pain meds

Hi gang, I just found this group. Wish i had known about you all a long time ago. My name is Jean and I had my lap RNY on 12-20-04. I am currently down 63 pounds. Post op, I immediately developed a terrible wound infection from my gastic tube and I was in SERIOUS pain for many weeks. In fact, my surgeon wanted to take me back to the OR to "fix" it, but i would not agree and i wanted to wait it out a little longer. Well, it finally began to slowly resolve and i ended up getting better without further surgery. I also struggled for weeks with low potassium and was practically immobile in my recliner from weakness. All that time, i was taking lortab liquid pain meds day and night for weeks. Then it seemed as though my fibromyalgia that I have really kicked up during a cold spell (I live in iowa, it's COLD here). The fibro kicked up as a result of the cold and my ability to finally exercise after being sick post op for so long (had a lot of muslce pain). Anyway, to make a long story short, I am still taking lortab quite frequently because I have nothing else. I can't take my old stand-bys anymore (napricin and ibuprophen), and any pills I try to swallow, like tylenol make me puke and the liquid tylenol makes me sick (there is some taste to it that makes me heave every time). I just feel so stuck. I feel almost guilty for still being on the lortab. Does anyone else relate? I just don't know if I should still be on this strong of pain meds or not. Yet, if i don't, I am so sore and can't sleep. My joints and muscles kill me. And reading about the kinds of foods you guys are already eating just blows my mind. I am still on chinese soup and cheese. Meats usually make me sick and I vomit a lot, unless I stick to soup and cheese. I envy you guys out there eating more "normally". You know what I mean -- not like we used to eat, but how we are supposed to eat now, healthy. Any advice about the pain meds? jean

Hi Jean, I also had my surgery on the same day you did. I am down 94lbs and counting. As far as your pain meds go you really should contact your doctor or surgeon if you are having troubles ok..god bless you ...

Hi Jean Welcome. I just found this board too . Anyways, I'm no doctor, but lets' face it, we do all the work and they get the great pay right? I'd continue using your loretab. I know it's not the best feeling in taking that..cause that crap made me feel SO STUPID. Literally. That after three times of taking it on separate occasions, I stopped. I still have a whole bottle and a half of it. If your having muscle/joint problems and feel awful, I'd say stick to them. Of course, I'm sure your surgeon won't have a problem with you seeing him sometime this week instead of two weeks from now. Talk to him, but I'm sure he'll agree that if Loretab is all that takes your pain away, and tylenol which really won't help you much, because of its digestion. Anywho, try doing this. Soak in a really warm/hot tub. Massage your legs, get that circulation moving. There are channels on PBS that have exercise episodes called Sit n be Fit. Please do some sort of exercise. I understand your pain. But walking even if its to the washroom a couple times. Any little of that helps. Did you ever get an IV placed for your potassium being low?? Or did you get any sort of meds for that? You know what works great if your potassium is good. Also had amoxicillin..it's called AMOXICILLIN/CLAVULANATE POTASSIUM. Of course, it needs to be the oral suspension type. I hope I spelled it right. As far as your eating, are you able to eat? Or does your surgeon not want you to eat. Try eating fruits. Strawberries are a great source of Vitamin C that will help you fight off when you are feeling sick. Anywho, my hands cramping up..LOL I wrote you a NOVEL. Any questions email me okay? Ahh meat I can't have meat until JUNE Gracie

Gee Gracie, send me your leftover lortab, i'll fini**** off for ya. Yes, I've had potassium supplementation four times since my surgery. the first was before I ever left the hospital, and it was an IV that hurt like HELL (potassium really stings going through the veins). The next time was the day i was dishcharged and that time i got it via my gastric tube. Then since coming home, I've had to have it twice in a huge capsule that sort of dissolves (although not completely) in water. I feel so bad and weak today and i am going to have to call tomorrow morning and ask them to order me a blood test so we can find out for sure. I could not even last through church. i had to go to the car and lie down. I do exercise. I walk 1 1/2 miles five days a week. But this past week, I only walked once because my energy was so low and I had a sore throat, I thought I was coming down with something, so I laid low. I had also been weight lifting, but when my arms hurt so bad, I quit. Thanks for your response, I appreciate everyone's answers. jean

Jean, I was on liquid Lortab, too. I ended up having 2 surgeries in 2 months, so I know what it can feel like to be loaded down with complications. The Lortab was all I could stomach for a while. I ended up switching to Darvocet when I could tolerate pills, and then Ultram. I'm off of everything for the most part now. My suggestion to you is that you try cutting back on the Lortab. Just try taking 1/2 tsp less each dose per day. I was taking 3 tsp a dose (up to 5 doses a day). Try to cut down your dose to find the lowest tolerable dose. Of course, you need your doctor's advice, as Ron said. But, don't get discouraged. Your doctor won't keep refilling this med if he is concerned about your use of it. Keep up the good work!!!

Please check with you Doc. about not being able to eat solids. Make sure that you dont have a blockage/stricture. At this juncture, I can eat small amounts of most things. Meats have to be ground or cut very small. Try moistening anything you eat. As for the drugs. I took liquid morphine for weeks. The inactivity actually made me more sore and tired. Try weaning yourself off your meds enough to walk on the treadmill or just walk in place in front of the T.V. My weight loss has been slower than yours, congrats. to you. Hang in there and keep up the good work.