Question:
PLEASE HELP! Anyone on METHADONE had the surgery????
Anyone been on Methadone and been able to have the surgery??? I have a date set for july 26th. My doctors nurse called today and I told her that about 4 months ago I was put on Methadone for chronic back pain. She said that my surgery will probley have to be postponded until I quit taking my pain meds. ARRRGGG. I am so upset. I am on the meds for a reason MY BACK PAIN IS UNBEARABLE. If I quit taking the meds I will be in great pain?? DOes anyone know any surgeons in WASHINGTON that WILL do the surgery while I am still on the methadone??? PLEASE HELP. Thanks — jenners79 (posted on July 12, 2006)
July 12, 2006
I'm not familiar with Methadone but it may be a NSAID, which I'm not
familiar with either. lol. But apparently most surgeons don't like us
taking those - close to surgery or post-op. I had to stop 2 of my
medications - Metformin and my birth control. I don't know why. I was mad
about the BC, though, because I take it for contraception but also to
regulate my cycle and I knew it'd take me forever to get back on track.
Anywhoo. Pharmacology is very complex and they probably have a good reason
for you not wanting to take it. That being said, I understand your back
hurts like hell so what's a girl supposed to do? I would call the nurse
and simply ask what you posted. What is the reason for going off this med?
And if you have to, is there anything else you can take in its place
because of the pain? I don't live in WA, so I can't help ya on that
question. I'm sorry this is happening. Good luck and keep us posted!
— platypus
July 12, 2006
Methadone is a synthetic, narcotic analgesic (pain reliever). The drug
shares many of the same effects and characteristics of morphine and acts in
similar ways to it and other narcotic medications. I would think that
since you have been taking this medication (I don't know what the dosage
is) is probably concern for your safety. The reason being is that you may
not be able to be put under with anesthesia because your body is already
use to the methadone. I'm not a doctor, and this is purely speculation on
my part, but I would ask your doctor if the dosage of the medthadone could
be decreased prior to your surgery and an alternate med be given so that
you can have the surgery. I'm wishing you the best because I know it must
be stressful for you to be told you may not have the surgery, but don't
give up because there could be another solution to this.
Hope this helps.
— Belle
July 12, 2006
Hears a questiong that comes to mind. Is it possible the surgery is going
to relieve any of your back pain? Maybe that is a question that could be
explored with the physician treating your back and your weight loss
surgeon. Check with the physician that is treating your back to see if
there is some type of liquid meds that you can take for the back pain. Hey
after the weight loss surgery you'll be on a morphine drip for a day or so
-- you want be feeling any pain.
— the7thdean
July 12, 2006
I am not on methadone but I am on high doses of morphine for chronic pain
issues. My pain management doctor was one of my biggest supporters in this
surgery as we hope that as my weight decreases so can my dosages and we are
working to get me off these meds over time. Talk to your Pain Management
Doctor and see what they have to say. The surgeon probably doesn't have
experience in dealing with a patient on Methadone and is staying on the
side of safety until they know for sure.
Discuss with your Pain docs and see what they can do. They might be able to
change your meds around to something more surgery suitable. I went from
time release morphine with breakthrough morphine that I'd been on for 2
years pre-op to now using a liquid morphine in the last 6 weeks (surgery
was 6/13/06) and actually get better pain control with the liquid and can
dose accordingly. If my pain isn't as high at the end of the 8 hours as it
was prior, I take a smaller dose. I also use Lidoderm Topical Patches for
back pain and have been on those for several years. That didn't change.
The doctor's office might be playing it safe because of the other reasons
some people take methadone. Unfortunately, as all chronic pain patients
know, there is a stigma attached to certain drugs and that one is one of
the bigger ones.
Keep your pain doc in the loop as to what you are doing. Let him/her know
you are doing this to get healthy, get the weight off and hopefully getting
it off will help your pain. You might find that doctor is your biggest
champion.
— oceanrayne
July 12, 2006
Many pain meds have side effects that interfeere with your surgery! Some
thin your blood a little, which makes surgery dangerous. I would discuss
it with both the doctor who gave you the med and the surgeon.
— Novashannon
July 12, 2006
I previously took Methadone and the one thing I hated about it was
constantly sweating (profusely) and very challenged to stay hydrated. When
I was considering the Bariatric Surgery, I asked Pain Management to change
me to another med prior to meeting the surgeon for the first time. I would
imagine there is no objection to someone who is maintained on pain meds
undergoing surgery, if there was...someone might have mentioned it to me
during one of my 27 (LOL) operations! The only thing I have ever been told
was by the Anesthesiologist(s) who say they need to know exactly how much
of your meds you take, otherwise they may not have you sufficiently asleep
for surgery...so be honest! I am sure the problem is with Methadone and
Bypass, you will not be able to retain or intake enough fluids to stay well
and you will get very sick if you just stop the Methadone, it must be
tapered off. They do not tell us when they hand us this crap that we will
be "maintenance addicts." I opted for the spinal infusion pump
about a year and a half post op, and it's nice to have the morphine in my
spine and not my whole body!!! Less than 1 mg. A day drops into my spine
continuously throughout the day, but there are problems with it too. Best
of luck to you and find out if the surgeon objects to all narcotics, or
just the Methadone.
— PedalSteelGirl
July 12, 2006
Remember it is the Nurse NOT THE DR....... that said maybe.... I was was
dainoised with Bell's Palsey 5 days before my surgey and was put on alot of
medications and I also got you may need to canceal..... But after my
Surgeon talked to my ENT dr. they let me have it..... (5.2.06)
Remember the Dr has the last say and dont stress your self out. If there
was a problem with you being on it I think your other Dr would of said
something or got you on something else! Good Luck, keep us updated!
— jackie B.
July 13, 2006
I'm on fentanyl for chronic pain and the problem I had when I had an
unexpected (non-wls) surgery was that it was extremely difficult to get any
pain relief after surgery.
My partner had to bring my pain meds from home (with permission from doc)
and I was taking what I usually took plus getting morphine and demerol
shots. Despite everything I was on, it was extremely different to get my
pain under control.
Two questions... 1) Is it specifically methadone they want you off or pain
meds in general? If its methadone specifically, maybe you can find a pain
med that might not work as well but lets you have surgery. 2) Do you go to
a pain clinic? If so, is there any kind of spinal block or procedure they
could do to help you make it through the 4 weeks without being in as much
pain?
Sorry to hear you are having such difficulties. I hope you are able to
find a solution that works for you and the surgeon.
Best wishes.
— mrsidknee
July 13, 2006
I have had a lot of surgeries. Each time I have to get off of everything
for two weeks. I try to do every thing that I need to before the two week
count down. Then I just take it very slow and very easy. A lot of heating
pads and pillows to prop me up so there is no weight on my bones. Yes I
would be in pain but it was so much worth it.
— pettykash
July 15, 2006
I don't know about Methadone but some medicines work on the nerves to block
pain for specific things. This medicine could cause you not to respond to
anisthesitha (sorry about spelling there) and you do not want to come out
of surgery in great pain. Check with your dr to see if you can take
another med until after the surgery. Good luck
Rawnie
— southernnmdreamer
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