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Hey Ya'll,

Well I am back from the doctors.  It was not the hour drive that Yahoo said it would be..only took 30 minuets.   One of the nicest doctors I have ever seen.  The staff was wonderfull.  Fogive me if I go on for a little bit but I want you all to know the experience I had.  I love the fact that they are very careful about the medications they give out and keep a really close eye on it.  They make you give a Urine sample every time you go in so they can make sure there are no street drugs.  They even do pill recalls every now and again where they call you and tell you to bring your pills up so they can count them and make sure you are not abusing them, and taking them like you should.  Just real different then the doctor I had in Texas.  They were all about get you in and get you out.  This doctor is not like that at all.  Anyway..he did a few tests and then said after looking at my MRI that I have a little degeneration between my 4 and 5th disk in my back, also he says it is Facet Joints that are giving me all the pain.  He has taken me off the Tramadol and put me on Ultram extended release.  I am guessing that is going to be ok.  He also gave me Lanacain Patches for my back.  I go back in two weeks to get a Tens machine and to set up for my injection next month.  It was just a nice experience all the way around.  After Mark took me lunch/dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and we split some ribs.  I would love some feed back if any of you have been through this or have taken this medication.  Hoping this is going to make a difference.  Love and miss you guys lots.

Michele - sounds wonderful.......I hope that this gives you some much needed relief now....

as for the Ultram extended releaseRNY surgeon said  NO XR of anything...-  I don't know why - but do check that out........with your surgeon...............

Thanks Phyllis.  I will call his office first thing in the morning.  He seemed to know a lot about the Gastric but guess not as much as I thought.  Where would I be without you guys to helpme out!  Thanks again!

I am glad you had a good experience, a good pain management guy is great!  I know!!

I have to agree with Phyliss on this one though.  Extended release and an RNY do not go together.  I would be on his phone in the morning.

It is one of the lessons we had to teach our GP with Tom's meds.  Some of these guys are just not up on malabsorption...

Thanks I will call him tomorrow.  It's funny cause I thought about that as we were leaving his office and I even said to Mark maybe I should go back in but then we agreed that he knew I was not supposed to take anti inflamatories so he probably knew about the ER medicine too.  Well I for sure call him in the morning.  Thanks again for your help!  Did Tom ever use a Tens machine?

A Tens Unit is more for muscular pain.  Tom never used one.  He put meds through his feeding tube and still does.  It is located below the pouch and has less concerns about absorpstion.  No worry about ulcers either!

I have a pretty big heel spur that's growing to the back of my heel instead of down, and it's interferring with my Achilles tendon. I take tramadol daily to be able to walk on it. It took a week or so to get the level built up in my system but once it did I never even think about it.

Was it an extended release pill?  I was taking Tramadol twice a day but he decided he wanted to change it and see if the Ultram works better,

MICHELLE-unless I'm having a brain fart Ultram IS Tramadol...Ultram is the brand name. Maybe the generic Tramadol doesn't have an ER form, since that's the doc thought you needed. I have taken ER meds, for short periods of time, with good results, BUT, I'm alot further out than you, and my absorbsion is probably alot different.

No brain fart girl...you are right...I have my bottle of Tramadol right here and it says it is the generic for Ultram.  Just no extended release....