Coming off pain meds

I had my TVH last Tuesday, have been on quite a few pain meds the past few months leading up to my surgery.

From approx. May/08 - Sept.16/08, daily T3's (2-4)
along with Percs 5mg for bad pain, usually
no more than 4 - 5 a week
Since mid sept. they switched me to
Timed release 10mg oxycontin, 2 a day
T3's for breakthrough pain

Can I be addicted? Meaning, a body dependance already?
I go tomorrow to talk to my GP about a weaning program.
I have needed the same meds while recovering. I do realize that having been on such strong narcotics I have a higher tolerance level for drugs.

I am kind of mad because when they switched me to the 20mg of oxycontin a day, I had gone in to ask for an oxy pill with no acetaminaphine, because I felt like I was getting too much since I was using T3's as well. So that was when they switched me to the 10mg twice a day. I just did what they suggested, but really I went from sometimes no oxycontin a day to 20mg every day.

Jeepers, now I am getting a bit scared!

Wow Katiekatlyn, it sounds like you have had a terrible time. I can't give any advice about painkillers. I didn't need anything stronger than a Tylenol after the morphine pump was taken off. But I know about dropping medications.

My doctor has been weaning me from several medications I was taking for high blood pressure and anxiety and all of the side effects I was having because of the darn pills. I have dropped from taking 8 medications to three and man-oh-man do I feel better. He took me off of one pill at a time to monitor any side effects I might experience while my body adjusted. Other than a weird wooziness when dropping the Lexapro and some slight puffiness in my ankles when I dropped the Lasix, I have done great.

He explained that the body is like a big stew pot and all of the meds mix together and change the "flavor" of the stew - your body's chemical balance. When you remove a long-term medication, your body has to change its chemical balance to adjust to the missing part of the stew. My "stew" is restoring itself to a more normal, healthy balance and my system is much happier with that! I am not having the multitude of side effects I was experiencing before.

It sounds like your doctor is taking good care of you. I wouldn't worry about being "addicted" to any of your meds. The weaning process will take you off the meds with minimal side effects and your body's chemical balance will adjust and restore itself. You'll be med-free before your know it! Congratulations on your recovery.