Question:
NEED TO KNOW WHO USED EPIDERIAL AND WHO HAD PC PUMP
WHICH PAIN MANAGEMENT TOOL DO YOU THINK IS BEST AND WHY- IVE HAD 4 KIDS AND AM TOTALLY AGAINST EPIDERIAL THEY FRIGHTEN ME BUT FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD THE SURGERY SAY THEY ARE THE BOMB AND WITH OUT THE EPIDERIAL I WILL HAVE A HARDER TIME??? — kim B. (posted on September 11, 2003)
September 11, 2003
My surgeon only uses the pain pump. Have you asked your surgeon what he
recommends? When I had an open gall bladder surgery, I had the pain pump
and did fine. Surgery was open. My RNY in November will be with the pain
pump.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 11, 2003
I had the PCA with morphine for 2 days. After that they switched me to
liquid percoset. That actually worked better because it kept the level of
pain meds more even and didn't knock me out everytime I used it. I did not
use the morphine nearly as much as I could because if I did I was gone for
a good couple of hours every time. So I would just take a hit when I had
to get out of bed and I needed the pain controlled a little more. I was
off all pain meds by 5 days PO and used extra strength tylenol as needed
from there on. I've had a number of epidural injections in my back and I
do not think I would want one left in there for a few days, but that's just
me. The pain gets better every day!
— zoedogcbr
September 11, 2003
If you are having lap, you can't have an epidural - I asked. I had an
epidural with each kid, and spinal with my hysterectomy in 2000, and each
time I loved it. Some people have a less-than-perfect experience, but they
are definitely the exception rather than the rule. My friend had an
epidural and had zero pain after surgery - was propping his book up on his
tummy the day after surgery.
I had the pain pump, and it worked okay, but I was definitely in pain.
Even though I had the procedure lap, my insides were still replumbed and
hurting. The Lortab helped, but that liquid stuff was nasty - I was
hurting too much the first two days to care, but by the time I got home I
decided to try without, and wound up having to take the med another day or
two.
If I had an option, I would take epidural in a heartbeat - even the spinal
- which instills fear in almost everyone - because both did an excellent
job for me.
~~~~
If you have ever seen a woman in labor before her epidural (active labor)
and then after her epidural is going, you'd think they gave us cocaine from
the incredible relief you'd see. My friend/labor coach had a bad epidural
with her first, so went natural with the next 3 - all over 8 pounds each.
She told me if I wanted to go natural she would be there for me. I said -
no thanks! When she saw me before versus after the epidural - she said
"If I knew it could work like that, I'd have given it another
try!"
— bethybb
September 11, 2003
My doctor told me that the anesthesiologist would discuss an epidural with
me at my preop visit and strongly encouraged me to go this route. He said
it provides you with a more even level of pain relief and that the PCA pump
meds could cause nausea. I did choose to go this route, and I was very glad
that I did. The main reason that I picked the epidural was that my mom had
just had hip replacement surgery and I had gone and stayed with her the
first night in the hospital. They had given her an epidural for pain
management, and it was wonderful for her. The nurses were always coming in
to assess her pain level, and she never had any! She was able to move about
well and ambulate in the hallway with the physical therapist.
They placed my epidural in the preop holding area and explained that they
would dose it when I woke up in recovery. It had a pump that delivered a
set amount of medication per hour, but I had a button I could push if I
felt I needed a boost. It was wonderful!!! The first night postop I never
even pushed the button. The next day they got me out of bed, and I walked
at least every 2 hours all over the hallway. It was a bit uncomfortable
while I was getting out of bed, but other than that I had virtually no
pain. I would give myself a boost on the pump before I walked. I did not
have the drowsiness I would have had with a PCA. Two days postop they
discontinued my epidural in the morning, and I went home later that day. I
took two doses of my po pain med the day I went home, that afternoon and
evening, and never needed another dose.
Good luck in whatever you decide. I highly recommend the epidural, but the
choice is up to you.
— DebT
September 11, 2003
HI- For my open RNY, I had a PCA pump with Demerol. I pressed it all the
time and felt almost no pain after it kicked in. I had an epidural for my
child's birth, but because I was on so many other medications during his
delivery, I needed 4 bollus(es) - or refills of medicine. Not sure what
drug was used with the epidural, but it was narcotic. The epidural would
have worked better if I wasn't on such high pitocin and magnesium drips.
Good Luck! Please discuss with your surgeon if you're this concerned about
it.
— toolio
September 11, 2003
Hi, I think this is one of those questions where it varies with each
surgeon and anesthesiologist. I've never had either the pump or an
epidural; my daughter was born natural. I had the lap procedure and they
gave me shots of morphine after surgery for pain management the first
night, and then the next day they switched me to liquid Lortab. That
worked just fine for me. Good luck on your upcoming surgery!
— Moysa B.
