13th May 2008
Isn't this a wonderful board!?! Frankly I don't know how I would have coped half so well without everyone sharing their experiences. Let me tell you, you will be on here in the middle of the night, many nights, searching through back posts for either answers or comfort.
Ask your dr. ahead of time what pain meds he prescribes. From what I see, all dr.s have their usual things they prescribe. Don't be afraid to take your research to the dr. and ask for specific meds you want. Also, if you don't get home with the meds you want (or dosage) it doesn't mean it's not negotiable later. They may give you something to start with and only increase/change for people who ask.
My doctor has been doing this a long time and sent me home well prepared in the pain management department, for which I am very grateful. I'm a small person (5'1") and here are the meds and dosages I was given:
Roxicet (liquid percoset) 1 tsp. every 4 hours for pain.
Day 4 or so I was given permission to gradually bump it up to 2 tsps through the worst of it but I react strongly to narcotics and 1 1/2 was the most I would dare and that only if someone was watching me to make sure I kept breathing. After a few days on narcotics your body gets loaded and it can increase the side effects.
For example, day 4/5 was tough for me and that's when I increased the rox a little. However, I'd already been on it for a few days and that little much more started giving me side effects I hadn't had up till then, mostly with breathing when going to sleep--I would breathe very shallowly and feel like I wasn't gettting enough air. When I was awake I was fine. Even when I went back to "normal" dosage after that day I still noticed the issue with my breathing when falling asleep, so knocked down the dose to 3/4 tsp and that helped a lot. Be aware that adjusting narcotic dosage just a little can have a big effect, these are VERY STRONG MEDS.
From what I have seen on this board, percoset/roxicet is the strongest. I don't do well on vicodin so was happy I didn't have to fight that.
Phenergan (gen. promethazine), 25 mg. suppositories for nausea.
Oh, the joys of suppositories, but putting one more thing in your mouth is going to be the last thing you want to do, especially if you are nauseous. I highly recommend if you need to go anywhere while you are on narcotics, preemptively give yourself some of these. They help with motion sickness, too, and if you are already on the edge of dizzy from the pain meds getting in a car will be miserable. Sometimes just walking is no fun. These are also very helpful when weaning off the narcotics since one of the side effects of withdrawal is dizziness and nausea.
Prednisolone (steroid), 1 tsp. every 12 hours for swelling.
Taken first thing in the morning it helps keep inflammation down and thus pain. Also will help you sleep because everything can get so swollen in there it can be very hard to find a way to breathe while you sleep for a while. I acknowledge that people don't want to take steroids for good reason (me either), but in this case you don't have any other safe medical alternatives for controlling swelling and you will need them. Ice around the neck and in the mouth, even constantly, just won't cut it I am very sorry to say. The ice is more for your comfort, to numb more than reduce swelling. Then after day four or so when anything cold in your mouth is painful to both your throat and ears, ice won't do much at all.
Tetracaine lollipops, topical anesthetic.
You don't suck on these, you use them to swab the back of your throat 15-30 seconds. Work very nicely, especially first thing after you wake up and you dread that first swallow but know it has to be done.
This is the list of meds I was sent home with, and one of the best lists I've seen on here. I had everything I needed to be as comfortable as possible. I'm now Post-Op Day 8 and relied mostly on the roxicet and prednisolone for the first week, now I am using the phenergan more and the lollipops as I gradually wean of the narcotic and steroid.
Other insights:
Chewing Juicy Fruit really does help with the pain. Go figure. :cool:
Now for the lecture portion. :nono: ;)
For goodness sake, be sensible, act like you've had surgery and REST for AT LEAST that first week! Set things up ahead of time so that you 1. have help, 2. don't have to do anything but lay in bed and 3. don't have visitors or talk on the phone any more than you absolutely have to! Talking makes everything swell up more = lots more pain and discomfort = slower healing. Texting and email in small quantities is the way to go this week.
I was sent home with instructions for no exertion whatsoever but I had already planned on it. I had noticed a trend in people's stories where people who take it easy for recovery seem to heal faster and have an easier time of it. If you think about it, your body has a finite amount of energy. Wouldn't you rather it be spent on healing? Anything you do that is not towards healing takes away from it, so this is the week of your life to give yourself permission to do nothing but lay in bed and be left alone.
