Post op day 1 - I have had the easiest recovery and here is why....

[karmanodrama 31]

First of all I am an ICU nurse of 30 years. I took care of patients coming right out of open heart surgery. This is where my idea came from.

My surgery was yesterday. When I woke up in the recovery room I had a lot of pain so they gave me Dilaudid which is a strong narcotic. The Dilaudid eased the pain but it still hurt. It just made me sleepy. I asked the doctor if he would order Toradol IV. We give it to open heart patients who are in a lot of pain because it doesn't make you sleepy and you are able to get up and starting moving right away.

(If you like the narcotic buzz, you will not like Toradol)!

Anyway, I got the Toradol. It was a miracle. I have had the smoothest recovery. I forget that I just had surgery!!

I wasn't going to post this because I don't want to give medical advice. But I also don't want to hold back on something that could help all of you that are about to have surgery. Just know that I am only giving you my experience.

The best part is that it completely took my pain away...I mean completely!!!

So I was up walking and taking deep breaths. I ate Jello the first night ( last night) with no problem.

I hope I didn't just jinx myself !!!!

Anyway post op day one here! So far....So good! And I am loving that green jello! Why is it always green????

Kim

[Kay07 734]

Hi! I am very interested in this! I hate narcotic medication, it often makes me really lethargic and wicked weird. So you mentioned Toradol doesn't have that affect?

[Creekimp13 5,838]

Toradol is an NSAID. It can cause all sorts of unpleasant GI side effects including vomiting, bloating, stomach pain. NSAIDS...even injectables...are associated with marginal ulcers in bypass and sleeve. They used to be used, but are very rarely used anymore because of emerging data about this problem.

It's a wonderful drug for pain. Works great. But the pain from gastric sleeve is minimal and the risks do not outweigh the benefits. I would not take Toradol,

I had a perfect recovery, too. Walked over two miles in the ward the day of my surgery and couldn't stop smiling. Felt terrific. I took as few pain meds as they would allow. Had no problem drinking and progressing. Was released about 24 hours after my surgery. Regular over the counter liquid Tylenol worked great for me at home.

Edited April 4, 2018 by Creekimp13

[Creekimp13 5,838]

PS...congrats on your surgery! Wishing you a rapid recovery and a successful weightloss journey:)

At my hospital, they sold the damned green Jello as "a lovely citrus jello"....I was thinking orange... Nope...green!

[karmanodrama 31]

Hi! I am very interested in this! I hate narcotic medication, it often makes me really lethargic and wicked weird. So you mentioned Toradol doesn't have that affect?

Correct. And it takes the pain away. Some are hesitant to prescribe it because they worry about bleeding but you only need a couple of doses. One dose will last you for 8 hours. I would definitely discuss with your surgeon.

Are you from New England? I haven't heard that term "wicked" since I left New England. Ha!

[Creekimp13 5,838]

It thins the lining of your stomach systemically and can cause ulcers on the surgical incision that is trying to heal. Even when used IV or IM, it's a bad choice when other choices are available.

[FluffyChix 17,410]

My doc would rather me take a bullet than have an NSAID. That was preached to me all through the 6 months. They did give me IV Tylenol which worked wonders. Then I was taking Tramadol and Gabapentin. Worked just great. Was drinking walking eating easy time! I had RNY. Kept asking if she was sure she did something inside or did she just put some holes in me and say hocus pocus, be healed!

So glad your surgery went well!!! Congrats.

[FluffyChix 17,410]

4 minutes ago, Creekimp13 said:

It thins the lining of your stomach systemically and can cause ulcers on the surgical incision that is trying to heal. Even when used IV or IM, it's a bad choice when other choices are available.

LOL. Deleted comment for lack of reading comprehension. Creekimp already said it! ROFLMAO. Just call me "Master" as in Master of the Obvious. Or Captain Obvious if you prefer!

Edited April 4, 2018 by FluffyChix

[karmanodrama 31]

PS...congrats on your surgery! Wishing you a rapid recovery and a successful weightloss journey:)
At my hospital, they sold the damned green Jello as "a lovely citrus jello"....I was thinking orange... Nope...green!

Orange would be a nice option.

We use Toradol in fresh out of the OR open hearts. There is a risk of bleeding so that definitely needs to be looked at. I did see on YiuTube that one of the Bariatric centers had it in their regimen. But not everyone should have it. It's worth a discussion with the Surgeon though. So, I disagree with you on this one, having used it for many years. And now from a patient perspective I am even more of an advocate IF you are a candidate. Three doses of IV Toradol will not cause the Gastric effects that Motrin / Ibuprofen cause. That is when you use it at a higher frequency.

Glad your recovery went well too! I had heard so many horror stories!

[Kay07 734]

10 minutes ago, karmanodrama said:

Are you from New England? I haven't heard that term "wicked" since I left New England. Ha!

LOL Yes! I live in MA and grew up in the Boston area. I keep saying I'm going to move because screw winter, but this is home.

[Apple203 1,314]

I have no idea what was in the IV at the hospital that first 24 hours, but it must have worked well because I had minimal pain too.

When I had the weird incision pain from Day 10 through Day 16, my surgeon's office authorized Advil only if Tylenol didn't work. I skipped them both and tried to stay still as much as I could, 'cause then it didn't hurt. Soooooo glad that stabbing pain passed!!

[Creekimp13 5,838]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ketorolac-oral-route-injection-route/description/drg-20066882

[karmanodrama 31]

LOL Yes! I live in MA and grew up in the Boston area. I keep saying I'm going to move because screw winter, but this is home.

Ha!

[karmanodrama 31]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ketorolac-oral-route-injection-route/description/drg-20066882

I almost didn't post anything about it because I knew that it would bring up this discussion. But I love it that you bring up the opposing view. It's a good discussion and worth having it with your surgeon. The only reason I brought it up is because it was a miracle for me. Going into that wicked narcotic haze was going to slow my recovery so I am sooo grateful that my surgeon was onboard with it.

[karmanodrama 31]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ketorolac-oral-route-injection-route/description/drg-20066882

I just spoke with my nurse who was giving me the Toradol. He came from a large Bariatric Center. He said they used it all the time. Ok asked if there were any complications from it. He said that they had to stop it on one patient who had a bump in the BUN ( kidney function) but that was it.