4 Weeks Post-Op, Still on pain meds

Hello everyone:

I'm almost 4 weeks post-op, and still on pain meds. Not taking every 4 hours as needed, but still take 1-2 per day with Motrin during the day. Is this normal? I've heard that most of us have been off pain meds a few weeks out, but I can't seem to sleep without them and get very uncomfortable while sleeping (if I don't take one). I'm so afraid that I'm getting hooked on prescription drugs. Could this be?

I know my Rx is habit forming but I've been keeping track since day 1, and I don't seem to be abusing the pills. Is anyone out there, still on pain meds?

I've been taking vicodin at night -- sleeping has been difficult for me too. i wouldn't worry - remember we've just had a HUGE surgery. rest is important to be able to heal.

I've am still taking 800mg of Advil and a Percocet if the pain is unmanageable and I am 7 weeks out. I usually need the pain meds at the end of the day.

I was still taking pain meds every 6 hours at 4 weeks. Everyone manages pain differently. You may want to talk to your doctor.

Take care of yourself!

TAH/BSO 10/5/07

I also had my hyst on the 29th and I am still taking my pain meds.I asked my doc about the possiblity of addiction and she said that the chance was unlikely because if you are in pain it is harder to become addictied than if you just take them for the effects.She explained it a lot better than me but I hope this calms your fears.We all heal at a diffrent rate and if we are in pain then the healing takes longer to happen.hang in there everybody tells me that it will get better.

Hi Ladies,

I too am still taking pain meds. I am about 3 weeks post op. I thought by now I would be off most everything. I am just sooo wrong with that thinking. I am taking whatever the gyn tells me to take. I also am nursing two infections within my incision.

I am just so very relieved that the surgery is overwith. And it is major surgery, don't let anyone tell you differently. It is so amazing to me that so many just pass it off as a minor operation when it isn't. So, the pain meds seem to go hand in hand with it.

As for becoming addicted to pain meds...I doubt it because you are in pain. It isn't like you had an ingrown toe nail cut out. If you have any questions about meds, ask your dr. Don't be shy or timid when it comes to that. This is your body, your life. I know for myself, I suffered in silence wayyy too long. I also had two previous gyn's who played games to keep money coming in their practice without thinking of my well being and quality of life.

Take care of yourselves first and foremost. Everything else will fall into place afterwards.

Blessings all around.

Hey I wish I still had some for "just in case" I have pain and its been 2 months since surgery! I haven't had surgical pain in 1 month. I would use the medication for as long as you have pain. I could never understand the sisters who said that the pain wasn't so bad. They must have a high pain threshhold.

I am that person with the unbelievable pain threshhold, and came home from the hospital off my pain meds. I took three doses of plain old advil once I was home. I also went back to work full-time 7 days post-op. Now... when the abscess ruptured in my belly three weeks later, oy -- that was a whole new kind of pain in my world. I passed out from the pain four times in three hours all while getting ready to go to work (talk about being in denial), but still didn't take pain meds.

Everyone is different with pain though. After my emergency surgery two weeks ago, they offered me morphine immediately after coming to in recovery and I refused. I asked for 200 mg of ibuprofen instead, and it was fine. BUT -- something to keep in mind other than my high tolerance for pain -- I am also HYPER-sensitive to narcotics or meds of any kind. One Vicodin makes me hallucinate for 24 hours, and does not provide rest by knocking me out.

I would say that if you think your pain med use is excessive, simply call your doc and ask if maybe there's something else going on in your body that's making you still need narcotics at this point, or if this is maybe just normal for your specific type of hyster surgery (from what I understand the various types all require different recovery times). My guess is you're right on target though -- this is a huge surgery, afterall, regardless of the type of procedure you had done.

Best of luck to you either way!
Dina