HELP post op pain was told to take motrin

Hello,

I had surgery mid august and got a bad infection and now have two open wounds and a wound vac still to this date. I had called for a refill on pain medication (since im still in a good amount of pain. The wound keeps getting infected causing swelling and pain. Even though my doctor knows i have 2 open wounds they "have a hard time believing i'm in enough pain to need anything stronger than Motrin" and was told to take that.

I am very upset at this doctors office for even telling me to take an NSAID since im barely 3 months out of RNY surgery. Tylenol does nothing i take 4,000mg of that a day and 2,000mg of Motrin (neither help a lot but its worse with out it) a day and im still in pain. If i go to the er they just tell the er people to give me Tylenol. I don't want drugs (not that they will even give me any) but i can't sleep at night and im very worried about ulcers. I would rate the pain around a 5 constantly and up to an 8 if i do simple things like take a shower.

I put ice on it and walk around as much as i can and wound care cleans out the wounds 3x a week. I have gone to the primary dr but they just tell me to follow up with my surgeon and that if i wasn't supposed to take Motrin he wouldn't have told me too. Im sick and tired of getting the run around to go to a dr that wont listen to me.

This has been going on for the past 3 weeks.

Is this your pcp or your surgeon giving you motrin??! That's crazy, do not take nsaids for a prolong time like weeks. You need to insist on the pain meds. Insist!

Hi Mia,

I am so sorry you are having such problems.  I had my surgery on 8/18 and I guess you can say it was textbook.  I haven't had any problems, but I know how horrible it is when you are in pain all the time.

You mentioned that wound care cleans your wounds 3 times a week.  Who arranged this for you?  The surgeon or your PCP?  Why not ask the wound care specialist to evaluate your wounds and then contact the doctor on your behalf.  They must be able to see how much pain you are in.  With them contacting the doctor they would have to believe how much pain you have, then they should perscribe something stronger.

I know your doctor is in Ocala, if you live in the area, there is a bariatric support group at West Marion Hospital on this Thursdday night @ 6:00 pm.  The group is conducted by Dr. Jawad's office but it is open to all bariatric patients.

Hope to see you there.

Donna

Mia-
This is very distressing to read.  NSAIDs are very hard on the stomach and tylenol is hard on the liver.  Can you ask your PCP to refer you to a pain specialist (doctor)?  The pain doctor should be able to help you manage your pain without messing up your stomach and liver. 

Red