Foo - I should be on meds, but I'm not

I had surgery this past Thursday to repair an inguinal hernia. Open surgery, not laproscopic. HURTS. I should be taking the vicodin they gave me, but I'm not.

Am I nuts?

Oh, I am taking the ducolax though. Apparently the anesthesia and pain meds from surgery have left me constipated.

Just thought I'd share as I'm unable to do much but sit on the couch.

Drink fruit juice.
Take pain meds if you need um.
Been there myself.

Sometimes it takes six weeks to shake the anesthesia meds.

I gave up the narcotics after just a couple of doses. Started walking around pretty quickly; probably less than a week. Was hiking in less than a month and had my "up chit" to return to flying duty in 30 days.

None of it was pleasant... but I think I healed faster by pushing it.

I was also 27. I think today, those time frames would be a bit more spread out, though I probably still wouldn't take the narcotics.

If you can tolerate it, I wouldn't take them. It masks the pain and you might do more than you are supposed to do. Plus it's just more chemicals in your body.

I got vicodin the other day because some cases from a pallet fell on me. I toughed it out and didn't take any.

This is hardly the discussion I expected from Foo, especially with the gratuitous mention of a couch and constipation!

Take a couple Alleve.

Walking on a flat path, say in a park, should help. If it doesn't; see your Doc.

This is hardly the discussion I expected from Foo, especially with the gratuitous mention of a couch and constipation!

Oh my bad....

DUDE!!! What's wrong with you?? You need to take not only your paid meds but wash it down with some prune juice and chew on some habeneros. As a chaser you need to suck on some dried plums (whole) till they get all soggy, gummy and slimy. Then toss your head back, swallow them whole, imagining them as oysters in the shell. Then of course you gotta throw down some hot sauce. Them pain meds will stop any common sense you have.

Next thing you know you'll be sittin' on the throne with ring sting.

Problem solved.

Did I do better? :p

Did I do better? :p

Much, thanks!

Hey no problem. Now just say no.

This is hardly the discussion I expected from Foo, especially with the gratuitous mention of a couch and constipation!

Trust me, that first trip to the throne will speak for itself! No fun at all. Narcotics may be necessary after that one... especially if you're all bound up and have to, erm, exert yourself to get rid of it all!!:twitchy:

Am I the only surprised to find this thread was *not* started by Pcad?:o

I'm at a point, 3 weeks after surgery, where I only take percocet at bedtime. I needs me some sleep. Gastrointestinal issues seemed to go away as I was tapering off and down to about 4 a day.

Vicodin and percocet seem to be less effective if you're trying to "catch up" in terms of pain management. They also are probably best tapered off, rather than quit.

Sell them?

I used something else after my back surgery but it was too strong and make squirrels talk to mah... then they gave me vicodin and it was all sooooo good. Stopped taking it some weeks later because I didn't wanted to get hoked up on the stuff.... but it was soooo goood....

Mmmmm opiates are saweeeeet weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeeee aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh weeeeeeeeeee!

HTFU.





Actually I sucked down Vicodin like Pez after my oral surgery clusterfark. Happily, I was able to stop taking those 10 days ago and my mouth stopped hurting. But after over two weeks on the pills (maybe 1-3 daily, 750 mg) I wasn't physically addicted. Still, it took 4-5 days to really feel right after I stopped them, so if you're only going to be in pain for a few days it's worth it if you can avoid them all together. My mouth wouldn't stop killing me for weeks.

HTFU.





Actually I sucked down Vicodin like Pez after my oral surgery clusterfark. Happily, I was able to stop taking those 10 days ago and my mouth stopped hurting. But after over two weeks on the pills (maybe 1-3 daily, 750 mg) I wasn't physically addicted. Still, it took 4-5 days to really feel right after I stopped them, so if you're only going to be in pain for a few days it's worth it if you can avoid them all together. My mouth wouldn't stop killing me for weeks.
HTFU is what I was thinking when I didn't start on them. Now I don't think I'll need 'em.

Every day is a little better. I intend to follow the doctors' orders regarding when I can start riding again.

i got dilaudid after surgery a few years ago...that stuff rocks. I'm surprised they'd give vicodin considering how it can be addictive. Dilaudid is supposed to be better in that sense...the only thing is it makes you reaalllly dopey. I hardly remember anything from that first week after i got home...mostly i sat on the sofa, popped pills and watched tv.