As a mom of five who has been there done that, you really truly need someone else to take care of your kids the entire week, 'round the clock, for kids who too young/not mature enough to take care of themselves completely or to separate mom or dad from drugs. If they are older it can be a good life lesson on the negative side effects. :(
You will want your kids taken care of not just because of your pain and discomfort but because the narcotics you will be on mess with you, can change your personality and above all take away any ability you have to cope with anything beyond what is going on with yourself (and sometimes even that). So make arrangements for the kids, if not for yourself then certainly for them so they don't have to deal with mom/dad on drugs. Otherwise you may say and do things you regret and can never take back, the horror of every parent. There were several times it took all my self-discipline to shut my mouth, go back into the bedroom and shut the door so I wouldn't inflict my over-reactions on others. :( There were a couple times I didn't make it, but I am grateful it was with my husband who was most understanding. Love that man, he's the best!
Sleep. I didn't do much the first five days or so, but since I was resting and had enough nutrients coming in I never hit that "wall" that you get for lack of sleep. I dozed a lot but didn't get deep rest and that seemed to be enough for my body since hard sleep was more stressful on it. I was tired but not tired/cranky. I am now making up for that lack of sleep and slept through my meds dosage in the early morning hours...MISTAKE, yeow! :eek:
Do whatever you possibly can to feed your body!! Living on jello for days gives your body nothing to use to build and heal...or manage pain, for that matter. I'm not going to want to see chicken broth for a very long time after this, but it is a good source of protein and remains the only thing I can swallow that never stings (Pacific Organic Chicken Broth if anyone cares to know, Costo was the cheapest). So, warm broth it is for me. Protein drinks are good while cold feels good, just make sure there is no caffeine (found that out the hard way). Applesauce will start to sting but you can push through it and feels good in your belly, mashed potatoes (made with broth to get some protein in there) were good until the scabs started coming off and then it would stick to them, making swallowing less than fun.
It will be easy to get plenty of carbs/sugar, it's the protein you will have to make an effort to find and take. The more you swallow the more things will loosen up and the easier it will be to eat, so seriously, go chew some gum 1/2 hour before attempting to eat and you may be surprised at what you can get down. Your body will thank you. I got down some very soft chicken tortellini one night and felt miles better the next morning.
Well, it's a beautiful morning with a spring snowstorm that has about 5 inches on the ground so far. It may be the last snowstorm of the season so I'm going for a drive to take in the splendor of pine trees weighed down with snow. Will post more later. :)
Ask your dr. ahead of time what pain meds he prescribes. From what I see, all dr.s have their usual things they prescribe. Don't be afraid to take your research to the dr. and ask for specific meds you want. Also, if you don't get home with the meds you want (or dosage) it doesn't mean it's not negotiable later. They may give you something to start with and only increase/change for people who ask.
My doctor has been doing this a long time and sent me home well prepared in the pain management department, for which I am very grateful. I'm a small person (5'1") and here are the meds and dosages I was given:
Roxicet (liquid percoset) 1 tsp. every 4 hours for pain.
Day 4 or so I was given permission to gradually bump it up to 2 tsps through the worst of it but I react strongly to narcotics and 1 1/2 was the most I would dare and that only if someone was watching me to make sure I kept breathing. After a few days on narcotics your body gets loaded and it can increase the side effects.
For example, day 4/5 was tough for me and that's when I increased the rox a little. However, I'd already been on it for a few days and that little much more started giving me side effects I hadn't had up till then, mostly with breathing when going to sleep--I would breathe very shallowly and feel like I wasn't gettting enough air. When I was awake I was fine. Even when I went back to "normal" dosage after that day I still noticed the issue with my breathing when falling asleep, so knocked down the dose to 3/4 tsp and that helped a lot. Be aware that adjusting narcotic dosage just a little can have a big effect, these are VERY STRONG MEDS.
From what I have seen on this board, percoset/roxicet is the strongest. I don't do well on vicodin so was happy I didn't have to fight that.
Phenergan (gen. promethazine), 25 mg. suppositories for nausea.
Oh, the joys of suppositories, but putting one more thing in your mouth is going to be the last thing you want to do, especially if you are nauseous. I highly recommend if you need to go anywhere while you are on narcotics, preemptively give yourself some of these. They help with motion sickness, too, and if you are already on the edge of dizzy from the pain meds getting in a car will be miserable. Sometimes just walking is no fun. These are also very helpful when weaning off the narcotics since one of the side effects of withdrawal is dizziness and nausea.
Prednisolone (steroid), 1 tsp. every 12 hours for swelling.
