No Pain Medications

[Orchids&Dragons 9,046]

I'm curious. When I had my surgery, there was another bariatric patient a few doors down. We had different surgeons (thank God!)

Anyway, her surgeon would not prescribe anything other than Tylenol for post-op pain. This is his normal practice, not an unusual case because she was an addict or something. My nurse told me that the woman wouldn't get out of bed to walk or anything because she was in so much pain. This seems cruel to me.

My question is: Why would anyone go to a surgeon like this? Do you think that patients just don't know?

Edited November 7, 2018 by Orchids&Dragons

[photogirl70 142]

It's crazy. There are many doctors that won't prescribe opioids dues to abuse potential. IMHO, it's cruel to not provide ADEQUATE pain management when there is medication available (opioids) to help. There are some studies out that claim that tylenol is as effective as (or better than) opioids in chronic pain management. Having surgery is not chronic pain.

I did not even think to ask my doctor about what medication they prescribe after surgery but I would encourage anyone having surgery to ask and I sure will if I ever have any future procedures.

[Wanda247 908]

I know some people that are in the medical field and believe it or not some people will actually have surgery to get pain meds...It's hard to phantom and so so sad but I saw an episode on My 600 lb life and one of patients did that, because of their addiction the doctors are leery I guess 😟

I couldn't even begin to imagine having surgery without pain meds...

[KimTriesRNY 1,853]

I think most people would not even ask what they would be receiving for pain post operatively. So maybe by the time they have the surgery it is too late, they are stuck with this surgeon.

I do agree abuse potential is super high, I see it every day at work as a nurse.

I think the immediate post op period is a time when stronger pain meds may be needed for some patients though, and this includes opioids.

I would not go to a surgeon if this was their policy and I was aware ahead of time.

[Swanton_Bomb 522]

That surgeon should lose their license to practice medicine. That is positively sadistic and cruel. I know that there is a lot of legal pressure on doctors to not prescribe opioids but this is for surgery! I am having my surgery in the morning, and I am relieved that the instructions I was given specify that I will be sent home with Percoset.

[MargoCL 677]

I was given a script for all my pre-op / post meds at the same time. I was given Tylenol and it worked just fine. I think I took 1 post op for a Migraine vs. post op pain.

I know everyone is different, but I also believe some people have to know what they are taking and if it’s not an opioid they complain of excess pain. NOTE: I said “some” people. This is not the majority

[GreenTealael 24,850]

They probably never thought to ask about which meds they would get post surgery because the standard is usually what ever makes the patient comfortable

Terrible terrible terrible

Morphine and the likes do not work for me so I had to really advocate for the meds to be adjusted until I was no longer in constant pain, 1 whole day.

[ummyasmin 1,603]

They probably never thought to ask about which meds they would get post surgery because the standard is usually what ever makes the patient comfortable
Terrible terrible terrible
Morphine and the likes do not work for me so I had to really advocate for the meds to be adjusted until I was no longer in constant pain, 1 whole day.

Me neither!! (morphine not working). Neither does codeine or tramadol. I reckon I have that gene that doesn't metabolise them properly but if I ever tell a doc that I sound like a drug seeker [emoji22]

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[Swanton_Bomb 522]

8 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

They probably never thought to ask about which meds they would get post surgery because the standard is usually what ever makes the patient comfortable

Terrible terrible terrible

Morphine and the likes do not work for me so I had to really advocate for the meds to be adjusted until I was no longer in constant pain, 1 whole day.

Exactly. Most patients would assume that their doctor would give them necessary care and pin relief.

[johnsons13 359]

The nurse shouldn't have been discussing the other patient. But also by not moving around the gas hurts even worse. I have had numerous surgeries and I'm the first one up and moving/walking as soon as the catheter is out even if they tell me to wait i'll walk around my room. It relieves the soreness and the gas. But, I'm an addict.. I was on pain pill first then heroin in the end. I go in to all my dr's and tell them about my addiction history and I'm clean and sober 7 1/2 years. My doc gave me a morphine pump at first then it was only Tylenol and I have Hep C, so I had to take low doses of anything with acetametaphin in it. The nurse might not have known what that patient discussed with the doctor beforehand. I know when I had my hysterectomy my ob/gyn didn't tell the nurses I said no opiates and even though I told the nurse I was an addict, she was trying to get me to get an opiate by saying "honey, take something stronger, I can get the dr to send up a prescription for it." I told her I was fine a thousand times.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

Wow! Just wow! So glad I had the surgeon I did. Made the whole experience "easy." I didn't even have gas/shoulder pain cuz they have some way to remove all the gas from you before they glued me shut. So I was expecting to die from that but it wasn't bad at all.

I can't even imagine what it would be like with only tylenol.

I did get:

Day 1 early - Morphine/Fentanyl

IV Tylenol

Day 1 later - IV Tramadal

Gabapentin oral

IV Tylenol

Day 2 - Gabapentin oral

Tramadal (oral)

IV Tylenol

Went home by noon on Day 2. Took liquid SF Tylenol and took my Gabapentin and I think Tramadol for a couple of days at home, then started weaning off Gaba and stopped Tramadol and just had liquid Tylenol. Quit taking that around Day 4. No more pain meds.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Never got Gabapentin, never got Tramadol, I think? Reread Tomkitten's posts , I guess I had more meds than I remember, maybe in my IV, had it and 💓monitoring whole time.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

Yeah I had very very minimal pain, but I told her, that I didn't want to deal with pain. And so she made sure I had what I needed. Apparently the combo of Tramadol and Tylenol is supposed to be synergistic and "almost" as good as morphine without the risks of things like hydrocodone? Dunno. But worked. Easy peasy surgery and recovery.

[NYJenn 1,461]

I wouldn’t listen to any gossip coming from a nurse that would openly discuss another patients medication with you. Sounds like she just likes stirring up trouble and is beyond unprofessional

[Bryn910 519]

Maybe she got Tylenol with codeine? That should be enough for some.l and many surgeons only prescribe that. I had morphine the night of but the very next day was just Tylenol with codeine. And when I went home I only took the Tylenol for 3 days and stopped all pin meds.

it seems pretty unethical to just give plain Tylenol without anything unless this person had a history of substance abuse. And that nurse should be fired for discussing anything with you lol