non-narcotic post-op pain relief

I was not able to use this device but there have been several sisters here who have and raved about it. Check with your doctor and also check to see if your hospital is listed on the On-Q website and participating with this device.

Also there are drugs available that are no narcotics that work wonders like Toradol, you may want to ask about these drugs with your anesthesia team during pre op.

s

Donna

Dear PuddinPuddin:

First of all I am sorry you have to have this surgery! Second of all: You are going to love it! Ok, I had this type of pain pump after my TAH. It was the bomb baby! While you are in the operating room they insert a tiny tube into your incision site that is hooked up to a little ball (about the size of a handball). It has it's own little bag, kind like a fanny pack but only with a shoulder strap so you can walk around with it. What it does is it constantly drips a tiny amound of a numbing drug into your incision site (like novacane at the dentist). When you wake up from your surgery it will be in place and your incision will be completely numb. This medicine slowly drips out until the pump dries up, this usually takes about 2 days and then they remove the tube. You can't feel a thing when they remove the tube. the tube is so small, it is about the size of dental floss. Along with this type of pain killer, I was hooked up to a PCA pump with Morphine. This is the type of pump that YOU are in control of and only you push it when you need pain relief. Well, in all honesty, I NEVER once pushed that button! In fact, the only pain medication I used after my surgery was 800 mg Motrin. That is not to say that you will be totally painless, because you will have pain, but I am telling you this is the best pain relief out there. If you can manage it without the narcotics, you will be one step ahead in the healing process because you will not have to worry about constapation or feeling woosey. I absolutely can't stand the way those drugs make me feel and I was SO glad that I didn't need them! I had a c-section 12 years ago with my dd and I can still remember the pain I had upon waking from the anestesia. It was awful, this was a walk in the park compared to it. And, by the way, if you have ever had a c-section before I would say that the recovery is much the same with a hysterectomy.....maybe a little bit tougher...but mostly the same.

Good wishes to you! You gotta get this, it really works!

Val