Poplar Grove here, Update posterior c-spine Help!

Hello, I am 1 week post-op today. My surgeon called on Monday and changed up my pain meds. Originally(when I left hospital Sunday) his associate had sent me home with NO long-acting meds, she said they were too addicting to take outside a hospital setting.

I was on 15mg of oxycodone every 4 hours, and 50 mg of nucynta every 6 hours. Plus Lyrica, which I bit the bullet and took, (not making me nauseous for some reason) and cyclobenzaprine 10mg every 8 hours. I was in ridiculous pain when he called.

He told me that I should take 15mg oxycodone every THREE hours, stay on 50mg nucynta every 6 hours, and he ADDED OxyContin 20mg every 12 hours! This has helped soo much.

Last night, my husband told me that I am taking more medicine than he did when his hip was replaced back in 2010. He told me I was psychologically addicted to pain medicine.

Here's the one person I had counted in for unconditional support, now looking at me with resentment!! He has taken my meds in the past, so I have a trust issue. He was angry when I wouldn't let him "control"my meds. I keep them right beside me in a drawer. He hasn't done this in around 3 years, but he knows I keep track of my medicine, and I ONLY take them as prescribed. I always have! If I were to come up short on pills I know what happened.

I have been on lots of pain meds since my car accident in 2003, but I have had so many issues that I think I NEEDED pain meds. Maybe I'm deluding myself, and I want truthful opinions here, before this surgery, we have been to numerous doctors, trying so hard to find the root cause of my non-relenting migraines!!

Last May, one doctor FIRST told us that my headaches were coming from nerves damaged in my neck...in other words, my failed fusion surgeries!! It has taken sooo much to finally get here.

And now, he (my husband) says this. I am at a loss for words to him, I don't think I'm addicted, except for the upcoming taper down, for this surgery!! I know it will be no fun, but my doctor said they will certainly taper me down. I am sooo looking forward to being on no narcotic pain meds, but the time is not NOW, a week after that surgery. I feel so guilty now.

Please let me have your HONEST opinions about my pain medicine situation.. I was just trying to get to a place where I could RELAX and not worry about the AMOUNT of meds,just to concentrate on feeling better. This is awful. He hurt my feelings. Please let me have your "take" on this. Thank you sooo much.

When you say he took your pain meds, did he take them to control your intake or for his own, rather selfish, recreational use. Sorry I'm not clear as in our household of two CPs we will " take each other's pain meds" to control the others intake. Sounds like your problem is the rec. one which is awful. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

I would keep your pills under your pillow. The amount you are taking is by no means too much for what you have been through. Take care of yourself . . . Q

We solved this problem by getting a safe" my wife is a CP to but she keeps her hands out of the cookie jar so she is the only one that has the combo. It's a win win situation s I end up with the drugs I need at the end of the month and so does she. Mind you that this takes a trusting environment . . . Q

Hello Poplar Grove,
I'm so very glad your surgeon called and got you started on enough meds to help you relax and heal. Considering your long time in pain and on meds, plus your previous failed surgeries, of course you need more now. You need to be comfortable and not have this added stress. That can slow your healing. I don't know what the solution is. Just know you continue to be in my prayers.

Have you had any migraines this week?

When I dropped down by 80% was when I felt that I didn't need as much meds as I was taking. At the time, peak dosage was # 360 Oxycodone 30 mg, # 150 Fentora 600 mcg, # 10 100 mcg a day . . fentanyl. A lot. I'm now at #3 Oxy 30 mgs and #3 fentanyl 600
. I tapered to a point where I was inn constant pain and then moved it up a notch. You'll notice that I got completely off the fentanyl. Some Drs. Say once you're on it that's it, you're hooks. Well that's just not true . . . Q

At the risk of not making a very popular post,....

This is BOTH of your problems. It's his problem (and yes he can help himself, please do not delude yourself, or him, into enabling him by saying he "can't help himself!), but it's yours as well because it's detracting from your care.

Would you be this 'understanding' if he was stealing your insulin?

Get a safe, with a lock if need-be and wear it on a chain around your neck.

Ideally no one should ever have to be put in these types of situations. But many people don't live in an ideal world.

As was mentioned, adequate pain management is crucial to your recovery.

No one 'wants' to be on meds, but goodness gracious, you're only a week out? That's brand new and very fresh. You've got a long road ahead of you. Please be prepared.....











M.

Tell him to head to the highest bridge and take a flying leap! No one and especially a rec drug user should ever make you feel guilty for wanting a better, pain free, quality of life!! Maybe when he crawls out of that gulch he leapt into he will understand what your talking about?

Karma always bites back!

:) <3 Abilene, you're just something else!! I am lying here, looking forward to 6pm so I can take my 3 allocated oxycodones, I think I,could take more than 3.... But I'm not going there!

I WILL have a positive attitude... I think that will help me more than anything.

I appreciate all of these replies, it is so nice to have support...my husband has me feeling guilty, but that's because he knows exactly how to get to me. I am going to remain strong. Thank you

Hey poplar grove
You sound like you're feeling better.Listen to your body as far as when to start walking more.Don't over do it.

As far as your pain meds go I don't think anyone needs to tell you what's going on.Sounds like he's a little (or lot) jealous that you're taking "x" number of pills,even though you went through surgery.

Do what's best for you.You certainly shouldn't suffer because someone thinks you're taking to many meds.

Rick

 

Hi Abilene, thank you for wishes for a peaceful weekend. Unfortunately my Saturday started out yucky. I woke up at 3am with a fever of 103 degrees.

I waited til around 9am to wake my hubby, who suggested that I call the on call doctor. I did, and he suggested that I come in to the ER.

We went and they started tests to rule out stuff. They did a catheterized urine specimen, because the doc wanted a super-clean specimen. They accessed my port, plus took blood from the other side's arm because they wanted to do blood cultures.

The urine came up with bacteria, white blood cells and nitrates, in other words a really nasty UTI. They gave me IV antibiotics and a rx for more to take at home.

What really sucks is that I just realized that the ninny nurse didn't heparinize my port. I called them back, and they said "we can't give you info from your chart, it isn't regular business hours, so you can't get a copy til Monday.

I said it was kinda important to know, and she said, well, it doesn't look like we charted anything like that when we took the port out, so I'm gonna have to go back tomorrow to get it dealt with. Purely unprofessional. I felt sooo bad, I simply wasn't on guard for this as I usually would be. I am so tired. Fever is staying down though.

I have had a gazillion mris done on my brain, and I'm sure it would Have been brought up if there was a concern. It has never entered the conversation, ever.

Post Edited (poplargrove) : 8/31/2014 4:03:43 PM (GMT-6)