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Wes has to have his gallbladder out. (Yes, I am asstounded as well. BOTH kids right on top of each other. Unreal) But is paid is so high, he isn't sleeping well. So now he's manic and halucinating. Bad combo.

He stayed home with me today. He has been working with a pain level of 10. And lortab won't touch it.

He had a hyda scan on Tuesday and the pain has been worse since. Wednessday he started halucinating and he is raging hard core. So angry.

Any body else find themselves manic or even psycotic when you are in great pain? Any suggestions? I would like to wait for the surgeon to see him on the 23rd and keep him out of the hospital until then. I would be greatful for any advice.

sigh.

I loves me the stress. Can't live without it, it seems. AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

Somebody else gets to be the mom for awhile.

(((((Bear))))))

When my pain is high I am sometimes depressed and sometimes hyper. I'm pretty sure this is why I ended up getting misdiagnosed as bipolar, because the doctors saw my reactions to the untreated pain and thought the mood swings were bipolar. I get depressed with pain when I feel hopeless/useless, and I get hyper/manic with pain if I feel angry/frustrated... my reactions to pain all depend on the level of pain and the way the pain effects my activity levels and my life.

If the Lortab isn't helping at all for his pain, is there something else the doctor can prescribe? Lortab has the active ingrediant of hydrocodone, and there are higher doses of hydrocodone available - I know one of them is called Norco... there are also other medicines (like Percocet which is oxycodone). I know that doctors are not always good at treating pain in children, but if his pain is a 10 even after taking his meds then it seems to me that he may need something different... One thing that often helps doctors when finding the right pain meds is keeping a pain journal at home so that the doctors can see the levels of pain throughout the day and how that pain limits the patient and effects their life.

I hope that things improve for you and your family soon.

BTW - I have an appointment to see a super-specialist for the porph. The appointment isn't until June, but I have waited several years, so a few more months shouldn't be too bad... I'll let you know how that goes.

((((((hugs))))))

Take care of you,
Liz

Poor Wes. Can the surgeon get him in earlier?
Can he get some proper pain relief?

Mari

I am so sorry for your wes and you guys.
I agree there are stronger meds....
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Hey Witty! I read your post and called the doc. It was the 2nd time I have ever heard distress in his voice and we have been seeing him for 5 years.

I need reminders that I can bug these docs about helping my kids and myself.

Mari and bizi: You are always my support and my guides. Thank you!

He got some percecet and it did the trick but he hates how it made him feel.

BUT he is still sleeping and he desperately needed that.

YEAH!

And the GI doc that prescribed the meds made me call another surgical group and they can get him in for an evaluation on Tuesday instead of 2 weeks. (That is why the doc was so upset. He couldn't bare the thought of Wes in pain for another month and he was irritated.)

Score two for the GI doc.

Hi,
This is good for Wes. Better would be if he were not in any pain of course.
Percocet sounds like a good temporary solution.

I happy to read that the doc appointment got moved up.

Wes has a great mother.
Mari

I'm glad to hear that the Percocet is helping his pain. One way to help lessen the weird feelings from pain meds is to change the dosing slightly.

For example - if he is supposed to take 1 pill every 4 hours, you could change it to Half a pill every 2 hours.... it's still the exact same dosing without taking any more medication or any less - but breaking up the dose like that can help reduce a lot of the "weird head" feelings (and can also help to keep the pain relief at a more even level for the entire 4 hours).

Of course - always check with the doctor/pharmasist to make sure it is safe to cut a pill (I have taken Percocet several times over the years and they always told me it was 100% fine to cut it in half).

Anyway, that might help reduce the "fuzzy head" and other weird feelings that happen with pain medication.

((((((hugs))))))


Liz

Mrs. Bear,

I'm glad Wes has some better pain medicine and that his appointment go moved up. I hope that Wes feels better soon.

befuddled2

How funny. We have been breaking up his pills. His pain is so high today we just gave him the full dose, kept him home from work and he is sleeping.

BTW Witty: His urine went purple again last night! Let me know how your appointment goes. (There are some genetic blood disorders that will kill off a gallbladder. How crazy is that?)

We see this new surgeon tonight and if they can get him in ASAP, then I will cancel with Primary Childrens. If not, I have a back up.

He's a teeny bit manic-y. But not terrible.

HUGS! Let cha know how it goes tonight.

If he has porph the purple could be because of the Percocet... for some people with porph, Percocet (and other oxycodone medications) causes that mini-porph flare that turns urine purple -- such fun, especially because there are 100's of medications on the "might cause a porphyria problem" list.

I hate that list, and I hate wondering which medications on the list might cause a problem for me. It's exhausting. And really annoying to have to be watching urine everytime I am put on a new medication.

I hope that the surgeon is able to help him soon.
I'll be thinking lots and lots of good thoughts for you!


Liz