Re: pain management after abdominal myomectomy

[Guest guest]

Hi, Cristina!

I had my myo just five days after Janet's myo. Like Janet, I was on IV

morphine for just one day in the hospital. Then they switched me to

Percocets, round the clock.

Janet says Percocets upsets her stomach, and she had to switch to Tylenol

with Codeine. My stomach, on the other hand, can't handle codeine -- in any

form. So I took both the Percocet (for its pain properties) AND Ibuprofen

(for the anti-inflammatory properties, which is to say, it helps for pain, as

well.)

Unlike many of the other women here, I seemed to need both Percocets

(although fewer and fewer in time) and the Ibuprofen for a full two weeks

post-op.

At week #3, I had a very compelling social incentive to try to get off

narcotics! (If only for a day!) I actually had a date (dinner) !!!!!!! I

wanted to feel normal, and planned to drink an alcoholic beverage with my

male friend. Mixing the two, as you are aware is a no-no.(I mean, mixing

alcohol and Percocets--not alcohol and men!!!!! Ha! ha!! Although, mixing

alcohol and men is a volatile combination, too, I suppose!!!) Fortunately,

the dinner coincided with me be able to voluntarily eliminate Percocets. So,

I just had some " IV beer " to get me through the night!!!! And, wow! I was

feeling no pain!!!!! ;-)

But I continued taking Ibuprofen for quite a few weeks after that.

I remember that stinging, burning pain. It WILL subside in time. It's amazing

how many things do improve with time.

No need to suffer through pain. In fact, it may be counterproductive to the

healing. You will know when to reduce/eliminate medication for pain.

Take it easy after surgery, and as you've heard before, listen to your body's

messages regarding pain and fatigue.

-Roma

[Guest guest]

Hi, Cristina!

I had my myo just five days after Janet's myo. Like Janet, I was on IV

morphine for just one day in the hospital. Then they switched me to

Percocets, round the clock.

Janet says Percocets upsets her stomach, and she had to switch to Tylenol

with Codeine. My stomach, on the other hand, can't handle codeine -- in any

form. So I took both the Percocet (for its pain properties) AND Ibuprofen

(for the anti-inflammatory properties, which is to say, it helps for pain, as

well.)

Unlike many of the other women here, I seemed to need both Percocets

(although fewer and fewer in time) and the Ibuprofen for a full two weeks

post-op.

At week #3, I had a very compelling social incentive to try to get off

narcotics! (If only for a day!) I actually had a date (dinner) !!!!!!! I

wanted to feel normal, and planned to drink an alcoholic beverage with my

male friend. Mixing the two, as you are aware is a no-no.(I mean, mixing

alcohol and Percocets--not alcohol and men!!!!! Ha! ha!! Although, mixing

alcohol and men is a volatile combination, too, I suppose!!!) Fortunately,

the dinner coincided with me be able to voluntarily eliminate Percocets. So,

I just had some " IV beer " to get me through the night!!!! And, wow! I was

feeling no pain!!!!! ;-)

But I continued taking Ibuprofen for quite a few weeks after that.

I remember that stinging, burning pain. It WILL subside in time. It's amazing

how many things do improve with time.

No need to suffer through pain. In fact, it may be counterproductive to the

healing. You will know when to reduce/eliminate medication for pain.

Take it easy after surgery, and as you've heard before, listen to your body's

messages regarding pain and fatigue.

-Roma

[Guest guest]

:

I am going to have a myo...how was it? I am kind of nervous but I'm sick of

these huge fibroids...

From: Cristina McDeermot

I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have gone through

this can let me know how long they took pain medication after the surgery.

I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did you experience a stinging

sensation on the sutured area. How tired were you? When did you feel

100%.

Thank you,

Cristina

[Guest guest]

:

I am going to have a myo...how was it? I am kind of nervous but I'm sick of

these huge fibroids...

From: Cristina McDeermot

I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have gone through

this can let me know how long they took pain medication after the surgery.

I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did you experience a stinging

sensation on the sutured area. How tired were you? When did you feel

100%.

Thank you,

Cristina

[Guest guest]

Hi Cristina,

The first 24 hours post-op I was on the morphine drip, then I came

off that and took percocet for 4 days. It upset my stomach rather

badly so I switched to Tylenol with Codeine on Day 5 post surgery and

took that as needed for another 3 days, then switched to ibuprofen,

with the Tylenol as backup if the pain was awful (it never was). I

stopped taking ibuprofen daily after about the 18th day post-surgery.

