Calling all you veterans....... - Pain Management Message Board

Dawn1973 · 07-11-2002, 05:58 PM

Hey guys,
Here's the deal. Recently I have been trying to wean myself slowoly down on the Vicodin. Reason being, I am having surgery (ACDF C4-C5) on July 25. I am afraid if I am taking too much now that I will have horrible problems with controlling pain post op. The problem is, I hurt

The other problem is, let me tell you, withdrawl is no fun

Tonight my whole body ached, so to fix it, I took just a Soma instead with some ibuprofen. To tell you the truth, I have been scaring myself with the amount of Vicodin I have been needing. In the morning, my neck hurts so bad I can't even stand up from bed without pain meds first. I haven't called my doc and told him this because I am afraid he will think I am abusing my drugs or something. He just upped my regular Vicodin to Vicodin ES, it is ordered 1 tablet every six hours as needed. It just doesn't do it!! But I am afraid if I take too much, then post op they won't be able to treat my pain.

Another scary thought, what if my tolerance is so high, when I go into surgery into the OR, they might undersedate me and I will feel the whole op?????? YIKES!!

I think Im babbiling so I'll shutup now. thanks guys.

Dawn

davidc66 · 07-11-2002, 07:58 PM

Hey Dawn, Honsetly because you have sucked it up and stuck with hydro products you should do fine post op pain wise. Every surgery I had 2 percs or 2 tylox was a standard order for that type of sugery. That's after you get off PCA, This will all be covered by the doc and anesthesia dept. I just had an endocspoy, they brought in an anesthesiologist because I have such a high tolernace, I don't remeber a thing. Those drugs are very different than what your used to. You will be out like a light .

JUst be honest about your usage witgh the anesthesiologist, often he controls the PCA That's IV patient controlled intrevenous drugs. Hang in there, those pills never lasted more than 4 hours,You not strange in any regard but I don't think your tolerance is as high as you think. Take care, David

Dawn1973 · 07-11-2002, 11:54 PM

Thanks david, ya made me feel better

Dawn

PS I am up at 1:50 am cause I am hurting, guess I should go take a med, only took one yesterday.

fallllea · 07-12-2002, 01:16 AM

hey dawn-David is right.Also you can say that you use to be a heavy drinker but you stopped several years ago.This is always good for the heavy tolerance thing since alcohol also contributes to narcotic tolerance.Good luck,Randy

beebauser · 07-12-2002, 04:17 AM

Dawn,
hi hun..PEASE don't put yourself threw this now! there is plenty of time to ween down after the surgery, and one vic every 6 hours is nothing! before surgery I was taking 2 vic ES every 4 hours, and when I went in to the or I was out like a light! and the morfine pump worked for the day after, please dont put yourself threw this! there is no need. when I was sent home I was on oxy for 1 week then back to vic ES for a month or so and then weened down to nothing, with no bad effects. you are in pain! you are not trying to get high, so dont worry. the drs. usually treat very concervitive with pain meds, but if you dont let them know what you are feeling they cant possibly know.
but then again I know the feeling of being afraid they will think you are a drug seeker!
you need the meds now...and if you dont take them the pain gets worse and then your stress level goes up, and you are in more pain from the stress! I know it is a terrible roller coaster!
keep your chin up and remember we are all rooting for you!

keep posting, it helps
love ya
bee

hope for pain free moments