Question:
Has anyone ever been addicted to pain meds before surgery? ?

i get my pain meds from an online dr. i take about 8 a day. do i list this medication or do i try to quit?    — kathy S. (posted on October 23, 2002)

October 23, 2002
I think it is extremely important that you list all medications you are taking. This surgery is serious, and you need to be up front and honest with your Doctors. If you are addicted, you may need help to quit. If you have an addictive personality, you will need therapy to help you work through the issues so the surgery will not fail you. Please be fair to yourself and your Doctor so that he can do his best for you.
   — beryl

October 23, 2002
Beryl's right. You could put yourself in a lot of danger by keeping this quiet. You could end up with very tragic results. Please tell your surgeon and do what ever they advise. A secret isn't worth your life. You would be putting them in a position of not even knowing why things might be going wrong and they wouldn't know what to do to help you.
   — Deborah R.

October 23, 2002
Kathy, if you are having bad backaches, you are probably not addicted to pain medication. I've been struggling with chronic back pain since my surgery this april and I've learned quite a lot about pain medication. I wouldn't worry about having an addiction. Your body reacts differently when your treating pain, versus taking narcotics for 'fun', which I doubt you are. Be up front with your surgeon, and don't worry. It will all be okay. Good luck and God bless!
   — Christine L.

October 23, 2002
Kathy, you really must speak to your sergeon about the meds you are taking he wont cancel your surgery what he will do is make sure you have enough pain medication available for you seeing how your tolerance is much higher than someone who doesnt take pain meds I am assuming you are taking percocet or vicodan if so you will have alot of discomfort if you dont let the Doc know so he can adjust the dosage also more importantly the anasthesiologist MUST be told so he knows the proper dosage of medication needed to keep you fully sedated (asleep)throughout the operation (believe me you dont want to wake in the middle!) lastly, the Nurses must be aware of the possibility of respiratory problems do to increased medication for sedation. So please,Please let them know!!!!! trust a weight loss buddy nurse ---good luck and cant wait to see ya on the other side!
   — hooper0710

October 23, 2002
I've known several people who popped pills. Just about everything. Three of them died of an OD. You really need to figure out if you're taking them for a medical reason or if you're addicted. It took years of taking pills before they died but they did. Please get off them if you're really not physically needing them. As far as practicality right now. You may need more in the way of pain killers because of the tolerance you've most likely developed. Before my surgery I avoided taking any pain pills at all for a month beforehand. I'm not addicted but was taking lortabs for the pain in my back & hips. I knew from experience that I develop a tolerance to pain meds and wanted to make sure that my pain levels could be controlled successfully. My personal feeling is though that I would NOT give out info that you're addicted to ANYTHING narcotic to your surgeon. Not everyone is open minded. It would really suck to have him cancel your surgery and worse if he wasn't willing to provide you the proper means of controlling your pain. Please do get off the pills though if you're abusing them.
   — Shelly S.

October 24, 2002
I have never heard of getting pain meds from an online dr. I would have done that forever because of migraines and back pain. Our area (just like every other small town in the US) is overrun with pill addicts (oxy-cottin SPELLING?) So doctors here treat everyone like an addict even if you are having serious pain. I agree with the other postings that you should DEFINITLY tell your doctor how much pain medicine you take a day. Only you know if you are taking the medicine for true pain or not. If not please take care of your addiction before your weight because it is more life threatening.
   —  Mary Ann C.

October 24, 2002
You need to tell your doctor what you're taking. Many pain medications are "off-limits" after the surgery, depending upon what they are. Many pain meds cause bleeding, ulcers, etc, so your doctor needs to know this or you could be in danger.
   — Cathy S.

October 24, 2002
I am currently supposed to be taking vicoden for a bone spur in my neck daily. My surgeon told me on my initial visit that I would have to stop about 6 weeks before my surgery because it would intfere with the pain meds after surgery and they would not be as effective. Now I just grin and bear it until my surgery. I take over the counter meds like tylenol and such to take the edge off but they don't do alot, but I really don't want to be in MORE pain after the surgery. Besides being addicted to anything is not a good thing. You are starting a new life with your surgery, don't bring bad habits into it. See your Dr. IN PERSON, they can switch you to some meds that help with the pain and aren't so addictive and maybe you can kick it that way. Addictions can be tough and sometimes you need help, don't be afraid to ask. You can do it!!!
   — dkinson