Am I the only one allergic to narcotic pain meds?

As far as I know, I am allergic to all narcotic pain medications.  I am about to have a major operation, and my worst fear is that I won't be able to manage the pain afterwards with just OTC pain meds.  Has anyone else been faced with a similar dilemna?

Hi Sherry... thanks for the response.  I think I've tried most everything, i.e., Percocet, Percodan, Vicodin, Phentenyl, Darvocet, Tylenol #3, you name it.  I can take any of these drugs if I'm in the hospital because at the same time they can give me Benedryl intraveneously to take care of the itching, hives and nausea.  Oral Benedryl isn't sufficient, so once I'm home I'm outa luck.  Sherry, I noticed that you were diagnosed with Reynaud's Syndrome.  So was I, just a few months ago.  What are your symptoms, and do you do anything for it?  I have these really funky electric boots that I wear all the time when I'm at home (if I'm just sitting down that is) and I use toe warmers in my shoes when I go out.  I have UC too... proctitis actually.  I take Canasa for my flare-ups (about every 6 weeks or so).

Post Edited (jbara) : 2/10/2006 11:57:09 AM (GMT-7)

Sherry, I don't know if they make a Rx strength Benedryl or not, but I think it woudl be worth looking into.  Thanks for the suggestion.  Yea, I kind of wondered the same thing about the Reynaud's and UC... I've also developed joint pain that feels like arthritis in my hands and feet, although I had hoped it would go away once I cleared up my most recent UC flare... it didn't.  Can you relate?

Thanks Sherry... I've actually been to the UC forum, but haven't looked specifically into the joint pain issue.  I'll do that. 

Hi Ann... welcome to Healing Well.  I'm sorry to hear that you're in the same predicament as me.  about 12 years ago, I was on a morphine pump after a knee surgery, and like you, I didn't itch or anything but felt horrible... I couldn't wait to get off that stuff.

A friend of mine who is a PA and works for a surgeon writes a lot of prescriptions for pain.  He told me that he prescribes a drug called Atarax to counteract allergic reactions to pain meds... you might mention it to your pain doc, although he will hopefully know already what the solution to your problem is.  When is your surgery scheduled for?  If I don't hear back from you, good luck with your surgery... I hope all goes well and you are able to 'comfortably' control your pain.

Jamie

I have been searching the internet all day looking for someone who was somewhat in the same boat as me. I thought I was the only one on this planet with this problem. I can not take "ANY" RX pain meds. I've tried Tylenol 3, Lortabs, Percocet, Morphine, etc., etc., etc. I have SEVERE inflammation around my rib cage and my heart feels like it's going to literally explode. Basically, I'm having symptoms of a heart attack so they always hook me up to heart monitors, etc. I was told that it's an allergic reaction. I thought it was strange to be "just having an allergic reaction" to ALL pain meds. Thanks to Zots, I'm going to see if I can get a doctor to listen. I go to military docs, though, so they have certain protocols they go by so I don't know if it's going to do any good. It'd be great to find out why I can't use pain meds.

I had an emergency csection 3 months ago. Over the weekend, I had severe lower ab pain (around the csection scar). On Tues. morning, I couldn't take the pain any more and also felt a "knot" of sorts around the scar. I went to he ER for 7 hours where they finally did a U/S. They found "fluid" and thought it was an abscess. They brought in an OBGYN who said it's not possible without fever, etc. The ER sent me home with pain meds (which I had a severe reaction to and couldn't take----chest/rib pain). On Thurs., I went to my PCM who did a CT scan (which was recommeded by the radiologist initially come to find out). They've found that I have a hemorrhage in a muscle (not an abscess). I'm to contact the surgical clinic on Monday to get an appt. for a Biopsy. I don' t know why they're needing a biopsy, though. But, I'm scared to death that I'll have to have surgery and can't control the pain because I can't take "anything" at all. Does anyone have any suggestions for pain meds/management????

Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Sherry.  I will look into the Chronic Pain Forum.  I couldn't stand the pain any longer so I went to the ER this morning.  They took me to the Surgical Clinic and the surgeon saw me and did a second U/S.  It "appears" that my hemorrhage inside the abdominal muscle is from my c-section scar attaching itself to the large ab muscle and it literally ripped it.  I can't lift anything (including my baby) for at least 2 weeks to see if it will heal itself or else surgery will be required.  I gave my surgeon my RX pain meds this morning to dispose of so they know that I only tried one dosage of it and had a severe reaction to them all.  But, he didn't want to do surgery just yet since I can't take pain meds after surgery for the inevitable post-op pain.  But, thank you for your insight and I will be looking into the Chronic Pain forum. 

This is a very helpful and infomative website and I'm grateful for those who are willing to share their thoughts and experiences.