Question reguarding pain meds after even years after RNY- Very sorry, is long

I had my RNY 9-7-12. I have posted at times about the problems I have had since I thought I pinched a nerve with pushups back in January 2014. Finally earlier this year my primary car doctor sent me for more extensive testing than the simple x ray that was done 2 months after the event and pain had settled to its best. To which at that time I had 1 scrip for muscle relaxers and a wimpy Tylenol 3 scrip for 1 at night to help with very minor lower back ache from when the heaviest. She just said use that for the pain from the pinched nerve. Of course if use more than 1 daily as was told meant run out faster. Pharmacy had to stick with the prescribed schedule. So basically was like having nothing for over a year. After MRI of my neck due to so long still having numbness I am sent to neurosurgeon. I get a round of steroids (I know is controversial, but did always take with my Lean Shake 25 mixed with unsweet almond milk, as ALL my meds are) more muscle relaxers, and percocets. Which at the time helped me finally be able to clean on my house and take walks. Fast forward to having Anterior Cervical Disc Fusion of C5-C7. I was in pure torture for 1 & 1/3 days. I mean screaming at times, weeping, sobbing, and had been put in the isolation room of the floor because it had 2 doors to shut the wails of pain out from the other patients who I am sure were not thrilled with the fact there was one such as I was on their floor. I know they were also trying to rest to get well. And my wails were not helping them. For which I am very sorry, and wish for anything I could have shut up. If for no other reason than I know it disturbed them and made the nurses jobs harder. I am Deaf and so I am not able to press the nurse button and over the speaker tell them wheat was needed. I KNOW very well they are over worked and did not need a patient like me. To deal with EITHER the wails or the deaf is enough, but for both I am sure was over load. I knew every time I had to press the button they had to walk to my room to write down for me to read what questions they had. My pain was totally NOT controlled at all. And it was not for the doctor and nurses lack of trying. They were giving me pills AND IV breakthrough morphine and such (not sure) My night nurse was totally surprised to come in and give the regular meds only to continue to hear my wails he came in to ask if still in pain (duh) so he get the permission for breakthrough IV meds. It was a good size needle of morphine that should have knocked me out for 10 hours. But STILL no help. He was utterly surprised. After rounds they switched meds up with me yet again and finally I was able to get a bit of help. Even walked around the hall because it hurt to be stuck in 1 position. Fast forward to home where the new meds worked for awhile but never got my pain level below a 6 on the doctor 1- 10 scale. My ACDF was 1-15-15, so by now I SHOULD have relief somewhat. Yesterday the doc tried to help since when I seen him after the car ride which ALWAYS puts pain level at 9 to 9 1/2. Well my new meds include adding an extra time on my muscle relaxer, as well as my valium (5) 4 times a day and the stronger oxycodone. Sorry for the LOOONG back story. But finally my question. Does anyone else have problems with their oral prescription pain meds stop working in HALF the time they are dosed for? I am being dosed every 6 hours. But am lucky if any help after 3. And these are some pretty powerful meds. I have more tests to see if my "new" bone discs are actually fusing like they are supposed to be. They are held in place with titanium plate and screws. I have CT scan next week. Plus I have another nerve test that might as well be likened to Chinese water torture to me. I am a needle phobic person who is hyper sensitve to ANY needles no matter how small. the nerve test consist of sticking acupuncture size (so not huge, but to me is terrible) needles in several nerve spots and sending jolts of electricity to test the nerves. To see if nerve damage. Last time I swore I would NEVER have that again. OMG (and I do NOT like that phrase) The thing is literal torture to me. These guys are used to working with soldiers, REAL tough guys, that have gone through war and true torture. But to me these tests are so bad I am now claustrophobic from the MRI machine, bust out crying at the very thought of surgery because this last one traumatized me that bad. My RNY hurt, yes, but I was not traumatized by it. Now my research into getting a cochlear implant has stopped. I am too scared of having another surgery. My pain is STILL NOT MANAGED from the ACDF even though they are trying. My soundproof bubble of life has become a soundproof bubble of pure, chronic pain. I am such a burden to my family. I am surprised they don't just leave me to get by on my own.

Wow my heart justs aches for you, I cannot imagine pain like this, for me all medication works different since surgery and I can tolerate very little. Good Luck to you!

Yes...I have the same problem as you. Pre-op I took Meloxicam ( a strong Nsaid) and percocet. Despite my concern at losing the Nsaid the surgeons still insisted I have RNY and not VSG (I am canadian and RNY is free here and the standard). They said don't worry your medication will be adjusted to compensate.

Morphen does not work on me at all. I have had 3 surgical procedures (Gallbladder removal, RNY, Hernia repair) 2 out of 3 I was given morphine upon coming out of anesthesia and woke up in horrible pain. Once I was given a percocet I was ok...but morphine will not work no idea why and I was MAXED out.

