Medications postop - Page 4 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

MiladyB · 12-26-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mumsy

Nov. 24 I had a large synovial cyst removed from my lower spinal canal along with 2 fusions below the cyst. I was in the hospital 8 days and it took them 4 days to finally get my pain somewhat under control. (This is mainly because the nurses were giving me only half the pain meds ordered by my doc because they were worried I would stop breathing). Sadists.

Now that I am home, I am still on pain meds and wearing a delightful hard shell brace. So very attractive. I digress.

I am on the liquid oxycodone, 2 tsp. every 4 hours...a 5 mg valium every 8 hours and 1 30 mg. oxycontin pill every 12 hours.

I have been reading here about pain meds and how they are absorbed and know that the oxycontin must be a slow release medication. I still have quite a bit of pain and am now wondering if taking this is for naught. Is it having any effect whatsoever if it doesn't have time to "release" into my system?

The people working at my neurosurgeons office seem to be oblivious to the needs of gastric bypass patients; though the health care provider they are associated with (Aspirus) is a center of excellence for gastric bypass surgery...or at least that is what I was told.

I has to struggle with them just to get the liquid oxycodone.

I would appreciate any input into this as I need to get this pain under control and speed up the healing process. I'm going to be in this brace for probably another month and hope to be out of it soon after. But this isn't going to happen without the correct pain meds.

Thank you for your support...many hugs to all...the mums

Mumsy, the extended release drugs are in a little bit more of a "grey" area. Some people absorb them just fine but others find that they don't because the length of our digestive system has decreased.

When I've talked to my surgeon about the time released meds he says he bases it on if the medication seems to be working for his patients. If they don't seem to be effectively working then there is a good chance they aren't being totally absorbed. If they are working? Well then no problem taking them.

I would say that if you are still in pain you may want to re-address this issue. Maybe you could get some kind of suggestion from your bariatric surgeon about pain control meds?

Just a thought.

Mumsy · 12-26-2008, 02:23 PM

Thanks for such a quick reply Milady!

I just got off the phone with my surgeons nurse; who is already concerned about my dependence on the pain killers. I've gone thru this type of situation when I had two knee replacements within the space of a couple of years and became dependent on pain meds. I had quite the time of going thru the whole withdrawal process.

Sadly, I believe I have become dependent on these meds since I am experiencing some withdrawal symptoms if I go too long without taking a "dose". Arghhhhhhhhh!! I really feel like I'm between the proverbial "rock and a hard place"!

So I got quite the lecture from the nurse (as my surgeon was sitting in the same room to boot) as to weaning me off the meds and now I'm all in a tizzy that it is too soon after my surgery to start the weaning process. Oh boogers anyway.

But the info about the oxicotin was very interesting to me because now I know that this could be helping me. I thought for sure it was just going in one end and out the other without even dissolving. HA! Oh maybe not so funny.

But thanks again for sharing our knowledge. You are such a blessing to this forum and don't you EVER forget it!!

love and a hug...the mums

VickiLyn · 02-26-2009, 01:30 PM

The weather here has been crazy with it being a high in the 30's one day and then today its almost 70. I've got some kind of sinus/cold thing going on and just did a search to find out what to take and came upon this thread. Thanks Beth!!

kraley · 02-27-2009, 12:29 PM

What about Airborne? (the fizzy tablet that you put in a drink of water if you feel like your'e getting sick?) Echinacea? Garlic? I have had really great success with these when I have gotten sick.

Phatlady · 11-07-2009, 06:09 PM

Beth,
This thread is a life saver.
I didn't want to bother my Doctor for every single sniffle and Voila! After two weeks of suffering, I now know exactly what I can safely take and in the future, I will!
Thank -you, thank-you, thank-you!

slim4three · 11-15-2009, 09:16 AM

What about our regular prescription meds? After surgery, do you think my dosage of these will have to be increased due to malabsorption? For example, I take synthroid for underactive thyroid, plaquenil for lupus, zyrtec, and atenelol. I hadn't thought about it but i guess my dosage on all of these will change/increase.

Christine

poet_kelly · 11-15-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slim4three

What about our regular prescription meds? After surgery, do you think my dosage of these will have to be increased due to malabsorption? For example, I take synthroid for underactive thyroid, plaquenil for lupus, zyrtec, and atenelol. I hadn't thought about it but i guess my dosage on all of these will change/increase.

Christine

Your dosage might need to be adjusted. I think it depends on the med, and sometimes it depends on the person. Some people might experience more malabsorption of some things than others. I suggest you discuss it with your surgeon and get his or her advice. Your PCP, if that is who normally prescribes these drugs for you, may not be familiar with how malabsorption works after RNY. So get your surgeon's advice and make any changes recommended, but then be very observant of how you do after surgery. If you notice changes in your condition that suggest you aren't absorbing your meds well, talk to your doctor.

Kelly