My bariatric center doesn't give any narcotics to control pain immediate postop. They use combination of acetaminophen and Celebrex. I can't take Celebrex because previous reaction with sky high blood pressure (220/120). So not sure what they will provide for immediate postop pain. Hoping I will have a chance to talk with surgeon before surgery. Don't think acetaminophen will be enough after having 75% of stomach removed.

although post-op pain is across the board and very individual, most of us really don't have much. Some do, but it seems like the majority really have very little. The only pain I had was in my abs - I felt like I'd done about 1000 crunches. So it was uncomfortable to get in and out of bed, but if I was just lying there - or sitting there - I really didn't have any pain. The nurses at the hospital made me use the morphine pump so I could get in and out of bed easier so I could walk, but if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have touched it. I was also sent home with a bottle of pain pills that I never bothered to open. I don't think you have a whole lot in the way of nerves in there.

As I recall only pain relief they put through my IV drip was panadol (or something similar) and I while I bought some panadol for the plane trip home I didn't need it.

Like Catwoman the only pain or morelike discomfort was getting in and out of bed.

Consider asking for other pain management such as Ketorolac or getting a Rx from your Primary for whatever pain meds you need

Good Luck

Don't feel like "I hope I have the chance to talk to him." Call the office and demand to talk to him if you have a concern. If this is part of the "Opioid Epidemic" there are other options.

Everyone is different but I had very little pain but had a blast Getting Morphine hits every three hours! Really did not need them but was having fun getting stoned and seeing elvis for the 30 hours. I have seen most people have little pain just discomfort, I used a CBD cream on the slits that really helped but never needed any pain meds

Good luck you got this - NO PAIN NO GAIN

AJ

I had pain meds 1st night. But gave me migraines. So went without as migraines were worse than pain. Not to say I didn’t have pain but just dealt with it. It’s only very small part of our journey. Any pain is now in rear view mirror 8 months later & worth it!

Hmmm. Celebrex is a heavy duty NSAID... even 3 months post op my surgeon recommends staying away from anything but Tylenol unless I take carafate beforehand.... strange that they would want you to take it immediately following surgery

I was made to drink Gabapentin and Tylenol liquids right away. Took them twice and stopped. I just felt like the abs had been exercised. I walked a lot and as soon as I woke up from surgery moved into a chair because I hate laying in hospital beds.

My gallbadder was removed laparoscopically and I had no pain at all. Was sent home with Rx for hydrocodon but never even filled it. That was more than 10 years ago. But incisions were very small and removing gallbladder involves minimal cutting. So maybe I'll be ok. Don't remember having any gas issues.

The education class said specifically that not using narcotic was because opioid addiction problems in my state.

When I had severe hip pain from goat bursitis, the ER gave me an IM injection of nonnarcotic pain med because I was allowed to drive myself home. So there must be options.

I would talk to my pcp and let them know your surgeon does not prescribe opiates. Maybe your family practitioner would write a scrip for you, I mean it is abdominal surgery after all. It doesn’t seem like it but there can be pain if your surgeon has to do any maneuvering around your other organs. Narcotics may not be the answer but you have the right to pain control and should insist on a better plan than Tylenol. I’m a nurse and I know Tylenol does not work well for pain in most people. So thankful my doc wrote for oxy. The Zofran anti nausea is helpful for sleep so maybe you could get by with something non narcotic and just sleep the pain away.

I understand some of the issues with some postop pain meds delaying ability to get up and ambulate due to drowsiness and unsteadiness on feet. Also, respiratory depression since I have severe sleep apnea for decades treated by BiPAP.

But uncontrolled pain also discourages patients from getting up due to anticipated pain. So balancing pain versus side effects of pain meds is necessary on individualized basis. There is no "one plan fits all" when it comes to postop pain.

I don't think I will need narcotics since most of the pain will be caused by retained gas and no pain med really deals with that.

My center uses an app MyChart which allows patients to email providers. I received a note from my surgeon after my preop appointment which said if I had questions, email him via app. I sent him a message about the center's postop pain plan which uses two meds I have previously had bad reactions. Hopefully he will respond to assauge my concerns.

My Dr. sent me home with liquid Gabapentin, liquid Tylenol and Zofran sublingual. He stressed it was imperative that I especially take the GABAPENTIN AS DIRECTED and UNTIL FINISHED. It really helps with nerve pain, and staying on schedule with it keeps your body AHEAD of any pain that may arise?.

Just as you are, I was concerned about whether it would adequately address the pain, and it totally did. It was all I needed, and didn’t even have narcotic pain meds in the hospital. I walked, walked, walked as soon as I could and had not even a hint of the gas pain I’ve heard so much about. I can honestly say the only pain I had was getting in and out of bed, so I chose to sleep in a cushy yet supportive recliner for nearly 2 weeks. Wearing a binder and keeping a small pillow close by to hold your tummy as you get up and down, is also helpful.

Another good reason for not taking narcotic pain meds is constipation. Trust me, you want NO help bringing that on?!!!!

Edited May 21, 20206 yr by Lily66

1 hour ago, Lily66 said:

My Dr. sent me home with liquid Gabapentin, liquid Tylenol and Zofran sublingual. He stressed it was imperative that I especially take the GABAPENTIN AS DIRECTED and UNTIL FINISHED. It really helps with nerve pain, and staying on schedule with it keeps your body AHEAD of any pain that may arise?.

Just as you are, I was concerned about whether it would adequately address the pain, and it totally did. It was all I needed, and didn’t even have narcotic pain meds in the hospital. I walked, walked, walked as soon as I could and had not even a hint of the gas pain I’ve heard so much about. I can honestly say the only pain I had was getting in and out of bed, so I chose to sleep in a cushy yet supportive recliner for nearly 2 weeks. Wearing a binder and keeping a small pillow close by to hold your tummy as you get up and down, is also helpful.

Another good reason for not taking narcotic pain meds is constipation. Trust me, you want NO help bringing that on?!!!!

Gabapentin seems to be prescribed a lot now. I know it's pretty effective - and they're probably prescribing that now due to the opioid problem.

I had really bad experience with Neurontin (gabapentine). Took it for a month for neuropathy after bulging spinal disk. I wet the bed every night on Neurontin but didn't now it was the med until one month followup with doc. He said that is a known side effect.

Had good conversation with bariatric center RN about my concerns about both Celebrex and Neurontin. He made not in my electronic medical record and said to be sure I tell my surgeon before.

RN suggested they could give me Toradol (ketorolac). Good immediate postop pain and nonnarcotic.

I’m one day post-op and had a LOT of pain and discomfort initially. My belly pain was unrelenting. I was so miserable, I couldn’t even fall asleep. My surgeon’s office has a program in which a medical assistant comes to you to administer a fluid bolus with Toradol added, a few hours post-op, and the day after surgery you return for even more IV hydration and Toradol. That helped tremendously. Otherwise, I’ve been taking Oxycontin and Tylenol. With pain being so subjective, I’m shocked that your doc won’t prescribe at least a 2-3 day supply of narcotics.