hard-to-control pain, can't pee, is this normal?

Hello all:

First, I would like to say 'thank you' to the veterans who hang out here and try to help those of us looking for information. Immediate post-op is a very vulnerable and fearful time, and there's nothing else quite like this site!

I had a TAH/BSO this past Tuesday, 6 days ago. I was released from the hospital Friday - they almost insisted on sending me home with a catheter because I found it hard to pee, but I managed to empty enough to escape without one.

I also had a painkiller pump (Heparin, I think? Was too woozy to remember now) while I was in the hospital, which was removed right before I left. I've hardly had a pain-free moment since then. I can't get enough pain control to sleep well, or feel comfortable. I started out with 5-500 Vicodin tabs, and found I had to take the maximum dose they allowed on the bottle (which was 2 tabs every 3 hours) in order to get any relief. I tried calling a local doc to see if I could get a rx for Percoset, and she kind of flipped because I was getting too much Tylenol per day. So now I am on Percoset; one 5-325 Percoset every 2-3 hours, and it's still not providing good relief, though at the middle of the 2-3 hour cycle I at least feel some relief.

To top it off, I am also continuing to find it hard to pee. Is this normal? And could the difficulty peeing be related to the pain? I often feel, when trying to go, as though my bladder has just gone on strike until I get some control over the pain.

As it stands now, I have to do the following in order to pee even a little:
- turn off the lights and close my eyes
- put my feet in warm water
- put my hand under running water
- switch positions occasionally from leaning forward to learning back on the potty
- continue doing this for at least 20 minutes
So as you can see, I will need to start trying voodoo soon, as I'm running out of tricks.

Is it possible to be resistant to narcotic painkillers? I also have an rx for 600 mg Ibuprofen, but have been reluctant to try using that as I have a history of post-op bleeding and Ibuprofen is a blood thinner. I might be past the danger point with post-op bleeding though -- although once before, when I had breast reduction surgery, I developed a hematoma 4 days out!

So I guess my questions boil down to these:
- is my risk of post-op bleeding diminished at 6 days out, enough to try Ibuprofen as my main painkiller?
- is there any such thing as resistance to narcotic painkillers, and could that be causing my trouble with pain?
- will I ever pee normally again, or could this be a permanent condition?

Thanks for anything you guys can help me with. I'm stumped, and feeling pretty lousy.

Hi CPJ,

Sorry to hear you're struggling.

Heparin is a blood thinner, it's what they usually inject you with daily post surgery. Ibuprofen can thin your blood, but not as much as aspirin does. It's more used for it's anti inflammatory qualities, which are always helpful following an op.

You can become resistant to all types of painkillers (hence why morphine junkies can eventually take doses that would floor a normal person).

The peeing problem sounds like you could either have a UTI, your bladder is struggling to cope following the surgery, the pain you're in is stopping you from relaxing enough to let go, or all of the above.

I drank lots of cranberry juice post and water post surgery. After they took my catheter out, I could totally empty my bladder when I went but it took a while for me to get the feeling back of knowing when I needed to pee. Everything just felt so strange.

When going to the toilet the physio advised me to sit well back in the seat, so everything was supported, lean forwards slightly (you're shoulders should be above your knees) and lift my heels off the floor, pushing down with my toes. I found gently rocking in this position really helps get things moving.

The best advice I could give though is ask your GP or the hospital who performed your surgery. They should know best.

Hope you feel better soon.

Much love.
Fuzzpuss
>^.^<

	Quote:
Originally Posted by cpj_0001 Hello all: First, I would like to say 'thank you' to the veterans who hang out here and try to help those of us looking for information. Immediate post-op is a very vulnerable and fearful time, and there's nothing else quite like this site! I had a TAH/BSO this past Tuesday, 6 days ago. I was released from the hospital Friday - they almost insisted on sending me home with a catheter because I found it hard to pee, but I managed to empty enough tIo escape without one. I also had a painkiller pump (Heparin, I think? Was too woozy to remember now) while I was in the hospital, which was removed right before I left. I've hardly had a pain-free moment since then. I can't get enough pain control to sleep well, or feel comfortable. I started out with 5-500 Vicodin tabs, and found I had to take the maximum dose they allowed on the bottle (which was 2 tabs every 3 hours) in order to get any relief. I tried calling a local doc to see if I could get a rx for Percoset, and she kind of flipped because I was getting too much Tylenol per day. So now I am on Percoset; one 5-325 Percoset every 2-3 hours, and it's still not providing good relief, though at the middle of the 2-3 hour cycle I at least feel some relief. To top it off, I am also continuing to find it hard to pee. Is this normal? And could the difficulty peeing be related to the pain? I often feel, when trying to go, as though my bladder has just gone on strike until I get some control over the pain. As it stands now, I have to do the following in order to pee even a little: - turn off the lights and close my eyes - put my feet in warm water - put my hand under running water - switch positions occasionally from leaning forward to learning back on the potty - continue doing this for at least 20 minutes So as you can see, I will need to start trying voodoo soon, as I'm running out of tricks. Is it possible to be resistant to narcotic painkillers? I also have an rx for 600 mg Ibuprofen, but have been reluctant to try using that as I have a history of post-op bleeding and Ibuprofen is a blood thinner. I might be past the danger point with post-op bleeding though -- although once before, when I had breast reduction surgery, I developed a hematoma 4 days out! So I guess my questions boil down to these: - is my risk of post-op bleeding diminished at 6 days out, enough to try Ibuprofen as my main painkiller? - is there any such thing as resistance to narcotic painkillers, and could that be causing my trouble with pain? - will I ever pee normally again, or could this be a permanent condition? Thanks for anything you guys can help me with. I'm stumped, and feeling pretty lousy.

