I'm Not Nervous

Scheduled for TAH BSO and anterior and posterior repair on 7/25/05. I've done my research, read everyone's helpful hints here and am cleaning the house from top to bottom. The one question everyone is asking is "are you getting nervous?". Unbelievably the only thing I am nervous about is taking medication for pain. Pain meds make me loopy and Codeine in particular makes me think of dying. I am a control freak and the thought of being out of control worries me. Do you think I can get away with using prescription strength Motrin?

Hi candyapplylady

I had the LAVH-BSO (three incisions on my abdomen) and only took a "hit" from the morphine pump once while in the hospital and one vicodin.
The nurses were real big on asking my pain level, and pushed the pain killers (didn't want the pain to get ahead of me). I resist the painkillers because they make me nauseated. When I got home I only used ibuprofen.
However...
....your surgery will be quite different than mine - with a bigger incision.
I'm not sure how you can manage the pain related to that.
(*I will tell you that a dr once told me you can take the maximum dose of advil + the maximum dose of tylenol with out concern of toxicity to organs because advil is metabolized through the kidneys, tylenol is metabolized through the liver. Might consider that combo.)

Hope some of the sisters with the TAH-BSO post a reply!

Good luck!!

Shoozie

You may not find the pain too bad. I was (pleasantly) surprised. After the initial 24 hours where I was on IV with some meds, I didn't take anything other than the occasional tylenol 2 -- and I'm not a superwoman!

As repetitive as this sounds, it is true -- we're all different and it is hard to predict how you will feel after. I suggest you talk to your dr about your concerns.

best wishes

Candyapplelady,
I am allergic to codeine. It makes me throw up and gives me a terrible busting headache. If you don't want to take codeine, tell them to substitute something else. My allergy to codeine was listed on a separate yellow arm band and ALL of the nurses checked it every time before they gave me any medication. I had Demerol in my PCA pump, and it hit it 15 times out of a possible 90. My pain really wasn't that bad, either. Since I had my surgery on a Thursday, knew I would be coming home Saturday, with Monday being the 4th of July holiday, I asked my doctor for a pain prescription when I had my pre-op appointment the day before surgery so I could have it filled early. I have taken Orudis for years for headaches. Until recently, you could buy it over-the-counter in 12.5-mg tablets, but due to a manufacturing problem, it is currently off the market. It is still available in prescription form, so I asked him for 75-mg tablets, which he obliged. Orudis contains ketoprofen, which is a cousin to ibuprofen. My doc calls it a "souped-up Motrin." I took 1 or 2 a day when I first came home and remained nearly pain-free. Everyone's pain level is different, and so is their surgery. I had TAH/BSO, no other repairs, and my incision is 6-1/2" long with 22 staples. Best of luck to you!

Hi!!! Just wanted to sound in on the pain meds issue. I had a morphine PCA pump after surgery and hit it whenever I felt pain starting to get out of control. I was sent home with a prescription for Percocet (30 of them). When I went back for my one week post-op check the doc asked if I needed a refill and I told her I still had about 2/3 of the prescription left. The pain has been pretty manageable (except first thing in the morning for the first few days) with Advil. Wishing you the best. Take the pain meds if you need them and get plenty of rest!!