I did have the stinging sensation - it's actually the healing

happening, I've been told. I felt pretty good by day 20 post-surgery,

prior to getting an awful cold. I still tire easily 10 weeks post-

surgery, but I'm trying to address that by exercising more and

getting good sleep.

Take care,

Janet

> Hello

>

> I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have

gone through this can let me know how long they took pain medication

after the surgery. I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did

you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area. How tired

were you? When did you feel 100%.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Cristina

[Guest guest]

Hi Cristina,

The first 24 hours post-op I was on the morphine drip, then I came

off that and took percocet for 4 days. It upset my stomach rather

badly so I switched to Tylenol with Codeine on Day 5 post surgery and

took that as needed for another 3 days, then switched to ibuprofen,

with the Tylenol as backup if the pain was awful (it never was). I

stopped taking ibuprofen daily after about the 18th day post-surgery.

I did have the stinging sensation - it's actually the healing

happening, I've been told. I felt pretty good by day 20 post-surgery,

prior to getting an awful cold. I still tire easily 10 weeks post-

surgery, but I'm trying to address that by exercising more and

getting good sleep.

Take care,

Janet

> Hello

>

> I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have

gone through this can let me know how long they took pain medication

after the surgery. I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did

you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area. How tired

were you? When did you feel 100%.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Cristina

[Guest guest]

Hi Cristina,

The first 24 hours post-op I was on the morphine drip, then I came

off that and took percocet for 4 days. It upset my stomach rather

badly so I switched to Tylenol with Codeine on Day 5 post surgery and

took that as needed for another 3 days, then switched to ibuprofen,

with the Tylenol as backup if the pain was awful (it never was). I

stopped taking ibuprofen daily after about the 18th day post-surgery.

I did have the stinging sensation - it's actually the healing

happening, I've been told. I felt pretty good by day 20 post-surgery,

prior to getting an awful cold. I still tire easily 10 weeks post-

surgery, but I'm trying to address that by exercising more and

getting good sleep.

Take care,

Janet

> Hello

>

> I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have

gone through this can let me know how long they took pain medication

after the surgery. I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did

you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area. How tired

were you? When did you feel 100%.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Cristina

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had a morpine pump the day of the surgery. The day after surgery, I

was switched to percocet. On the 2nd day after surgery, I went to

Tylenol with Codeine. I took the tylenol for about 5 days. I'm a

little over two weeks post surgery and am no longer taking pain meds.

I have a stinging sensation when I make certain moves.

I went to see my doctor today and she gave me the okay to go back to

work. I feel pretty good. Not 100%, but pretty close. I feel better

now than I did before the surgery. I was so tired because of the

anemia and bad periods I couldn't do anything without resting.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had a morpine pump the day of the surgery. The day after surgery, I

was switched to percocet. On the 2nd day after surgery, I went to

Tylenol with Codeine. I took the tylenol for about 5 days. I'm a

little over two weeks post surgery and am no longer taking pain meds.

I have a stinging sensation when I make certain moves.

I went to see my doctor today and she gave me the okay to go back to

work. I feel pretty good. Not 100%, but pretty close. I feel better

now than I did before the surgery. I was so tired because of the

anemia and bad periods I couldn't do anything without resting.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had a morpine pump the day of the surgery. The day after surgery, I

was switched to percocet. On the 2nd day after surgery, I went to

Tylenol with Codeine. I took the tylenol for about 5 days. I'm a

little over two weeks post surgery and am no longer taking pain meds.

I have a stinging sensation when I make certain moves.

I went to see my doctor today and she gave me the okay to go back to

work. I feel pretty good. Not 100%, but pretty close. I feel better

now than I did before the surgery. I was so tired because of the

anemia and bad periods I couldn't do anything without resting.

[Guest guest]

I am also one week post an abdominal myo, and still taking pain

meds. I only have one percocet left (also take motrin), but have

been taking vicodin (had a stash left from my csection last May). I

find I have to take two to three pills a day (this is the lowest

dose of vicodin--500 mg.). But, I am really starting to feel better.

I am sure this will all change when my 10 month old and 2 1/2 year

old come home on Saturday. I'll be taking twice the amount, I am

sure! I think it's reasonable to take pain meds for the first week

or two, and then to really be able to manage it with over the

counter meds like tylenol and motrin.

Hope you feel better soon, too!

Kim

> Hello

>

> I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have

gone through this can let me know how long they took pain

medication after the surgery. I am taking percocet and ibuprofen.

Also, did you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area.