Hey- I am so sorry that you are hurting and so uncomfortable! I too was on Percoset and had to return to the doctor because of pain. Although I didn't have any risky signs of allergic reaction the doctor said that my body was having adverse reactions to it because it was not giving me relief and was keeping me awake. He changed me to hydro codones/ ibuprof 7.5-200mg tb and promethazine 25 mg to ease the pain. He said it was extremely important to find relief so our body could heal! Hope you find the right combo so you can heal!

Hi Ladies,

thanks for the info and suggestions! You're right about the Heparin, they came and gave me those shots daily. I can't remember what was in the incision pump but I really missed it when they took it out.

Fuzzpuss, thanks for the suggestion for peeing -- it really did help! I would like also to pass on another trick I learned from a nurse once when I was in the hospital. It worked then, all by itself -- it's not helping as much on this occasion, but it's still a good trick to know.

Get some pure peppermint oil from a health food store. When you go to the bathroom, rub a bit of peppermint oil on the front edge of the toilet seat. DON"T GET ANY ON YOURSELF! You just want the fumes to waft gently over your urinary area. I don't know why, but it can help you to go.

I'm still battling with the pain. I'm going to try plain old ibuprofen this evening and see if that works better than the narcotics.... thanks everyone!

I had terrible bladder spasms which felt and just like a UTI, and they lasted about 4 weeks. I too had a hard time finally getting control of the pain and ended up with 10/325 perocet and 25mg promethazine every 4 hours. I also found 600mg of Advil took the edge off when combined with all the other Rx's. I am still on some pain meds. Good luck.

I hear you about the pain...I was taking percoset every 4 hours and 800 motrin every 8 hrs....with no pain relief for 2.5 weeks....on tues I will be 3 weeks post op and t has only been the last few days I am going 5 or 6 hours in between percosets....evenings and night are the worst for me. My bladder is still "asleep". I have no feeling of needing to pee, I just have to remember to go every few hours. If I wait too long the pressure kills me..... keep reminding myself...one day at a time, and everyday is better.

I had no problems first few days, then after being home and backing off pain meds, urination pain is awful. @boredaml, didn't even think about not getting the feeling to go until too late, maybe that's my problem too - sleeping bladder. Because once I do go, pain is awful and can't empty. May call dr tomorrow and ask about bladder infection and if that's not it, any suggestions on pain meds that work? Also, I'm 10 days post but had hematomas 2 days after surgery, had to get 2 bags blood transfusion and my dr still gave me ibuprofen 600.

I have pain when peeing if I wait to long and I also feel like I never empty my bladder. I take my book in the bathroom with me and sometimes sit for 15 min.....I can go, stop, go 2 or 3 times! LOL I can not imagine ibuprofen as my only pain med....I have 800 motrin every 8 hrs and percoset every 4...talk to your doctor about needing something stronger....

Hi CPJ,

Glad it helped. The stuff that was in your pump was more than likely morphine. Good stuff when you need it but understandably they don't like you on it too long.

'Sleeping bladder' will wear off after a while girls, keep doing what you're doing and going every few hours to avoid accidents. I found mine started to wear off after my first sneeze. I still don't get the feeling I had before my op, but I definitely feel something now when I need to go.

Another thing I've learned, they kept trying to offer me tea and coffee in hospital. Nice as that is, especially tea as it's a diuretic and makes you pee, caffeine is probably the worst thing to give those of us going menopausal. Really triggers hot flushes for me. Same for my mother too. Stick with boiled water, it doesn't taste like much but it keeps your innards moving and is great with trapped wind.

Hope the ibuprofen is working for you, if not there's always diclofenac. It's another anti inflammatory, you need to take it with meals. Long term use of it though can affect your digestive system, so go easy on what you eat.

Much love.
Fuzzpuss
>^.^<