Question:
PAIN MED WITHDRAWL. WHAT WILL MAKE ME FEEL BETTER????

I AM 2 WEEKS POST OP(OPEN V.B.G.) AND 5 DAYS OFF MY HEAVY-DUTY NARCOTIC PAIN MEDICATION CALLED LORTAB.I ALSO RECEIVED MORPHINE IN THE HOSPITAL. I AM HAVING THE WORST EMOTIONAL BLACK MOODS SINCE BEING OFF THE PAIN MED. I AM NOT IN PAIN SO THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. I GOT SO DISTRESSED THAT I SAW A PSYCHIATRIST WHO I TRUST. SHE FEELS I AM HAVING SERIOUS NARCOTIC WITHDRAWL.SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANY MERIT WHAT SO EVER TO THE "HIBERNATION THEORY" EXPLAINED ON THIS SITE.SHE DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS IS MY PROBLEM. I ALSO DO NOT FEEL PARTICULARLY SAD ABOUT NOT EATING SOLID FOOD FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS , AS MY SURGEON REQUIRES.I AM NOT GRIEVING FOR FOOD! THE ONLY OTHER THING THE PSYCHIATRIST SUGGESTS IS A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ANXIETY ABOUT" FINALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT A BIG PROBLEM ". SHE FEELS THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE. PLEASE HEAR ME OUT. I AM SO THRILLED I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE SURGERY. I AM HAPPY AND GRATEFUL ABOUT SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. THIS SUDDEN ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE , BLACK DEPRESSED FEELING TRULY FEELS BIOLOGICAL.I ACTUALLY HAVE WAVES OF THIS FEELING COME AND GO THROUGH OUT EACH DAY. I AM EXTREMELY IRRITABLE, SAD ABOUT NOTHING, SCARED ABOUT NOTHING! I FEEL SO BLAH AND GREY. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING I CAN TAKE OR DO?? DETOX TEA? VERY SPECIFIC VITAMINS? I TAKE A GREAT MULTI NOW,DRINK WATER AND EXERCISE! THE PSYCHIATRIST HAS PRESCRIBED WELLBUTRIN WHICH TAKES 4-6 WEKKS TO WORK!!!!I HAVE READ EVERY Q&A ON THIS SITE REGARDING EMOTIONAL AFTER EFFECTS OF SURGERY.I DO NOT FIND MUCH THAT ADDRESSES MEDICATON WITHDRAWL.THANK YOU FOR ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS SUBJECT.ROBERTA    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 7, 2000)

November 7, 2000
First, congrats on being "on the other side." You are at the start of a very important part of your life. As far as the extreme feelings are concerned, I know exactly what you mean. I suffered tremendously when I first had surgery. In fact, it lasted for a long time, weeks, and I asked my doctor. He told me this is very normal. He said that many people rely on drugs like Prozac to get through this period and suggested I do the same. Which I did and it did help altho it takes a few weeks to start working. A happy side effect was that the Prozac also considerably lessens my terrible PMS symptoms I've suffered with forever, so I've continued to take the Prozac for that, even past the "bad" time. I hope this helps and just hang in there, it gets better!
   — Beth B.

November 7, 2000
Roberta - have you spoken with your Dr. about this? I know the psychiatrist is a professional but not in the after affects of this surgery. I haven't had the surgery yet but from I can read the Hibernation Syndrome seems very real. It seems like a lot of people experience this. I hope you have spoken with your Dr. and his support staff about this. They are probably more familiar and have much better advice to give you than the psychiatrist.
   — Marie L.

November 7, 2000
Roberta,I don't think you are going through withdrawal because you weren't on those meds long enough. I want you to know that I felt exactly like you, I am 6 wks post-op and went through some serious crying spells when I came home from the hospital. I was also having trouble sleeping, very sore from the surgery and generally felt like shi-! Ava has many files of information she will gladly share with you to let you know we all go through these things and it does get better, I promise. Please e-mail any time We're all here to help each other. [email protected]
   — Suzanne W.

November 7, 2000
Ask your psyc. to prescribe Effexor. It has a MUCH faster reactive time, (days as opposed to weeks) than the Wellbutrin. I too went through this incredible black time, but was on the Effexor prior to surgery and had to go off for a while. Ask, it can do no harm and if it works, you will be better in days. Good luck
   — Jill C.

November 7, 2000
The only thing I can relate this too is what happened to me post op gall bladder surgery. I had the morphine pump in hospital and Tyloxx post-op. When I was at home, I was horrible. Black moods, hateful. I even slapped my husband for bringing me a cracker and tea when I wanted something else but didn't tell him so...really irrational. After about a week this all subsided and I defintely think it was withdrawal...just my personal opinion. My husband is a little wary of my being on pain meds after I have my WLS surgery, but we are aware that I do have personality changes this time around.
   — Carolyn G.

November 8, 2000
First, what you are experiencing is very normal following surgery. Anesthesia plays a big part on the moodiness you describe, and this is directly related to the concept of the Hibernation Theory, just a term to describe the post-op condition you are going through. The pain meds may or may not exacerbate the condition. Personally, I don't think you've been on them long enough to be going through such difficult withdrawal.<br><br>Do you have a history of depression? Anxiety? Other psychological conditions? If so, the early days post-op may be much more difficult for you. This too shall pass, but I strongly advise you to contact your surgeon if you feel it is becoming unbearable. If you're not comfortable doing that, have your trusted psychiatrist contact your surgeon on your behalf. Not to discount the psychiatrist's opinion, but you just had major surgery, and I feel it to be irresponsible of hiim/her to make a diagnosis about your condition without first consulting with your surgeon. As someone mentioned earlier this week, you wouldn't ask your dentist's opinion of weight loss surgery.<br><br>In conclusion, please know that this too shall pass, and I encourage you to read Ava Lee's info. I had the same horrible mood swings and basically didn't want to get out of bed and face anyone or anything for about 8 weeks. But now, 6 months and 105 lbs later, my psychological and medical condition is completely different.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 8, 2000
Hi Roberta - I too have suffered from anxiety and depression in the past. All of these AMOS people have given you great advice. One of the nicest things I heard/hear when I'm depressed is "I've felt that too!" I particularly relate to your description of "waves" of depression/anxiety. Prozac does have a long "ramp-up" to therapeutic level. I have found Paxil to be much quicker. I noticed subtle improvement toward the end of the 1st day, major improvement the 3rd day, continuing to improve over a 3 week period. Effexor was also very slow for me - and didn't work as well as Prozac and Paxil. Good luck! I'll be praying for you.
   — Kelly D.

November 9, 2000
Stick with the meds you doctor prescribes. She knows your medical history and lab results. Don't listen to anyone here. We are all know-it-all strangers that know what's best for you. <What are you going to do? Tell your doc, "I read on a website that you should give me prozac or paxil or effexor, instead of wellbutrin. The people there know more than you. You are truly an idiot." I think it's criminal that people here(absolute strangers) will try to second guess your primary physician. Just because a drug worked for someone else, doesn't mean the one you're getting is wrong.
   — blank first name B.