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Posted 7/15/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
How long have people been on pain meds? I feel as though when I called into my surgeons office today that they thought that was just awful that I needed pain meds. Im not a druggie...I was never on pain meds before but I really do hurt. Maybe I went back to work to soon but my job doesnt require lifting and isnt too physical. I am 5 weeks post op today of have my sigmoid colon removed and an end colostomy put in and an ileostomy take down. Should I be off pain meds by now?
Posted 7/15/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)

I don't know if you had an open or lap surgery but mine was open and I think I took pain meds for about 3 mos; not around the clock but a couple a day.  I went back to wrk after six weeks full-time.  I think it depends on each person and their healing, I know my surgeons office said they would only give me so many pills the last time I called for them so they are quite strick about it.  If you can, try to take tylenol or something like that in between to see if that will help then you can switch over.

I wish you the best and continued healing,

Judy

Posted 7/15/2009 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I felt like I have been on pains meds a long time too, but looking back it really wasnt that long. I think I was still taking t3 though at 6 weeks. It took me a little longer to get off of sleeping pills. I think you have to listen to your body, pain is pain and these are not easy surgeries. Sue
Posted 7/15/2009 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Pain is pain. Everyone heals at a different pace, and doctors should be empathetic towards that. A lot of them are not and if you find one that is, Hang On to Them. The only thing I can say is to have a talk with the doctor, not just the nurses (tho nurses do a great job - don't take me wrong), but sometimes a good face to face with the doctor is called for. Best of luck to you. BTW, taking tylenol in between doses is a good idea -- So long as it isn't for a long period of time. And it won't be for post op pain, it just takes time.
Posted 7/15/2009 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
I too hate drugs, especially ones that make you feel like you're not in control of your body. I barely used the pain pump while in the hospital. I went to percocet on day 3 after surgery and only took at most 4 a day for 2 weeks. I used tylenol and took half doses of pain pills to become less dependent on them. Week 3 and I only took a half a percocet today. Good luck.
Posted 7/15/2009 7:54 AM (GMT 0)
I'm still taking mine and my surgery was May 20th-ish... But I am taking them to sleep- its not really working. I think I need to switch to sleeping pills before I really get stuck on pain meds.
Posted 7/15/2009 10:27 AM (GMT 0)
Having gone back to work so soon probably isn't helping your pain...I agree w/Peggy, talk to your doc directly if you are having a hard time with his staff. I've also had to ask for more pain meds and it does make you second guess yourself...but everyone does heal differently.

Just remember, if you are taking a prescription that contains tylenol, watch the total tylenol you take daily, that has its own problems!!
Posted 7/15/2009 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
FYI, be careful if you take Tylenol that your pain meds don't also have acetominaphin in them. Taking just a little bit over the max dose can cause a lot of liver damage.
Posted 7/16/2009 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your suggestions. I dont like taking them but I am cramping so so so bad I dont know what to do. So far they havent called me in anything. I have tried advil, aleve, and tylenol and it doesnt seem to kick it.
Posted 7/18/2009 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Cramping vs. Pain ... Bentyl is good for cramping. Do some research and see if your doctor would be willing to try this drug. If you can stop the cramping, maybe that would alleviate your pain as well. Just a thought...
Posted 8/20/2009 8:24 AM (GMT 0)
Im only a week in to my new illiostomy, however, Ive been on pain meds for about 4 months because of the flare up that lead to this procedure. Im already feeling like I can get myself off the pain meds within a month or two.

As a note though, doctors are trained to be compassionate. Ask your PCP to refer to you Pain Management. He should do that for you, and they will help. Thats what they train in specifically.

Prior to surgery I went to a pain managment and they prescribed a standard amount of daily pain medicine, with very strict usuage. (If you abuse it, you lose it). They also gave me a steroid epidural that really helped.

So my final 2 cents. If your in pain, you dont have to live with it. Just try not to get hooked. I dont beleive Im hooked (cause I have no joy in taking them), but I know after 4 months my body is dependent and its gonna take work to quit taking it.
Posted 8/31/2009 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Had Colonstomy and Rectum removal 7 weeks ago. Was on morphine in hospital for 6 days. Had kidney problems on day 3 due to scar tissue problems. Went home on day 10 and have not needed any meds.

In Dec08 I had surgery and was in hospital for only 6 days and left without needing any meds.

I guess my surgeons and doctors did a good job.

I am a Kaiser Permanente patient in San Francisco.
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