Taken first thing in the morning it helps keep inflammation down and thus pain. Also will help you sleep because everything can get so swollen in there it can be very hard to find a way to breathe while you sleep for a while. I acknowledge that people don't want to take steroids for good reason (me either), but in this case you don't have any other safe medical alternatives for controlling swelling and you will need them. Ice around the neck and in the mouth, even constantly, just won't cut it I am very sorry to say. The ice is more for your comfort, to numb more than reduce swelling. Then after day four or so when anything cold in your mouth is painful to both your throat and ears, ice won't do much at all.
Tetracaine lollipops, topical anesthetic.
You don't suck on these, you use them to swab the back of your throat 15-30 seconds. Work very nicely, especially first thing after you wake up and you dread that first swallow but know it has to be done.
This is the list of meds I was sent home with, and one of the best lists I've seen on here. I had everything I needed to be as comfortable as possible. I'm now Post-Op Day 8 and relied mostly on the roxicet and prednisolone for the first week, now I am using the phenergan more and the lollipops as I gradually wean of the narcotic and steroid.
Other insights:
Chewing Juicy Fruit really does help with the pain. Go figure. :cool:
Now for the lecture portion. :nono: ;)
For goodness sake, be sensible, act like you've had surgery and REST for AT LEAST that first week! Set things up ahead of time so that you 1. have help, 2. don't have to do anything but lay in bed and 3. don't have visitors or talk on the phone any more than you absolutely have to! Talking makes everything swell up more = lots more pain and discomfort = slower healing. Texting and email in small quantities is the way to go this week.
I was sent home with instructions for no exertion whatsoever but I had already planned on it. I had noticed a trend in people's stories where people who take it easy for recovery seem to heal faster and have an easier time of it. If you think about it, your body has a finite amount of energy. Wouldn't you rather it be spent on healing? Anything you do that is not towards healing takes away from it, so this is the week of your life to give yourself permission to do nothing but lay in bed and be left alone.
As a mom of five who has been there done that, you really truly need someone else to take care of your kids the entire week, 'round the clock, for kids who too young/not mature enough to take care of themselves completely or to separate mom or dad from drugs. If they are older it can be a good life lesson on the negative side effects. :(
You will want your kids taken care of not just because of your pain and discomfort but because the narcotics you will be on mess with you, can change your personality and above all take away any ability you have to cope with anything beyond what is going on with yourself (and sometimes even that). So make arrangements for the kids, if not for yourself then certainly for them so they don't have to deal with mom/dad on drugs. Otherwise you may say and do things you regret and can never take back, the horror of every parent. There were several times it took all my self-discipline to shut my mouth, go back into the bedroom and shut the door so I wouldn't inflict my over-reactions on others. :( There were a couple times I didn't make it, but I am grateful it was with my husband who was most understanding. Love that man, he's the best!
Sleep. I didn't do much the first five days or so, but since I was resting and had enough nutrients coming in I never hit that "wall" that you get for lack of sleep. I dozed a lot but didn't get deep rest and that seemed to be enough for my body since hard sleep was more stressful on it. I was tired but not tired/cranky. I am now making up for that lack of sleep and slept through my meds dosage in the early morning hours...MISTAKE, yeow! :eek:
Do whatever you possibly can to feed your body!! Living on jello for days gives your body nothing to use to build and heal...or manage pain, for that matter. I'm not going to want to see chicken broth for a very long time after this, but it is a good source of protein and remains the only thing I can swallow that never stings (Pacific Organic Chicken Broth if anyone cares to know, Costo was the cheapest). So, warm broth it is for me. Protein drinks are good while cold feels good, just make sure there is no caffeine (found that out the hard way). Applesauce will start to sting but you can push through it and feels good in your belly, mashed potatoes (made with broth to get some protein in there) were good until the scabs started coming off and then it would stick to them, making swallowing less than fun.
It will be easy to get plenty of carbs/sugar, it's the protein you will have to make an effort to find and take. The more you swallow the more things will loosen up and the easier it will be to eat, so seriously, go chew some gum 1/2 hour before attempting to eat and you may be surprised at what you can get down. Your body will thank you. I got down some very soft chicken tortellini one night and felt miles better the next morning.
Well, it's a beautiful morning with a spring snowstorm that has about 5 inches on the ground so far. It may be the last snowstorm of the season so I'm going for a drive to take in the splendor of pine trees weighed down with snow. Will post more later. :)