How are you feeling? I am finally off the steroids that were making me puffy, but I've lost weight because I have absolutely no appetite on these painkillers. (I am not complaining though - I needed to lose a few pounds) I am feeling pretty good considering it's just been a week. Company hasn't been to overwhelming (although, I've got some coming today that could test me). I was pleasantly surprised with the help I got from family. It was just enough and not crazy, and I kind of learned I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to keeping my house spotless so I am trying to let go of that a little bit (but not to much). I know everyone is trying to help. I am still a little nervous when I read websites about this surgery, because a lot of people end up back after a month or so, but I feel good so far and I am trying to concentrate on that and my physical therapy.

I also realized, I don't need to drive every single day, so when I am back and allowed to drive, I am re-adjusting my driving routines.

anyways, this was supposed to be about how you are feeling. I hope you are doing well and recovering quickly. Email me or post to the board if you want to chat about recovery or anything. colette at castines dot com.

By Tarable on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 10:29 am:

Recovery seems to be going okay. I am up and around but going crazy being locked up in my house right now.

My mom has been here since last Wednesday and that was starting to drive me crazy but she left early this morning. I was told that I need to walk around a lot but every time I got up she would ask me if I was sure she couldn't do something for me so I could sit down. But I am so glad she was here it really helped a lot.

As far as the surgery itself everything seems to be going really well. I don't have any side effects and the pain that was being caused by the pinched nerve in my arm is completely gone.
It is amazing the things you miss when you can't just jump in the car and run somewhere. I actually miss work. Actually I think I should rephrase that, I miss my coworkers.

I am having a really hard time with knowing when to take my pain meds right now. I feel stupid taking them on a set schedule but it seems when I try to wait until I feel some pain that it gets really bad and I end up hurting for hours while i get back on my schedule. This is the first time I have ever had anything like this done and I really don't know if it is normal or not. Like right now I am not hurting at all but I know it is time on my schedule to take more pain meds, but I feel like I shouldn't since I am not hurting. I also know that if I don't that in about an hour or 2 there is a good chance I am going to be hurting really bad. I don't know, my mom said to take them regularly and my DH says that I shouldn't take them until I hurt.
Maybe the problem is that I don't take it at the first little twinge of pain, I wait until i can feel the pain and then it is too late.

Glad to hear you are feeling better too.

I think the real test for me will be next week when I am home alone while the girls are at school. Should be fun.

By Annie2 on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 10:44 am:

I'm glad both of you are feeling better.

By Karen~admin on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 11:03 am:

Ditto Annie, glad to hear both of you are doing so well.

Tara - at this early stage, I would say take the meds on a schedule. The problem with pain is, if you wait until it gets too bad to take something, you are literally chasing the pain and it can sometimes be difficult to get it under control again. What did your doctor say about it?

By Tarable on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 01:28 pm:

Well my dr said to take it when I need it and not more than the directions state. So I think I will at least for the next few days take it on a schedule to keep me out of pain.

By Luvn29 on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 01:52 pm:

I think that would be best. I have always been told by my drs. and nurses that you want to manage the pain, not wait till it's bad and try to get rid of it. You actually have to take more meds for it then.

I'm glad both of you are doing well!

By Conni on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 04:12 pm:

I have had a few surgeries...painful ones. And I took that pain med on a schedule like they told me. One time I waited to long and it was miserable! They give it to you so you won't be miserable!

I hope you are all healing well. I feel so sorry for ya. It's tough after surgeries. I hope you all have the help you need and are doing well.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 05:51 am:

Definitely take the meds on the schedule, Tara, whether you feel you "need" them or not. Research in the last few years has shown that pain retards healing and keeping pain under control promotes faster healing. So don't feel guilty about taking pain meds when you aren't hurting - just think of them as pain prevention meds, which is the point.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 05:54 am:

Oh, and when I was on heavy pain meds for a ruptured disk, I had the same experience - I lost my appetite and about 20 pounds over a 4 month period. Just be sure to eat sensibly even if you don't "feel" hungry, so that you get the nutrients you need. And watch out for constipation - if you are on codeine or morphine based meds, that can be a problem.

By Colette on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 10:47 am:

yes, ditto Ginny. I tried to skip the 1:30a wakeup call for morphine and woke up at 3am in extreme pain. I ended up having to take the morphine, valium and then a percoset at 5:30a.


I have to write down on paper when I am supposed to take the pills, daily (I am on 6 different ones right now), and then I check them off as a I go. Otherwise, I find myself, forgetting if I took them or not.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 11:37 am:

Take the meds on a schedule! It keeps a more constant level of the medication in your blood. Like you said, if you wait until it hurts, you are way behind and it takes longer to feel better.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 02:37 pm:

Well, given the amount of morphine based meds you're taking, if you are not already having problems with constipation it's because your doctor included a fiber or softener pill in your meds. If the doc didn't, I found a Ducolax type stool softener helped the first couple of times around, and after that I would take a Fibercon or similar med a couple of times a day when I was on Percodan. I still take a Fibercon when I find I have to take a codiene based pain med when my back or hip really acts up, just to avoid problems. With all the other pains and discomforts you are having, you don't need to add that one. But if you are having that problem, do check with your doctor first before you take anything - you never know how one medication (over the counter or prescription) with interact with another, and your doctor will know what is best and safest.