Dilaudid is far more addictive. The number of addiction are lower due to it being prescribed less. Oxycontin? That's Dilaudid. Take you meds and stop bragging. I don't have any health insurance and I have medical issues to boot.

Hey no problem. Now just say no.

Just say MOE!

138559

I've had both (open on one side, lap. on the other). The open one, I certainly needed Demerol in post op...I don't think I had anything after 48 hours though (I was in the hospital for a day after - this was some 25 yrs ago). It didn't require uber-potent painkillers after that in my case but it hurt for months after (low-level dull pain).

The Lap. side (about 7 yrs ago), I just went home and ate Oreos in front of the TV for two days; was riding my bike slowly by Day Three.

Feel better!:)

What medicinal category do oreos belong to?

The worst of the pain is definitely gone now. Miralax works. I think that's enough detail, although, this is Foo.

Pain triggers the brain to send help in the healing process. But don't let it go 'til it blinds you. You need to be able to operate the remote control. YEAH, that constipation sure backs things up......

What medicinal category do oreos belong to?

binders

Painkillers FTW. After my knee surgery three years ago, I watched all six episodes of star wars in two days with a bottle of percocet at my side. One of the best times of my life.

I had 2 collarbone surgeries, knee repair, torn roataor cuff and cancer surgery and I never took pain medication for any of them. Actually I was never in that much pain. The surgery usually relieved the pain I was in. Plus that constipation thing... been there done that never again. The pain was nothing complained to having to deal with 2 weeks (1 week in hospital and a week home) of backup!!!! :(

I do however have enough of the good stuff (vicodin, oxycondin, codeine etc) sitting around to make a drug dealer happy. I'm still trying to figure out a good way to dispose of it.

BTW after reading this thread all I can say is MEN ARE WUSSES! I had cancer surgery - they opened up my abdomen and took out some of my colon - no pain killers ever! Man up - suck it up. Geez, babies! :notamused:

BTW after reading this thread all I can say is MEN ARE WUSSES! I had cancer surgery - they opened up my abdomen and took out some of my colon - no pain killers ever! Man up - suck it up. Geez, babies! :notamused:

What, did you huff on paint fumes to make it through the surgery? That's pretty badass.

What, did you huff on paint fumes to make it through the surgery? That's pretty badass.

No obviously I was under anesthesia during the surgery. The surgeon before the surgery implanted a pain pump but as soon as I was wheeled into my room I had the pump removed. It was so uncomfortable (it was like sticking out of my back so I couldn't get comfortable in bed) I rather deal with the pain. And don't get me wrong it was painful. I had an 12 inch incision and a good chunk of colon gone. The surgeon had to cut through my stomach muscles.

BTW I do have a high pain tolerance... I generally have my teeth worked on without anesthesia or pain shots. My friends are always amazed after a bad mountain bike fall, with blood everywhere I just pick myself up and keep going. When I broke my collarbone, the first and second time, I admit THAT was painful. I just learned to handle the pain. When I had that repaired I was again under a light anesthesia (I have difficulty with strong anesthesia so generally the doctors use a light (twilight) one) but afterwards, no pain meds. The surgery was easy compared to the breaks!!!

Congrats on the cancer survival, Pam. That's some awesome good news. My mom wasn't so lucky. Glad that you are here with us to post about it. :)

i got dilaudid after surgery a few years ago...that stuff rocks. I'm surprised they'd give vicodin considering how it can be addictive. Dilaudid is supposed to be better in that sense...the only thing is it makes you reaalllly dopey. I hardly remember anything from that first week after i got home...mostly i sat on the sofa, popped pills and watched tv.

Wyatt Earp's original woman died from dilaudid addiction. You aren't hanging with any cowboys are you?

Congrats on the cancer survival, Pam. That's some awesome good news. My mom wasn't so lucky. Glad that you are here with us to post about it. :)

Thank you - I was and am lucky. It could have been so much worse. Everyday I am grateful it was not. I am sorry about your Mom. You know, words can't make up for the loss...

I take aspirin so I can open a bottle of Ibuprofen................