Question:
Has anyone ever been addicted to pain meds before surgery? ?
i get my pain meds from an online dr. i take about 8 a day. do i list this medication or do i try to quit? — kathy S. (posted on October 23, 2002)
October 23, 2002
I think it is extremely important that you list all medications you are
taking. This surgery is serious, and you need to be up front and honest
with your Doctors. If you are addicted, you may need help to quit. If you
have an addictive personality, you will need therapy to help you work
through the issues so the surgery will not fail you. Please be fair to
yourself and your Doctor so that he can do his best for you.
— beryl
October 23, 2002
Beryl's right. You could put yourself in a lot of danger by keeping this
quiet. You could end up with very tragic results. Please tell your
surgeon and do what ever they advise. A secret isn't worth your life. You
would be putting them in a position of not even knowing why things might be
going wrong and they wouldn't know what to do to help you.
— Deborah R.
October 23, 2002
Kathy, if you are having bad backaches, you are probably not addicted to
pain medication. I've been struggling with chronic back pain since my
surgery this april and I've learned quite a lot about pain medication. I
wouldn't worry about having an addiction. Your body reacts differently
when your treating pain, versus taking narcotics for 'fun', which I doubt
you are. Be up front with your surgeon, and don't worry. It will all be
okay. Good luck and God bless!
— Christine L.
October 23, 2002
Kathy, you really must speak to your sergeon about the meds you are taking
he wont cancel your surgery what he will do is make sure you have enough
pain medication available for you seeing how your tolerance is much higher
than someone who doesnt take pain meds I am assuming you are taking
percocet or vicodan if so you will have alot of discomfort if you dont let
the Doc know so he can adjust the dosage also more importantly the
anasthesiologist MUST be told so he knows the proper dosage of medication
needed to keep you fully sedated (asleep)throughout the operation (believe
me you dont want to wake in the middle!) lastly, the Nurses must be aware
of the possibility of respiratory problems do to increased medication for
sedation. So please,Please let them know!!!!! trust a weight loss buddy
nurse ---good luck and cant wait to see ya on the other side!
— hooper0710
October 23, 2002
I've known several people who popped pills. Just about everything. Three
of them died of an OD. You really need to figure out if you're taking them
for a medical reason or if you're addicted. It took years of taking pills
before they died but they did. Please get off them if you're really not
physically needing them. As far as practicality right now. You may need
more in the way of pain killers because of the tolerance you've most likely
developed. Before my surgery I avoided taking any pain pills at all for a
month beforehand. I'm not addicted but was taking lortabs for the pain in
my back & hips. I knew from experience that I develop a tolerance to
pain meds and wanted to make sure that my pain levels could be controlled
successfully. My personal feeling is though that I would NOT give out info
that you're addicted to ANYTHING narcotic to your surgeon. Not everyone is
open minded. It would really suck to have him cancel your surgery and
worse if he wasn't willing to provide you the proper means of controlling
your pain. Please do get off the pills though if you're abusing them.
— Shelly S.
October 24, 2002
I have never heard of getting pain meds from an online dr. I would have
done that forever because of migraines and back pain. Our area (just like
every other small town in the US) is overrun with pill addicts (oxy-cottin
SPELLING?) So doctors here treat everyone like an addict even if you are
having serious pain. I agree with the other postings that you should
DEFINITLY tell your doctor how much pain medicine you take a day. Only you
know if you are taking the medicine for true pain or not. If not please
take care of your addiction before your weight because it is more life
threatening.
— Mary Ann C.
October 24, 2002
You need to tell your doctor what you're taking. Many pain medications are
"off-limits" after the surgery, depending upon what they are.
Many pain meds cause bleeding, ulcers, etc, so your doctor needs to know
this or you could be in danger.
— Cathy S.
October 24, 2002
I am currently supposed to be taking vicoden for a bone spur in my neck
daily. My surgeon told me on my initial visit that I would have to stop
about 6 weeks before my surgery because it would intfere with the pain meds
after surgery and they would not be as effective. Now I just grin and bear
it until my surgery. I take over the counter meds like tylenol and such to
take the edge off but they don't do alot, but I really don't want to be in
MORE pain after the surgery. Besides being addicted to anything is not a
good thing. You are starting a new life with your surgery, don't bring bad
habits into it. See your Dr. IN PERSON, they can switch you to some meds
that help with the pain and aren't so addictive and maybe you can kick it
that way. Addictions can be tough and sometimes you need help, don't be
afraid to ask. You can do it!!!
— dkinson
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