Major surgery tomorrow; please no pain pills!!!!

[NeverAgain127]

Hi everyone:

Tomorrow morning, I am having 3 operations on my right eye:

1. An inner corneal transplant (called a DSEK)
2. Cataract surgery (I don't have any cats, but #1 causes them to form quickly, so as a prevention, my disc is
being replaced with plastic.)
3. A Keratectomy (this one gives me the shivers the most; the surgeon will scrape the outside of my entire cornea of keratin deposits...painful.)

I will be banned from computer use for 5-10 days during which I am to remain mostly on my back, face up, putting drops in my right eye and trying to avoid infection.    Then another several months until I regain sight in that eye.

Sigh.  My biggest fear is that I may be prescribed Vicodin.    I told my eye doctor I do not want ANY opiates, but as he put it "If you are in severe pain, you will have to take them or you won't heal properly."

I do not think I was ever addicted to pain pills, but I was VERY dependent on them.   I went c/t 7 months ago and never looked back.   Even had several dental surgeries at which I refused the script for opiates I was given.   And so...

1. What should I do if I AM in really bad pain?
2. Is my tolerance still at the same level as it was 7 months ago?    If I did cave in and took a Vicodin, would it even WORK?
3. I will only accept a SHORT script (a week perhaps) for pain pills...but lets say I did have to take them.  When I stop, will I go through the same w/d's as this past time?   I don't have another recovery in me...it was just so hard, so awful...(and SO worth it.)

I went through one of these procedures (the DSEK) on my other eye 4 years ago, and it was a traumatic surgery followed by months of grueling recovery (I developed multiple infections, the transplant didn't "take" as well as it should have, etc, etc.)   This time it is THREE surgeries in one...yikes!

Words of comfort, advice, etc greatly appreciated...thank you guys!!!!


Hugs,
-Robin

[Krissy_123]

Hey robin,I just wanted to say goodnight and I hope you sleep peaceful tonight. Do not stress,stress gets us no where but a tummy ache and tired and restless. What will be will be. You are so so strong and you've fought through so much. You can do this too. Please let us know how you are when you're allowed to use the computer again. You will be in my prayers tonight,and probably all your other MH family. xoxo Krissy~

[msdelight]

I certainly would NOT ask another addict to hold pills for you no matter who they were or from where.  That is both unfair and inappropriate. Robin it is natural for you to feel anxious but truly it will be fine. All the cornea, cataract and eye surgery I've been involved in, the patients go home and are told to take tylenol.  I wish you a successful surgery and will keep you in my prayers.

[vicki595]

Hi Robin- Good luck tomorrow and trust you're in capable hands. Now...you don't have to accept or take any meds you don't want BUT please get a small Rx for pain. You will not become dependent again if you only take them for a few days. You won't have wd's either.

Keep a few pills, like 2, at home while your husband is working. You need to be comfortable honey...

The forum will miss you while you're recovering but at least we'll know where you are!!  Heal fast!  xo

[jifmoc]

Robin ya silly sweet goose! You work a program-have your sponsor or other trusted pals in your meetings dispense pills when hubbie is working. The folks there have seen every situation. They will help: it's what we do!

[luvdolphins58]

I'm sorry to hear about your surgery. My mom had same surgeries on her eye. In her case it was sitting or laying down with head down for 6 weeks. What I did borrowed a massage table u know with head thing. So she could watch tv read whatever but head had to be down. Pain was only rough 1st few days however recovery time keeping head down was miserable.   So plan ahead for things you can do in that position. I agree take pain pills it helps body to heal. Of course as needed mot wanted. Ha anyway I definitely will be praying for you. God giving you peace strength comfort and speedy recovery.

[Lilly1955]

You can do it. It was suggested to me if ever a need for pain killers, to have someone else monitor and hand them out to me. Being accountable to someone else is helpful. There is a handout in Narcotics Annonymous entitled "In Times of Illness", that is very helpful. It suggest safe ways to deal with issues that may come up during illness. Take care.

[NeverAgain127]

Ike,

Thanks honey.   We've both been through the ringer, huh?  I'm really motivated by your faith in me...thank you and BIG hugs!

