need feedback on pain level and ER

I have been having a lot of this mysterious belly pain this week.  Several months ago, my PCP increased my prescription for Vicodin (originally just for my knee for when the Tramadol is not enough) so that I would have enough to also help me through these bouts of belly pain until we can find a way to resolve it.  So I have been taking the Vicodin for several days now.  It helps for about 3 hours after I take it (and works reasonably well during that time), but it just does NOT last as long as it did before my RNY.  I did not sleep much last night because of it, so between the lack of sleep, continuing pain, and the depression I stayed home from work today.  Both last night and this afternoon, I ended up taking two pills instead of one because one was just not enough (even with a Tylenol PM added in) and I was SO sick of being in pain and wanted to sleep.

My mom would be the one I would need to call to take me to the ER... and she HATES going to the ER (I can't blame her), so I hesitate to go unless I really NEED to. I have been through this a couple of times before already... you spend HOURS there, they do a CT scan and/or ultrasound and don't see anything, give you a shot of morphine, and send you home... and charge you a small fortune (I have to pay 20% of the bill).  Since I have done this 3 times in the past 15 months, I am a bit worried that if I go in again they will start to think I am drug seeking (although I personally wouldn't think someone who came in only once every 5 months is drug seeking... but I worry about it anyway).  Right now,I would really like something to kill the pain so I could sleep peacefully for more than an hour or two, but I also REALLY hesitate to drag my mom to the ER.

I'm having trouble figuring out what to do (probably partly because I took the extra Vicodin). Just need some feedback...

Lora

Lora,  If the pain is that bad and the vicodin aren't getting you through then I would either call your doctor or go the ER.  You are the only one that can tell the severity of the pain, but I wouldn't mess around with it.  Take care and feel better.  Keep us posted as to how you are doing.

I agree- I hope you feel better soon.  
Debra   

 Would your PCP feel ok with giving you Oxycontin? May help better with the pain management. At least pulling out the big guns until the cause can be eliminated. But to suffer so bad for so long is torturous, so maybe the trip to the ER is worth the price & aggravation, just to get that morphine and a good night's sleep.
(and yeah, feel you on the drug-seeker-phobia. I had a PCP *****fused to give me a few days worth of Ambien the week of my wedding and instead wrote me a sleep study referral for my insomnia and basically called me a drug seeker. For 3 pills of a sleep med that I never had in my life? Um, yeah, it was stress causing the insomnia. You know, because of MY FRIGGEN WEDDING. He didn't stay my PCP for long.)

I'm not sure what he would do if I asked.  I think he knows me well enough (and long enough) to know that I am not just seeking a cheap high, but part of me says that if Vicodin doesn't help the pain enough, then he and I really need to push to move to "the next level" in terms of finding the actual problem and fixing it!  At least if I go to the ER, they can let the surgeon know that I am there and in a significant amount of pain... (since I don't expect the upper GI to show anything)

(Glad you dumped that PCP, BTW!  Jerk.)

have you discussed Roxicette (sp)  Being a liquid you might more fully benefit from it.

Hoping things eventually turn around for you.

I was told Ambien would interact with some meds I'm on I need sleep ! Dang it. I'm living on 1 hr a night if I'm lucky. IF

I'd go to ER. My mom is the same she HATES the ER and the routine of the ER and I too have that fear of them thinking I'm a drug seeker. I don't "like" to take drugs. It's a HAVE to thing if that.
Mine is Migraine pains. : (
~hollim

It may sound weird, but try getting Bentyl or Levsin. They slow down your intestines and/or stop intestinal spasms. The symptoms you described in one of your other posts sound very similar to something I've had. I take Bentyl now and the pain has gone away. Intestinal spasms won't make you have to go to the bathroom more, but they cause what seems like a tightness and deep pain.

Just a suggestion. Hope you start feeling better! I know the feeling of "sick and tired of being sick and tired"...it stinks!

Sending good thoughts and well wishes your way!

Already tried the Bentyl... no effect.  I do appreciate the suggestion, though.  You never know what someone might suggest that you have NOT tried that might help.

Lora

What a bummer! Has anyone tried to see if you have adhesions? You mentioned that before, but noone was acknowledging that possibilty. I truly wish I could help you feel better. I'll be praying for you.