September 11, 2003
Hi Kim, I had the PCA pump for my pain control and loved it, in the
recovery room they asked if I was in any pain on a scale of 1 to 10 and I
said 9 every time until I was given a shot of pain meds 3 times, then I was
on the pump. The thing about the pump that I liked is you can push it every
10 minutes to get a dose of pain meds if you need it. Then if not just wait
till you were getting out of bed or they were going to move you then give
the button a push other wise I didnt use it. This way also I could tell how
much I was in pain which was not a lot and also if you wanted to relax and
sleep hit it a few times in a row and take that well needed nap. I think
with the Epiderial you have no idea if you are going to have any pain till
they stop it and if you are in pain when it is no longer being used that
might be hard to deal with, so I am glad I had the PCA pump and this way I
was in control of my pain management but like I said it was not that bad
for me. LAP RNY DISTAL 02/19/03 6'2" 412/248 goal of 200lbs Dr
Korman Ingelwood, California
— tonyskid
September 11, 2003
I used the PCA, with Morphine. Open RNY, 3/20/03. It managed the pain,
but left me feeling way out there! I didn't like that feeling, so after
the first day I did not sqeeze the pump anymore. I was then switched to
oral meds and did fine. I was up walking right after surgery and and I
encourage you to do the same....it does help your recovery along (as well
as prevents blood clots!) After the first day, the pain was not all that
horrible and by day 5 I was off all narcotics, taking an occassional ES
Tylenol. Best of luck to you!!! -72LBS
— teresa M.
September 11, 2003
I had an epidural. It was wonderful!!!!!! I felt no pain at all!! I
would choose it again in a heartbeat. I had heard all sorts of bad things
about them as well but my surgeon only uses epidurals so I did not have a
choice...and I am so glad. Good Luck with your surgery!!
— Tami S.
September 11, 2003
I'm against epidurals too; I think they're unnecessarily risky. I had open
DS with a pain pump and I didn't need it or any other pain med after the
2nd day. The level of pain and tolerance of it are different for everyone.
If you're unlucky there are plenty of options besides an epidural!
— Chris T.
September 11, 2003
I had lap RNY and had a PCA morphine pump less than 24 hours. I was given
Toradol IV push every 6 hours after that. My level of pain was very
managable. I was out of bed the morning after surgery and stayed up all
day, finally went to bed about midnight that night, and did a lot of
walking in my room and in the halls. I went home the next day and only
needed the oral pain med for 3-4 days at home (at night). You will get what
your surgeon prefers!
— koogy
September 12, 2003
I had both. They gave me an epidural before surgery (I've had 2 before
with both my pregnancies) and I had the pca when I woke up in recovery.
The epidural was only used for the first night and part of the next day,
then it was taken out so that I could get up & start walking. The pca
pump with morphine was my main method of pain control for the rest of the
time I was in the hospital (total of 3 1/2 days). One thing that really
helped with the morphine was to also take a pain killer called Toradol.
For me, the two seemed to work really well together to give me extended
pain relief without simply knocking myself out every 8 minutes with the
pca!
— Rhoni333
September 12, 2003
I had the PCA pump and did great. In fact, they discontinued it the second
morning after surgery. I didn't find the surgery terribly painful. In
fact, I took NO pain meds after leaving the hospital - not even Tylenol.
By the way, I had Open RNY.
— Patty_Butler
September 12, 2003
I had neither. I had a LAP RNY. They gave me morphine as I requested it
and an injectable ibuprofen. Didn't need it for more than a couple of
days. I went on pain pills when I went home, but threw them away after a
couple of days as well.
— Cathy S.
September 12, 2003
— Karin S.
September 12, 2003
I had the pc, and wish I had of gone with the epidural. I was in soooo much
pain. The morphine just made me grumpy and sleepy and did nothing to
control it (I either dozed off or was wappish when concious). They also
gave me torrodol which the nurse described as half baked tylenol.I was sooo
grateful when they gave me liquid loratabs. It't the only thing that
worked. I did have open and not lap, and usualy I have a high tolerance for
pain. Even hurting as bad as I did, I'd stll do it again in a heartbeat.
Everyone responds differently to pain though. I had no problems when I had
my gallbladder out (open as well), and didn't have a problem when I had my
wisdom teeth out either. After about a week though I was ok. I'm 4.5 mos
out and down 68 lbs now, and don't regret a minute spent in pain. Good luck
and God bless!!
— mellyhudel
September 12, 2003
My surgeon uses the epidural for pain managment with morphine to back it
up. Morphine really does a number on me so they had to use demoral. The
epidural made me itch so I also was given benadryl. I have had a PCA after
a c-section and it really threw me for a loop. Funny thing is I had 2 more
c-sections and never got anything stronger then percocet by the mouth and
all was great. Also with the epidural I was able to get up and walk all i
wanted, but I had to push the IV poll around with me, which was fine
because it was nice to have something to hold onto. As much as I do not
like getting a needle in the back (had spinal with my 2nd c-section) the
epidural was the best pain management for me.
— TheresaC
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