LAVH: Upcoming October hysterectomy: Post op medication regime

Tell me about your post op medication regime. What worked? Any advice?

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My post-op pain prescription included oxycodone, naproxen - an NSAID like ibuprofen - and acetaminophen. I had to stop taking the oxycodone because it was making me throw up, and I found that I was okay alternating the other two; by day 5, my pain had diminished to the point where I no longer needed anything. That said, everyone's experience is different; some sisters have hardly needed any pain medications, while others have still been taking them up to 2 weeks out. It's important that you take your medication as prescribed, so you can stay ahead of the pain, and discuss any concerns you have with your surgeon. Wishing you all the best for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery!

You will find answers all over the map on this one. Some need narcotics and others like myself do just fine with nothing more than ibuprofen. I had no pain but my back would get tired and achy so the first week I took 2 extra strength (400mg) ibuprofen a day, one around lunch and another in the evening. After the first week I only took one in the late afternoon for a few days. By the middle of the second week I needed nothing. But the key is not to let yourself get in any major pain as its harder to get it under control then. If you need the meds then take them.

I can’t take nsaids due to a previous bleeding ulcer, but Percocet worked great. Tylenol 3 not at all. Percocet will make you constipated, but I was able to wean off by day 3 and just take extra strength Tylenol. I was surprised how fast the pain got manageable.

Hi elka1079 to HysterSisters!

I am so glad you found this site.

Pain after surgery is different for everyone. Some women have little to no pain, while others have high levels of pain, and everywhere in between. And you will not know how it will affect you until you are there. When you wake up from surgery, they will ask you how much pain you are in. You tell them, and they will give you meds to match. Here are articles that may provide information:

Communicating Pain after Hysterectomy
Pain Management after Hysterectomy

If you have issues with narcotics, you need to let your doctor know before your surgery.

I had moderately high level of pain. At first I was on a morphine pump through epidural tubing for the first 24 hours. After that was removed, I took narcotics alternating with Motrin for the next 4 days. After that, I was on Motrin only for the next two weeks. The pain was controllable.