still pre-op worried about this

[newmebithebypass 713]

so i am still pre-op and my health conditions have been flaring up recently im in my 6 month wait right now and i had a tooth issue not fun at all and they prescribed vikodin well my sciatica had flared up the previous week and i was already taking it twice a day and now i am worried that i might have gotten my self hooked on it again. a little back round on me i tried to kill my self once on pain pills and both my parents are addicts and if i take them longer than 3 days the wiring in my brain acts up and i start to feel withdrawl from not taking them same if i have a beer more than one night a week. i dont know what to do other that tapper down or like check my self back into the psych ward i guess this is kind of a rant/ asking if anyone has delt with this kind of thing also kind of worried after the wls weather or not needing the meds for the pain will trigger this again

[jane13 2,256]

@ - wow. First of all atleast you are honest about it. Your fears, I think, are warranted. Is someone with you that can control the prescription?

My son is an addict and when he wrecked his back a year ago in Nov, we locked up the meds and handed him one at a time. Is your medical team aware?

I would definitely discuss OTHER options for meds. I personally didn't take the RXs except a day or two after being home and then they got trashed (my adult son lives at home).

Reach out to someone ~ wished I could help you. I still cant trust my son and it sucks.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Does the vicadon even help with sciatica pain? Nothing helped mine because I had an injury in that joint and the pain came from a spot with poor blood flow so pain pills didn't really help much. I would seriously consider alternative treatments.

I think it's very admirable you can admit this. I want to give you a big warning. Post sleeve, your body will metabolize alcohol differently making it very easy to turn to problem drinking. It would be really great if you could find a therapist that understands WLS and addictions to help you ward off problems down the road.

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,443]

@

I have no experience with it myself, but has your regular doctor or the one who prescribes for sciatica ever suggested a pain management program? Beside meds, they provide alternate techniques that I understand are effective. They may include meditation, yoga and, I believe, some other methods.

Edited December 14, 2015 by WLSResources/ClothingExch

[Djmohr 6,965]

I am with the others, usually narcotics does not do anything for nerve pain at all.

In many cases pain pills actually create more pain than it helps. I am someone currently taking Vicodin for a recent back surgery and like you I absolutely hate it. I see a pain management specialist on wed. My goal is to find a different solution because I feel like this crap drags me down.

I have been on pain meds many times in my life for serious spine issues. The longest was nearly 10 years. I got off of them on my own and although I still had back pain I felt better and used different means to deal with it.

Meditation, ice, heat, ultrasound, massage, acupuncture.

Good luck to you, try to get yourself off. I will say I took liquid Vicodin in the hospital and 1 day while at home. For me bypass was one of surgeries that I could quickly come off pain meds. I have a high tolerance for pain after 6 back surgeries.

[newmebithebypass 713]

thanks for all the replys ill try to address them all in this post yes the vikodin can help with the sciatica somewhat but i am also taking lyrica and that is what mainly addresses the nerve pain. i am seeing a pain specialist and he knows about my addiction issues and knows not to prescribe it. i am seeing a therapist now and actually have an appointment today and will bring this up with her today to figure out steps i can take and see what i can do in the future. as for controlling the amount given to me at a time i could ask my hubby but im scared to bring it up hes having his own issues right now and i dont want to bog him down any more not that its like a burdon thing more like an emotional bandwith thing and right now its being taken up with the bariatric surgery and i dont want undue worry on him

[bnk1cs 0]

I would seriously thin twice about the surgery. Things get alot tougher after the surgery. Trying to adapt to a different lifestyle. The way yoh deal with stress has to be addressed. It doesn't get any easier. I would really evaluate eyour situation and ask yourself why you want the surgery.

what causes you to turn to your addiction? What are your eating habits? How will you cope when you have to change things so drastically? Do you have past traumas? Are you sure that this is what you want to do? Are you married or do you have children? Do you understand the seriousness of this surgery and the lifetime commitment it will require?

I am not trying to talk you out of this I amjust asking some of the questions I wish someone would have asked me. I think ig would have made a big difference in my decision. And yes I do regret it. I am not the same person that I was and I miss her so much.

[newmebithebypass 713]

@@bnk1cs yes i am married no i dont have kids. and i am happy to say i am off the vikodin officialy as of last night so thats a win for me. i talked to my therapist and she suggested talking to my doctors about not being prescribed the medication in the future. i have coping mechanisms in place that include crochet and adult coloring books along with playing with my dog and playing video games with my hubby and my nephews so i have my support team in place and there are other pain meds i can take that dont trigger the addiction spiral for me. thank you everyone for your responses i am meeting my new surgeon today and i will discuss pain treatment options with her today.

Edited December 16, 2015 by cancer91vsg