How tired were you? When did you feel 100%.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Cristina

[Guest guest]

Cristina:

I was on the morphine for 3 days in the hospital and then I was on

Vicodin. When I went home from the hospital, I was prescribed

ibuprofen, which I took during the day and I took the Vicodin at bed

time since it did tend to make me sleepy. I stayed on this schedule

during my second week post-myo, because I still had a little pain,

more like discomfort; especially after the doctor removed the

staples. By the third week, I only took the meds if I needed it.

I'm glad I still have some because I have needed it a few times off

and on.

I did experience the stinging sensation in my incision as if I had

put rubbing alcohol on an open wound. This was about the third week

post myo. Now I notice the stinging sensation mostly when my tummy

is tender and sore from overdoing things, but the stinging is not as

bad as the first time.

I was pretty tired after my myo, off and on. I'd wake up in the

morning at my usual time 5:30/6:00, but by 9:00 or 10:00 I would be

ready to lay down. Gradually it would get later and later before I

needed to lay down after waking up. Now that I've started to do

more, sometimes I do not even go back to sleep, I just need to be

still for a while. My bed time was super early for me. Sometimes by

8 or 9 I was asleep. I'm back to staying up until about midnight

again now. I'm not sure when I will be back to 100%. I'm in my 5th

week post myo now and I think I did too much yesterday. Last night I

was sore and I'm sore today. When I get up from sitting, I'm walking

the way I was the first week. So, make sure you take it easy. It's

hard to do, but it's for the best.

I typed this long message, I had time to start my post myo update to

the group.

Heal Well

Debbie

> Hello

>

> I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have

gone through this can let me know how long they took pain medication

after the surgery. I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did

you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area. How tired

were you? When did you feel 100%.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Cristina

[Guest guest]

Cristina:

I was on the morphine for 3 days in the hospital and then I was on

Vicodin. When I went home from the hospital, I was prescribed

ibuprofen, which I took during the day and I took the Vicodin at bed

time since it did tend to make me sleepy. I stayed on this schedule

during my second week post-myo, because I still had a little pain,

more like discomfort; especially after the doctor removed the

staples. By the third week, I only took the meds if I needed it.

I'm glad I still have some because I have needed it a few times off

and on.

I did experience the stinging sensation in my incision as if I had

put rubbing alcohol on an open wound. This was about the third week

post myo. Now I notice the stinging sensation mostly when my tummy

is tender and sore from overdoing things, but the stinging is not as

bad as the first time.

I was pretty tired after my myo, off and on. I'd wake up in the

morning at my usual time 5:30/6:00, but by 9:00 or 10:00 I would be

ready to lay down. Gradually it would get later and later before I

needed to lay down after waking up. Now that I've started to do

more, sometimes I do not even go back to sleep, I just need to be

still for a while. My bed time was super early for me. Sometimes by

8 or 9 I was asleep. I'm back to staying up until about midnight

again now. I'm not sure when I will be back to 100%. I'm in my 5th

week post myo now and I think I did too much yesterday. Last night I

was sore and I'm sore today. When I get up from sitting, I'm walking

the way I was the first week. So, make sure you take it easy. It's

hard to do, but it's for the best.

I typed this long message, I had time to start my post myo update to

the group.

Heal Well

Debbie

> Hello

>

> I am one week into my myo recovery. I am hoping women who have

gone through this can let me know how long they took pain medication

after the surgery. I am taking percocet and ibuprofen. Also, did

you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area. How tired

were you? When did you feel 100%.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Cristina

[Guest guest]

Hi Cristina

I'm 7 weeks post myo....see below for answer to your questions:

I am hoping women who have gone through this can let me know how

long they took pain medication after the surgery.

- I took pain meds about 1.5 weeks post myo....I can't remember

exactly ibuprofen and vicoden.

Also, did you experience a stinging sensation on the sutured area.

-Yes, it still hurts now a bit to the touch, but not much at all.

I'm no longer afraid of being bumped into....my abdomen swelling

didn't go down for about 5 weeks post myo.

How tired were you? When did you feel 100%.

-I was really tired and low energy. THat lasted also till about 4-5

weeks.

Basically, give it some time, realistically 4 weeks to feel a whole

lot better, and 2 weeks to feel somewhat better.

Now at 7 weeks post myo, I just returned from 4 days of snow skiing

and I feel great!

Good luck!

Liz

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz Thanks so much for your reply.

Cristina

lizardallen wrote:

Hi Cristina

I'm 7 weeks post myo....see below for answer to your questions: