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Posted 5/13/2009 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hello to all. I just wanted to bring up something that has me worried. I am almost our of my Lortab 10mg. I have 3 left. And I am huring now. I took the last dose at 6:00. It is now 10:52. I have been trying to go longer periods without doing the every 4 hours, to make them last longer. I had the rx filled on the 29th for #60. The first week or so I was taking them every 4 hrs. almost around the clock. And now it will be 3 weeks since the surgery actually tomorrow.  I am still hurting. I can't help it. And I am really scared he won't call in another script. for me. The thought of having to suffer through with nothing scares me. I am not being wimpy and I have not taken one pill when I wasn't hurting. The surgery was alot harder on me than I thought it would be. I will call the office in the morning and ask for a refill. And if I don't get it, I guess I'll be in tears from hear on out...I go back for my next appt. on the 26th. There is no way I can go that long without pain meds. I really am scared... I need to take one now but I will just try to suffer through tonight,incase I don't get any more.

Anice

Posted 5/13/2009 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice:

I can't imagine the doctor leaving you with no pain meds, I can see maybe him cutting the dosage a little, maybe 7.5, percocettes instead of 10mg Lortab. In fact, I would think it would be dangerous (and unethical) to cut you off cold turkey, plus 3 weeks is not a long time - you had major surgery.

Let us know how you make out.

Lorie
Posted 5/13/2009 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Lorie, I sure hope you are right. I really am doing the best that I can do. I am trying real hard to recover from all of this. I am just not there yet.
Anice
Posted 5/13/2009 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I would definitely call his office and tell him your symptoms. There may be other medications he can combine with your lortab to help. He also may give you more lortabs. Everyone recovers differently from surgery. Sometimes a doctor just waits to see how much you need. So try not to worry too much, and call for some help. You might be uncomfortable but you shouldn't have to suffer.

PaLady
Posted 5/13/2009 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
PALady, Thank you once again. I really have been worried about this all day today. Almost to the point of a panic attack. I know that sounds silly, but I couldn't help it. I am trying to cut down on the Lortab so I won't go through them too fast. But regardless of how long he thinks I should be hurting, I still am hurting. I have been trying to do the walking. I still can't do it three times a day. But I am making it twice, 20 minutes. So that is improvement. And for that I am glad. Although I only walked once today. When I get back home after the walking, I am hurting pretty bad. And I am still taking small, slow steps. That bothers me. I have 3 weeks left before going back to work- that will be 6 weeks. He has mentioned 6-8 weeks several times. It may be that I will have to be out longer. Financially, that scares me too. I will only get 60% on the short term disability and I have to pay insurance out of that. I will get my first short term disability check on Friday. I will see how it will be. It sure doesn't sound good.
Anice
Posted 5/13/2009 4:55 AM (GMT 0)

anice

Please don't try to anticipate the future, we all do it and when we do we mess our selves up! wink Call you Doctor and just be honest with him and tell him how much pain your in and you might even want to ask him if there is any thing else you can do to try and ease the pain and make it go away! Maybe he might have some  suggestions that might help you, possibly Physical Therapy, along with the pain meds. You have had major surgery and it takes awhile to heal and it has only been 3 weeks that is really a very short time, so it is not surprising that you still have lots of pain. Your Doctor might want to try and taper you off the pain meds by lowering the dosage, but if it doesn't work make sure you let him know. Keep us posted on how this come out.

Good Luck to You

White Beard

Posted 5/13/2009 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Anice, I am with the others. I am not sure what the scrip said, take one tab every 4 hours for pain, but if you do the math you could have run out before now. You should also tell them when you call tomorrow that you are trying to wait an take the closer to 5 or 6 hours which they like to hear. Have you logged you meds before and listed when you take them? I hope you can get some good rest tonight.

Posted 5/13/2009 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
Another vote for calling the doc. You need not suffer after surgery. It's not as if you are going to be on them for life. Pain medications are very good these days and doctors can prescribe them to properly control your pain. Please do call and then let us know what happens...OK?

Chutzie
Posted 5/13/2009 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I just want to say "ditto" to all the other replies. And mention to your doctor that you are walking, and trying to following his recommendations in that regard. That will mean you'll likely hurt more, but the right amount of medication to keep your pain from getting too severe can help your comfort and your mobility.

As far as the returning to work time, I've always found doctors tend to underestimate. My surgeon told me the same thing but it ended up being more like 3 months; of course, I had a fusion and it wasn't successful at relieving my pain. My suggestion would be to plan on it being a little longer, and if you can go back sooner, great. Another thought is to consider going back pt. time. Your workplace should be ok with it as long as your doctor fills out all the needed forms.

Anyway, let us know what happens!

PaLady
Posted 5/13/2009 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Anice;

              I agree with everyone else about calling your Dr and seeing if he will refill your prescription, as I have said before I had the same experience you are having now and the same worries and the best thing you can do is keep walking as much as you can stand without increasing your pain level, use a heating pad and ice packs this will help you recover. let me ask you a question do you sit in a recliner or do you sit in a straight back chair? because there is a big difference in the two of them, sitting in a straight back chair is better for your recovery, sitting in a recliner actually is about the worse position you can put your back in, by sitting in a straight back chair you are using your core muscles and those are the ones that need attention right now, also it is just better posture than relaxing in a recliner, getting all of those muscles back healthy will make the pain go away also I know that it is very uncomfortable but try to lie flat on your back for at least 20 minutes a couple of times a day I promise you that it will help in the long run even though it is uncomfortable I hate to sound like a broken record but I have been through what you are going through three times, yes I have had three surgery's all on my L-4 disk, I'm hoping that you will take my advise and let me know how you are progressing.

                                                       Sam

Posted 5/13/2009 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your advice. You have all been here for me on so many different times. It feels nice to have so many truly care for me and it shows. I have made the request for my Lortab refill. So now it is just a waiting game. I took my last dose last night at 6:00pm. And I just took my next one a few minutes ago(8:30).I have two left. It was a long night. I did alot of hurting, tossing and turning, walking the floors, and yes I even did some crying,heating pad and another hot shower in the middle of the night. I did end up getting some sleep. I guess I wore myself out...

My hope is that he does refill my meds. Even if he lowers the dose, it is certainly better than nothing. Hopefully after I do recover from the surgery, I won't need to be on anything long term anymore. But, we will just have to wait and see.

On my next appt. on the 26th, I think he will talk about PT. That is another scary one for me. I heard the PT therapists push you too hard and you end up hurting way more than you did when you got there. I will just do my best not to even go there right now. There are too many other things to deal with for the time.

Sam, I believe you asked about if I sit in a straight back chair or a recliner. I do sit in a recliner some. But I do try to limit how long. I notice that I do hurt more when I get up than when I first sat in it. So it sounds like you are definitely right. I try to sit on the couch with my back against a pillow on the end of the couch with my legs up and a pillow under my knees. Or I will lie on my side on the couch. I am using a heating pad. But I could probably use it more. I don't like the ice packs, personly. It is just too cold for comfort for me. I haven't been able to lie on my back but for a few minutes. It just hurts too bad. But maybe I should try to do it more, if you think it will help.

I have my daughter home with me today...I should be ashamed of myself...ha ha She has been having a flare up with her asthma for about a week now. I have been giving her breathing tx. which do help and they also hype her up more than she already is. You know how 4 yr olds are. I will have her abx. filled today. That should help her. So it looks like it is going to be a long funfilled day...

I will let you know as soon as I find out what the doctor says about my refill. I hope I know soon. I have really stressed about this.

Anice
Posted 5/13/2009 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I can't remember what other meds you may have from your surgeon, if any. I don't know much about lortab, but if you can combine it with a light muscle relaxant that could help. I still take a muscle relaxant at night so spasms don't want me up, but right after my surgery I really couldn't have slept without one. Another option would be something to help you with anxiety - as these tend to be also muscle relaxants, so they could serve both purposes. But I'm not suggesting both of these, as they're in the same class of medications. And I know for me muslce relaxants make me pretty groggy so I couldn't take them if I really wanted to funciton - so you may have to see how they affect you.

Best thing is really to report all your symptoms to your doctor's office and ask for help with managing them. Like someone said, you're not asking for these long-term. You've just had major surgery!

Sam's right on about the recliner. I know lots of people use them, but they can put your entire spine in the wrong position, although if you have a straight back one that let's you put your feet up that could help. Sounds like the position you use sitting on the couch is the best, but I know it gets old to be in one chair! I've only got two in my house I can use!

Try to relax a bit. I know it's easier said than done.

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 5/13/2009 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
PALady, I was sent home from the hosp. on Percocet 10mg. I could tell I wasn't getting good relief because I have been on percocet since Jan. from my PM. I had it changed to Lortab 10, which is really more or less a step down. Anyway it has helped. I am also on Flexiril 10mg, muscle relaxer. I take one every 8 hours. There have been days I take it a little more than that. I do have muscle spasms in my back pretty often.

It is now 3:27 and I haven't heard from the doctors' office about the lortab refill. I called the pharmacy and it hasn't been called in yet. I am about to call the office back and check on what is going on. I work in a peds office. I know about phone calls. I called early this morning. I ALWAYS call my patients back before now. This is getting rediculious. I have one lortab left and then I will be out. This is getting scary. I will post again when I find out something. I need to get this taken care of now.
Anice
Posted 5/13/2009 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Now, I am in trouble. I will be completely without pain meds. I called my doctors' office. My doctor is out of the office until tommorw. They won't take the message to another doctor to okay enough to get me through the night. This is not a good thing at all. I have one left. The only other option I have is to call my PM and see if he will do it. He knows that I had surgery. But, I doubt very seriously he will do this,because I am not seeing him anymore. I left his office last time, he knew I was having the surgery and said I didn't need to come back to him unless the surgery didn't work. I guess it is worth a try. Otherwise, it will be a very long night.
Anice
Posted 5/13/2009 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I think it's worth a try. And maybe even your PCP would do something for just a 24 hr. period.

I feel so bad you have to go through this, but if worst case scenario is that you have to wait until tomorrow, what things can you do to relax your body a bit. I know it's easier said than done, but the tension from the worry is going to make it worse. Some soothing music? Heat? And if percocets worked you could take some extra strength tylenol (I know it's not the same thing) - better than nothing. Do NSAIDS help you at all? Sometimes alternating tylenol with NSAIDS (according to dosing requirements) can help a bit. And I don't know what the flexiril script is written for - only every 8 hours, or is there some flexibility? If so, I'd use that as much as the prescription instructions allow.

I have learned something about neurosurgeons and their schedules and it's so different from most regular doctors. I've had to learn what days my NS's nurse is available to take messages to send me scripts, and which days they are in clinic seeing patients. And she doesn't work on Monday. So while there's an emergency number, most people aren't going to respond to just a meds request from me. His nurse is great, though, and has been wonderful to me. But your doctor's office may have a variable schedule because of his surgery schedule, so you'd be better off to try to find out who his nurse is and connect with her, and find out her schedule.

I hope something works out for you, but you'll make it through tonight. Maybe not without pain, but remember how much pain has been taken away by the surgery and that may help. None of my pain ever went away.

Hugs,
PaLady
Posted 5/13/2009 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
PALady,Thank you again for your words of comfort, I appreciate you so much. It has been a bad day for me. My daughter is here with me today. And she is destroying everything she can get her hands on. I feel like I have had no rest, no down time and absolutely no time to call my own. She literally had her curtain rod broke. Half of it it still hanging, dangling down and the other half was on the floor. My husband can fix it. It really isn't that big a deal but I am just in a bad frame of mind. Maybe she knows it and it is making her act this way. Everyone that has kids or has raised them, has been through many days like this and worse. I don't have much longer. My husband and son will be here in about an hour. I can make it.

I did call my PM and left a message. I should here something. I just asked for enough to get me through the night. I know I will survive the night. I am trying to deal with it now. I am trying to get my head right. I know my chances of getting the refill are pretty slim and none. And there isn't anything I can do about it today. My husband doesn't work but about 10 min. from home and our pharmacy is 1 mile away. Worse case scenario, if I get it approved tomorrow, I will call him. He can and will leave work long enough to go pick it up and bring it home to me.

I will try my best. I will make it through the night. I still have one left. So when it gets real bad, I'll take it. I will try to relax. I have a couple cd's from church I haven't listened to yet. I have the book I have been reading,which is good. It might help take my mind off of it for a little while. There is always the shower. I did a bath the other day. It was nice to sit in the tub for a little while. I didn't stay long. But I had to get it out of my system. It was hard getting out. Probably wasn't the best choice I've ever made. I could do that tonight and ask hubby to help me stand up. He will. He has been extra sweet to me. And I can listen to some light music. I have the one lortab left. I have the flexiril-every 8 hours. I can take another one. I have done it before. I have motrin and tylenol. I have aleeve. A little relief is better than none. And I have the heating pad.

I will remember the pain taken away from the surgery. This pain will get better. PALady, I am sorry your surgery didn't help with your pain any. I am sure that was very aggravating and disappointing-to have to go through the pain from surgery and still have the pain you had the surgery for. I know that happens alot. I don't understand it. It seems surgery would/should help.But I also hear how much it doesn't. I am fortunate that mine did work. And still I am feeling for all of those people that surgery didn't help at all.

I am sorry for coming here so much today with my med. worries. I will stop complaining and just deal with it. This is minor in comparison with the every day pain many of you are in all the time.I am being wimpy. Thank all of you once again. I'll be okay.
Anice

Post Edited (anice) : 5/13/2009 4:18:42 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/14/2009 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
It's me again. It is 12:49pm and it looks like a long night. I am hurting pretty bad right now.  Nothing has been much help so far. I'll keep trying different things. Maybe, it'll get better.  I am so sorry to keep posting today.  I just get so upset I feel I need to let it out. I still have my one lortab left. I can either take it now and get some relief and some sleep. If I do that I will have nothing when I get up in the morning.  And there is no telling when/if they'll call it in tomorrow.  I have pretty much exhausted all my options: hot shower x2, reading, radio(soft music), flexiril,tylenol,motrin, heating pad,crying and walking the floors. So, now I am going to try a hot bath. I am tired, about to wear myself out. Anyway, thanks so much for reading all this. It does mean alot.  I am not talking much to my family. It isn't their fault. And I am not in the best of moods. I don't want to offend anyone so I just keep my mouth shut.  Husband is real concerned and he is upset I am not talking or trying to spend any time with him.  It makes me feel bad for him. He knows the situation and I told him that I am sorry, I just would rather be alone...I do feel really bad about that.

Anice

Posted 5/14/2009 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
Please write all you need to. As you can see, I'm awake, too. Lately I keep swinging from being wide awake in the middle of the night to being exhausted at the wrong times.

I see you're still on now, and if you read this I think if I was in your shoes I'd probably take the lortab tonight and try to get some sleep. The worse you let the pain get, the harder it will be to control, and plus you'll been sleep deprived. In the morning you can keep trying all your doctors until you reach at least one of them, and if it's not your surgeon then explain the situation and ask them to at least give you a day's worth of meds. Also, I'd make sure to call the emergency number your neurosurgeon's office may leave (or the on-call physician) if he's still unavailable. He may be in surgery. But resolve you're going to get some help by the end of the day, or go to the E.R.

Does your husband at least know why you're having such a hard time? Maybe it would help to talk to him a bit, but I'm not sure. At least tell hiim why you need to be alone.

I wish I could help more, but if you have to keep posting all night and that helps, that's what this site is for!

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 5/14/2009 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
PALady, You are an angel. I really mean it. Bless your sweet soul. You have been back and forth with me all day already and yet here you are once again...I can't thank you enough. I feel like I owe you lunch on me. Seriously,if we lived close that would happen for certain. You are so helpful to me and so many others here.

I think I will take the one lortab I have left and deal with it in the morning. I am sooo tired and emotionally exhausted. I feel my blood pressure is way up. I know that feeling all to well. I am not even going to take it and see what it is. I know why it is up. I will take the lortab vs. having a stroke/heart attack!!! That is one thing I sure don't want. I am ashamed of myself for letting this pain and worry do this to me.

My husband knows why I am having a hard time and he understands to the best of his ability. He is trying to be understanding. And is has left me alone. I will be sure and apoligize to him again in the morning. That is the least I can do...

PALady, I do hope you get some sleep tonight. Are you in alot of pain and that is why you can't sleep?
Anice
Posted 5/14/2009 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
anice
I do hope you are alright tonight can you take ibuprofen? you could alternate take a tylenol and then half way before your scheduled for another tylenol you could take an ibuprofen. some time that works better than tylenol if you can take it. Ibuprofen tends to be hard on your stomach though! anice I know hind sight is 20/20 but next if this happens call a couple 3 or 4 days before you actually run out of pain meds. I am also up hurting, I tried calling my Doc Yesterday (Tuesday) and he wasn't in, I didn't try on Wed. but I am going to call first thing in the morning, I need to find out what my MRI showed that I had last Friday.
Anyway anice I do hope you are doing OK if you pain is to bad, can't you go to the ER? They could at least give you something to get you through the night!
I wish you the Best
White Beard
Posted 5/14/2009 10:00 AM (GMT 0)
I just signed on so I hope you're ok Anice, I hate to think of you out of pain meds. I hope you find a doctor to help out, surely your local doctor (pcp?) will help. Thats who gives me my pain meds. Good luck
Posted 5/14/2009 10:20 AM (GMT 0)
WhiteBeard, I have had you on my mind. I am sorry you are having a hard time. I have been worried about you and have missed you. I do hope you get your MRI results and that it gives you an answer as to what is going on with you. I know you are worried and ready for an answer. Please post when you feel like it and let us know what you find out.

Thanks for replying to my whining. It means alot to me. I made it through the night. I didn't sleep a wink. I didn't know how to change my time zone. It is 509 here right now. I will wake up my son and husband in a little while. My son still has to finish his homework. It won't take him long. It has been a long night. I finally broke down and took my last lortab about 2:30am. But I was hurting pretty badly by then and it took a while to get any relief. I do feel a little better. I could kick myself in the ... for waiting until the last day to get a refill... But I was trying to hold off as long as I could so it wouldn't look like I went through them too fast. I had those filled on the 29th and I had #60. Anyway, what is done is done. I am so tired now. I pulled another all nighter a few days ago. It sure isn't any fun. I can sure tell the difference of when I did it when I was younger... It is hitting me pretty hard now. I will wait until it's time to wake up my guys-say goodmorning, well wishes for a good day and then it is to bed for me. I tried motrin, tylenol,aleeve,flexiril without much relief. I can feel the lortab has finally worked. I guess it just took it longer b/c I had waited way too long to take it and the pain got out of control. I will take a good nap and set my alarm to call the surgeons office and see what can be done asap. Hopefully, it won't be too long.

Golitho, thanks for responding. It was really great of you too. I will be okay. I will let you all know something when I find out.

I am wishing everyone a good day with lots of low pain levels for the day. I am going "night night" now.
Anice
Posted 5/14/2009 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice,

Sorry that you've been having such a rough time! Hopefully you have gotten things sorted out by now and are feeling a little better!

Skeye
Posted 5/15/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I'm so sorry I haven't posted, I went to bed kind of early last night. I was watching your post an now am worried and wondering what happened today? Did the doc give you a script? I hope so and you are sleeping the effects of last night. Please post when you get a chance.
Your budy,
Pete
Posted 5/15/2009 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
We're all curious! Hopefully, it worked out well and you got some medication. Let us know when you get a chance.

hugs,

PaLady
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