Post-surgical medications...
 

If you've read my additional posts in my thread "bilateral transsternal first rib resection" then you know the horror story of a hospital stay I had. I won't retype that here, but I do have a specific question about my continuing treatment.

Since my surgeon has fired me and the PA who discharged me from the hospital gave me 2 days worth of hydromorphone and 10 days worth of baclofen (on Saturday) I'm staring right in the face of being "pain-reliever-less" and I'm not quite sure what is acceptable to request.

I was told that additional pain management would need to be requested of my PCP. I know this is asking a lot from him. He did not do the surgery and therefore is not very familiar with the requirements afterwards. Narcotics are strictly regulated, I know, and I don't want to get him into any hot water anywhere. I'm fairly certain, however, he will make sure my needs are met.

I have been consistently taking 1/2 the dose of narcotics allowed to me and spacing them out more than 4 hours apart to make them last. I still probably have another day or so left going at this rate. I'm uncomfortable, but okay.

The surgeon had indicated (to the best that I recall) that I could expect to be on pain medications (Dilaudid) for at least three weeks. I was given a script that wouldn't even let me get 1 week post-surgery though I've stretched it so it will get be just that far, but no farther.

Is it reasonable for me to request more medication from my PCP? Or will I just look like a drug-seeker? What have your experiences been with pain medication and how long you were on it? I find that there are still times (usually at night) that I need 4mg of hydromorphone but usually I can do with 2mg. I think I could be okay with some Vicoden pretty soon as I think that is a step down from hydromorphone and I was on that in the past when I broke a rib. Should I head down this path? Or is 1 week reasonable for pain relief and I should just tough it out past this point? I really, really, really don't want to get anyone in trouble- myself included but I really feel that it's unreasonable to think that I'd be back on my feet that quickly! I'm recovering fast... but I'm still pulling a 7 on the pain scale without medication!

I was given an ample amount of oxycodone, and told that if I needed more, to call. My doctor told me that its highly variable from person to person. if you read through the post surgery posts, some people use the heavier pain medication for weeks.

I feel like every patient has the right to pain control, and if you are truly in pain, you have to do what you have to do to get it under control.

Surely, your primary can not get in trouble since you are in pain.

Hope you get it all figured out.

My primary said he can't prescribe narcotic pain relief for a surgery he didn't preform and referred me to the ER where they could have a doctor call my surgeon and advocate for me.

I finally called the surgeon's office in tears because I didn't know what to do and it was horrible of them to put me in the position of a drug-seeker. The nurse there wrote me a script for what I will be able to make into about another week of Dilaudid and by then I really see no reason why I'll need more of that. At the most, I think it'll be more like Vicoden which she said she'd do afterwards without a problem.

I'm so mad. I'm going to be writing to the newspaper or something to get my story out there. This is so wrong on so many levels.

I was given a prescription for Tramadol for pain and an anti-inflammatory when I was released from the hospital, which I took in addition to my regular daily pain medication that I had always taken before surgery, Topiramate, and of course Tylenol Extra Strength. The Tramadol and anti-inflammatory meds lasted about a week or so after I was released and then I was just on my regular meds from before surgery. I have Tramacet that I take once in a while when pain is worse but mostly just a Tylenol will work.

I also get monthly Lidocaine infusions which I will continue for a few months until I feel I don't need them any more.

After the first week at home you should find the pain significantly reduces.

After two weeks I was back to regular daily meds as before surgery, which I will gradually wean off as things hopefully get better.

I hope you're right! Unfortunately, I'm allergic to Tramadol and I was on no pain reliever before surgery as I was determined to stay off of them due to breastfeeding. No pain relief for me means nothing but Tylenol.

Valium in addition to the narcotics is what made my post surgical period tolerable...as well as allowed me to get some sleep.