-Robin

[refills]

Oh boy Robin. Well I know what you're going through. Let's hope I'm better giving advice than taking it. It does sound like pain is inevitable and your eyesight is at risk. So, listen to you doctor. When you're in pain it will bring out all sorts of problems you don't need at that time. You know the dangers and I believe you can handle them. You need to make yourself comfortable while lying down for that long. You need to plan for this surgery like you did for your escape from addiction. I have all the faith in the world that you will come out of this with a better outlook on life. (pun intended) Good Luck Robin as I will say some prayers for you...ike   YOU CAN DO IT!

[Krissy_123]

I did yes,but you're having a lot more work than I had it sounds like love. I only had the cataract surgery on my left eye,then I go in again on this Friday to do my other eye. If you're in awful pain it's ok to take them. Just don't take them a second longer than needed. You may only need some that night,so just fill a couple if you need to.

[NeverAgain127]

Yup, I am going to have my husband hold the script for me, but he works 10 hour shifts at a time...and he can only get the day OF the surgery off from work.  Sigh.   I have no close friends or family that do not work during the day, so this will mean a lot of alone time for me.

I'm hoping I can just sleep through a lot of the day.   Actually, I'm hoping I can just take Tylenol and be okay.  

Thanks for your reply.   I'm super nervous right now...

Hugs,
-Robin

[NeverAgain127]

Krissy:  Thanks for the reply hon.   I don't remember saying that to you, but then again, these days I feel like I am forgetting my own name!  (lots of stress; trouble sleeping worrying, etc.)

So you went back to work after a few days?  I can't drive for at least a month, and even though I can *technically* use a computer after 10 days, my surgeon does not recommend any more than a few mins to check my email (which would not work for me; my job requires 8-10 hours of time on a laptop/desktop six days a week.)  So...no income for the month of May (I'm self-employed.)  I cheated and booked a few appointments the last week of May...figure I'll just grin and bear it!

Hugs,
-Robin

[ihatescreennames]

OH MY GOODNESS...I cannot even begin to imagine what you will be going threw, BUT you kicked opiates c/t 7 months ago , so you know what a strong person you can be when you have to be!! You're going to make it and be okay! As for the pain and your worries. Your tolerance will not be what it was before you got clean! If your in extreme pain and take the meds only as prescribed for a short time then the risk of becoming addicted or dependent I would think is very slim...epically since you know what's at stake. Maybe get a short script like you said, and have someone hold them for you so your not in possession? You don't want to hinder your recovery by trying to push threw the massive pain, but I think having someone else hold onto them and only let you have them when needed and as prescribed by the doc would be your best bet. Good luck, your going to get threw this and be okay! xoxo

[NeverAgain127]

Thanks Janice.   I actually feel a combo of fear and gratefulness.    I have 2 forms of corneal dystrophy; so does my mother, and so DID my grandmother and her mom.   My mom's never got bad enough for surgery, but my grandma and her mother BOTH were blind by age 60.    

The medical knowledge and surgical technology simply didn't exist back then.   I thank GOD that I live in an era where my sight can be saved (well...a 95% chance, at least.   I will be on prednisone for the rest of my life..)

Hugs,
-Robin

[Krissy_123]

Awe sweetie!! You are one of the ppl that told me back in January when I had my tumours removed from my tummy that it was ok to let the docs admin the meds. And if you have to take them home then just have someone admin them for you. I did have the cataract surgery last Thursday. I was sensitive to light for the afternoon and they gave me big thick dark glasses to wear. Then I was fine for work the next day. But I'm sorry,I don't know about the other two things you're having? But you'll be ok robin,you're so strong. We are all here for you!! xox

[spider6]

Omg....I can't even read your whole post proper as this is one of the greatest fears of my life. No kidding ...uber huge....huge prayers for you!!   Huge words of support and respect for your bravery on every level.  Knowing what you're in for....you are a superhero in my books right now.  

Thank you for sharing...I'm positive it well help someone else.  May others that've had this procedure come forward with advice and support ASAP for YOU.  Much prayers of strength and healing light/energy!

((((0)))) Spidey hugs. Janice.