Please, Please Help Me, I am Living a Nightmare! - Pain Management Message Board

butrfligirl28 · 05-22-2007, 06:50 PM

As some of you know, I am scheduled for surgery this Thursday. I currently take Oxycontin 20 mgs twice daily, and Percocet 10 mgs twice daily.

Last month, my nurse practitioner agreed that I needed to stay on my chronic pain meds after my surgery, and the surgeon would use additional meds for my acute pain.He said that the surgeon would be responsible for pain meds after surgery and the recovery. He stated that my pain doctor could be consulted, but that my surgeon would be in charge. He stated that they would take me back, for my regular pain management needs (if I have them) after the surgeon releases me.

After my last surgery, when I suffered terrible pain, I have been trying so hard to get a plan, advocate for myself, ect. I talked with the surgeon, the anesthiesiologist, ect. Everyone agrees that I should stay on my regula meds, and receive additional meds if needed after surgery. I have crossed my I's and dotted my T's. My surgery is THURSDAY!

I called the pain center just to make sure there would be no problems with my refills (due tomorrow) as the surgeon is requesting that I bring them to the hospital on Thursday. I don't know the nurse I talked to, she doesn't know me. (My regular nurse is apparantly out of town.) I was polite, never rude. She, however, had an attitude from the very beginning.

Not only did she state that their "protocol" is to stop prescribing me my chronic pain meds altogether, but then she asked what meds I was on. I told her oxycontin and percocet. Then she states "Well that's all you will need after surgery anyway." "That is more than sufficient" What? Have they lost their mind?? I have been on this dosage for nearly two years! I only have a pain reduction of 50%. How in the world could these meds and dosages control my pain after surgery? I told her this and stated that my surgeon did not believe that this would be sufficient. She snapped, "What's is name, what's his number? I will call them right now!"

My stomach is being sliced open. I am having TWO laparotomies. One vertical, and one horizontal. The surgeon is not going to agree to prescribe both my chronic pain meds AND meds for acute pain! I have done everything in my power to get this right. And, one day beforehand, it falls apart. I cannot go into that operating room without a plan to manage my pain, and all the experts state that you must stay on your regular meds, or you will experience hypergesia and withdrawal, ON TOP of the surgical pain.

I have my monthly appointment with the pain center in the morning. However, this nurse already called my surgeons office. They called me and stated "the pain center says that they will deal with you in the morning, then they will tell us how to proceed." What does that mean? All this time the surgeon and their nurses have been supportive. Now, they are leaving me messages like this??

What am I going to do?
Please help me!

Fabrashamx · 05-22-2007, 08:40 PM

The good news here is that is was not your caregivers saying these things to you, only the people covering the phones. If you see your regular person tomorrow, I'm sure it can be put right, if not, ask them firmly to please call that person immediatly as you had already discussed and resolved this. The surgeon likewise will go by your chart and your last conversation, not some random call from someone who wasnt even your primary prescriber.
Just tell them that you will have to refuse the needed surgery without medication, That going in with what you have already been taking is like going in with NOTHING and your surgeon and primary caregiver have already discussed this.
Please post tomorrow and let us know what happens!
Your Friend, Fabby

Nu2patch · 05-22-2007, 10:12 PM

Hi,
Im so sorry that this is happening to u, it is so fusterating. Besides being nervous about the surgery u have to worry about this on top of that! I hope that everything goes well for u. I will pray for u. Please let us know!

Nu2patch

feelbad · 05-23-2007, 08:59 AM

I am hoping that things went well for you at your appt BFG,please give us an update when you can,K?fabby is completely right here tho,you DO NOT have to have any surgery without knowing that your pain control options are not fully in place.you have that right as well as others.the best thing to do is to make darn certain that everything is in writing and ask to see the orders yourself.most surgeons are pretty good about maintaining patients pain post op.just talk to him about your fears and tell him why you are feeling this way and make certain to also mention the lack of good pain control the last time.you just need some assurances before proceeding with any actual surgery.good luck,marcia

butrfligirl28 · 05-23-2007, 10:46 AM

The pain doc stated that the surgeon does indeed take care of all of my pain needs, and that I will not be prescribed my regular pain meds until the surgeon releases me after surgery. He said that the surgeon is in charge of prescribing enough meds to cover what I am already taking, as well as handling the acute pain. They did tell me what the doctors should do, and what I should expect. They said that there is no way that it is impossible to treat all my problems.

I am so scared, but I have been praying, and this is all I can do. I don't trust doctors anymore, but I do hope this surgeon can surprise me. I am asking for your prayers, as I need all I can get.

Thank you all so much for your advice and support.

Your Friend,

Amanda