Lots of pain at home

[Katie]

Pete, I'm glad that it just needed resizing

Is there any draining or excessive heat in that spot where it's so red? Any chance of an infection? That would be my main worry.

[KBear]

I would leave a message anyways. After my IDET, I called to ask a question about a symptom. I didn't think it was anything serious, so I kept leaving a call back number. After the 4th call, I decided to say yes to it was an emergency. When the lady got on the phone, I told her that I'm not a doctor and I really don't know if it is an emergency, that's why I am calling you. It turned out that it was serious, I had a call back within 5 minutes from the doctor himself. So, yes, I would leave a message, even if you don't think it is an emergency. Describe what is going on and let them decide. Worst case scenario, they get a little mad, but you get your answer and they will get over it.

[Graysonlaw]

Well am back after a long day - back to the Dr; then to the pharmacy for new drugs. They weren't overly concerned with the drainage tube wound. At least nothing looks infected. They did think that the itching was due to reaction to the Oxycontin (or the Somo muscle relaxer). They switched the oxy ir and oxy er to morpheine er and ir. After the first dose of the IR, no new itching. Buy it does seem to make me a lot more goofy. If the itching/rash is still around in a couple of days, we will try a new muscle relaxer.

Last update: I am oh so close to that first BM, but not quite there. Advice? Stay on the stool or take a break and try again later. I hope you all say the latter because I decided to give up las time!

Pete

[daveinaustin]

Pete,

Sorry to hear about the high level of discomfort you are going through. One of the promising things I can say is that the first two weeks are the worst, and things will get much better. BTW, I really hated those socks as well.

For the Morpheine, are you taking MS Contin or Kadian? Personally, I am finding that the Kadian makes me less goofy than oxycodone, since it provides slow release. However, opiates have different reactions on each person.

For the BM, are you taking Senakot or Senakot-S? The Senakot-S worked better for me. However, you might need to take some Miralax to help out.

[Graysonlaw]

Okay, I am just going to call this a dang rotten day! What else can you do? I am now on a full half cycle of Morphine IR and MS Contin. Totally off the Oxy due to the itchiness and rashes it cased. I still have what feels like a foot-long welt along my lower back that the nurse attributed to reaction to the Oxy. Along with my first dose of Morphine IR, I was given 25 mg of Benadryl to help the swelling and itching out. As a result I was pretty much out of it over the past five-plus hours.

I hope I am done with the changes, but the swelling in my lower back is still killing me! I think I'll wait till morning to see. I'm hoping for the best!

Pete

[Graysonlaw]

Pain and swelling still the same. The nurse tells me that one day is not enough to completely identify the OXY drugs as the culprits. It could also be the SOMA. My new protocol is to take a Benedryl once ever four hours to hopefully reduce these side effects. If still there tomorrow we will likely change from SOMA to Valium. I am tempted to try not taking the next dose of SOMA and see how that works out. My major pain(s) continues to be from the side effects, not muscle or incision pain.

Pete

[Justin]

Pain and swelling still the same. The nurse tells me that one day is not enough to completely identify the OXY drugs as the culprits. It could also be the SOMA. My new protocol is to take a Benedryl once ever four hours to hopefully reduce these side effects. If still there tomorrow we will likely change from SOMA to Valium. I am tempted to try not taking the next dose of SOMA and see how that works out. My major pain(s) continues to be from the side effects, not muscle or incision pain.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I hope the new protocol helps. The Benadryl sound really help with the side effects from the other medications. Give the indentation from the drain hose some time to heal without any added compression from your back brace. It sounds like the pressure from the hose caused some localized swelling and irritation (almost like a bed sore). Your lymphatics will clear this out; however, keep an eye on it and report any changes to your treating physicians.

Here's to feeling better.

[Graysonlaw]

I thought I'd chime in with a positive update! Things are going very well for me since I got settled with the switch from Oxycontin to Morphine. I am totally off of the IR pills, so now just take one SOMA every eight hours and one 15 mg Morphine ER every twelve hours. For the most part, I feel darn good.

The only real problems are keeping myself occupied without BLT. I'm also having a hard time keeping myself from going up and down the stairs during the day. I do have strange sensations in my legs (not really pain, but discomfort). I suspect that this is the nerves reconnecting/healing somehow. It is certainly tolerable.

I also have a hard time sitting still. I went out for dinner (to just a local pub) with my wife last night and couldn't sit still during our short dinner. I was up moving around a couple of times. Other than that, all went well. Besides that, a walk through the woods with the dogs, and a trip to the mall (to walk, not shop), I think I must have walked over four miles yesterday. My back wasn't sore this morning, but I was very stiff this morning. That is probably normal after being rather sedentary for a few weeks!

All and all, I am happy at how things are going. I'd love to get up the nerve to stop a dose or two of the medications, but not quite ready for that yet. Now I'm just looking forward to my six week dr. appt. so I can get permission to start getting a bit back to normal!

To all who are still fighting this pain stuff, hang in there!!!

[KBear]

Pete,
Glad to hear that recovery is going well. I would definitely not cut back on meds yet. I made this mistake and even had my doctor change my dose and medication, so I could cut down. This was the start of them all of the sudden wanting me on this low dose. This caused me to be in pain for months and I think it set back my recovery because I was in so much pain that I wasn't being active, just laying on the heating pad all day. If I could go back, I would have never have suggested it to my doctor and just tested on my own by breaking meds in half or reducing and kept filling my scripts as normal, until I knew for sure that I could handle the lower dose. As recovery goes, there are good days and bad days, so you don't want to jump the gun on one of the ups and regret it when you reach a low.

Hope all goes well at your 6 week check up. It sure doesn't feel like that long since your surgery!

[Justin]

Hey Pete,

Thanks for checking in. It's great to see that you are making steady progress and you found the right medications to cover your pain. Kathy's advice above is spot on.

I can't believe you are almost 6 weeks out too!