with that little amount of acetaminophen, you should be just fine, it's a good idea to keep up on your regular blood tests and stuff, but the gastric bypass would actually hinder it's absorption, not increase it. As with anything though, you really need to address these concerns with your doctor, he should be able to put your mind at ease, and if he sees a valid concern, should address it and make changes as necessary.

…Hello DawnandMurphy!….and Welcome!

I see that you are a new member, and suggest that you please start a new post and introduce yourself to our members. This will allow a lot more members to see that you are new, and they would love to Welcome you here.

Again Welcome!…and Enjoy the forum!

SE

So after hearing what you wonderfully helpful people have said I wentt to visit my BFF who shares similar whoas. She typed for me, a 24 hour calendar with activities, medications, times, and pain levels.

To see in black and white that I have four functional hours of 24 was rather depressing. But, if you didn't have awareness, it couldn't be fixed.

I will take this to my dr. so he can see what I'm doinwig when, etc. As well as proposed solutions. I had forgotten to crush. I had forgotten that I can't eat a handful of vitamins with my norco and expect it to work. I had forgotten that there are liquid meds. ( Michelle, I may be asking for your regiment)(I really hope my doctors office had their admin crap straight. I've been waiting on lidoderm for 5 months to be approved. Dr put an unapproved diagnosis code on it)

It's amazing to me how similar some of our stories are. You are an amazing group of people. Thank you for the love. I'll let you know how it goes. My apt is Friday. If you've got suggestions or ideas, keep them coming!! As of now I'm leaning on asking for fentynal and liquid oxy a tens unit and my lidoderm. I don't know if or what I could replace gabapentin and baclofen with.

Make it a good day everyone.

BasEli -

You just posted this and I can see that you are still signed in. This is an old thread.... would you mind please copying what you wrote here and posting it as a new thread?? That way - everyone will be sure to see it and have a chance to welcome you here.... and comment on your post. Side note - I have severe anemia and am getting infusions too... I just got a port and am getting infusions every 2 months at this point. Will post more on your new thread. :)

Thank you - and welcome! --Tina

JFranco welcome to the forum. I just wanted to let you know that you have posted on an older thread that has not had much activity. In fact, Amber has not been to the forum in almost 2 years.

We do ask all new members to make a separate intro post so that all members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. You will get much better coverage here at the forum with your own thread.

To make a separate post look to the left & click Post New Topic, type in a heading & if you would like to copy & paste what you have written above that would be great. I do have some ideas for you.

I will lock this thread so keep others from posting on it. We look forward to getting to know you. Thanks.