My medication was never adjusted. My family dr (who is the one who prescribes my medication) thinks its only "time release" medication we malabsorb. I asked my surgeon, he said no....you will malabsorb narcotics it's normal. He sent a letter to my dr but he was still not "comfortable" increasing the dose. I get 3x 5mg percocet a day and each one lasts 2 hours. So I have to choose which times of day I need to be able to function the most. I have 2 children 9&12 I still walk to and from school etc....so many drugs are far too sedating for me (eg.Lyrica, baclofen, gabapentine, etc) so this is all I have and with winter coming I am having a VERY hard time managing pain, so I understand what you are going through. I am 2 years post-op and still struggling =/

So sorry you are having the problems with meds that I am. It is hard to decide when is the best times for taking them. Between the make too sleepy, but least pain time. And the I need to do something simple like prepare a meal for my family. It was weird that when I was sent home from the ACDF surgery in July, one of the bottles of meds was a small bottle of morphine in pill form for 2 times a day (breakthrough pain.) Now THOSE did help some, but made my blood pressure drop too close to under 90/ 59. I was told if that happened again to immediately get to their ER. So I only used those after running out of pain meds and getting the run around when hubby had to call for me (I am deaf and cannot use a phone) the surgeon that did the operation was not the one I had been seeing before and was scheduled with. But an opening came up 2 days before my scheduled one and I took it. Thinking the sooner it was done, the sooner I would be RID of the pain like they said the surgery should do. But I am one that apparently is not helped very quickly (if at all) by it. I do NOT want to spend my life HAVING to take pain pills. And them not working right on me so when trying to get help they treat like one of the junkies just trying to get highs from them. I do not want a high. I just want to NOT be crying from the pain being so bad. I just want to be able to ride in a car without screaming at every bump. It would be nice to be able to do my housework when it needs, not when it looks like the house the Munsters lived in. To be able to push and pull a mop across the kitchen floor would be sublime. Right now I have to use a steam mop because it is light and I can use it every once in a while, if I time it right with my meds. To try to look on a bright side, I hope both of our issues will work out. We can always hope and pray. The harder it gets for me the more I find I NEED to pray. Even if I still am in the bad pain.

So sorry for your extreme pain. I take medicine also and since my RNY 10 months ago, it really affects me greatly. It really must be so difficult for you..Hang in there if you can and good luck.

Robin

Thank you for the reply. I hope yours can get fixed up soon where you won't need the meds either. Goodness knows that to keep up with all the vitamins we must take to stay ahead of problems from lack of those, RNYers have plenty enough to take without having to add other meds.

A gratitude I have every day is that I am not living with chronic pain. I live with someone who does. So hard.

I hope you find relief.

Deb T.

Yes, I have the same problem with Opioid medications. Bottom line, the government is monitoring all sales of these medications and are zeroing in on an exception to the rule. Doctors are afraid of losing their license, and/or going through an audit of their books for all their opioid patience. Only the brave of heart will go outside the guidelines for their patience.

My meds are prescribed for every 6 hours. I personally changed them to every 4 hours. However, most of the time they last 2-3 hours. As you, I have to decide when I need to work or be clear headed to take them. Most of the time, I'm running short before the 30 days are up. Nothing to do there, just start to go through detox (not fun). Also, I can only get this medication prescribed in FL (I live in NY), I have a home in FL and live here from Nov thru April, but I'm in NY from April thru Nov. I can only get a script for 30 days with NO refills. I must see the Doctor every 30 days, so when I'm in NY I have to fly to FL for a doctors appointment. Is this ridiculous? Stupid? Expensive? I don't know the answer, but I am hoping that your Doctor will stick he's out for you and increase your meds. Best wishes

Hi Rosebud-

Read your response and feel like we have so mu*****ommon. I used to be on here in the beginning years of my RNY. However, I am now 8 years back and slipped on the slippery slope of carbs. I need to lose 30 pounds. So, I come here for support. Best thing I ever did. I too, struggle with pain medication. I have been diagnosed with arthritis and fibro. I feel like my pain meds work NOT well. I assumed though I was past the malabsorbing period as my doc says if you don't dump any longer, your don't malabsorb any longer either. I live in Texas, and have a specialist (pain management) doc I see along with my primary care. I truly feel like since I have had RNY, I have had pain. I used to weigh almost 300 pounds. I now weigh 170 and still have daily pain. People thought I was crazy, said I should feel wonderful after getting all my weight off. But, it was the opposite.

Would love to hear your story.

I feel absolutely HEART BROKEN for people in chronic pain. It is real and no fun.

the added problem and opiates are meant for short term acute pain, not long term use. That is one of the reasons they don't work for long and why pain control is much more difficult after surgery for people who take them on a regular basis. They strip the body of its natural coping abilities.