Can You Tell Me

[suede]

Just why is it when surgery is planned and you can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight, it just drives a person crazy ????

You know it's hard enough as it is with dry mouth from all the meds you feel like your mouth has been super glued shut, then you can't even swallow.

I mean I can't sleep as it is but when I know I can't have anything after midnight then it's even worse.

Another question, I have been on MsContin now for 2 months the first month I had great PM and this month they gave me a different brand and my pain is off the charts.

Do you think it's the different brand or maybe the pain is just that much worse, I'm miserable, called the PM and his answer was to call in an RX for flexaril, which to me isn't worth the time or effort, my PM doesn't believe in BT meds and I have taken almost a whole big bottle of tylenol..


Some times it just feels like I'm fighting a losing battle no matter what I do, the past 8 1/2 years have been one thing after another and I feel as I have been falling a part one piece at a time, slowly and painfully.

What's a person to do ??????

Linda

[Mark N]

Linda, I can't tell you how to keep from falling apart as I am not doing real good in that department myself. I also have to say I can help you out with the after midnight deal because it has always been easy for me and I have been calm heading into surgery. It just shows how different people are and it is no wonder our meds work differently for us. I would suspect the different brand of MSContin first since your pain increased the same time the change was made. I hope you can get your pain levels down as it isn't fun dealing with high pain day after day.

[BrokenBladder]

Linda,
Ditto on what Mark said about the pain, i don't have it under control either.

As far as the different brand of MSContin, yes I do think that could be your problem. My rheumy once told me that name brand over generic can make a difference of 30%.

I sympathize with you about the no drinking after midnight before surgery. I always followed the doctors orders to a tee until the last surgery..

I told him how uncomfortable it was to not have anything liquid after midnight due to dry mouth. He told me I could have an ice chip every hour as long as I didn't go overboard.

It worked out well for me but I wouldn't do that unless the doctor says that it's okay.

[Kathi49]

Linda,

They have you do this so you won't throw up after surgery and/or aspirate anything while under anesthesia. I empathize because it is rough. And as Lisa said...sometimes they will let you have ice chips but not a lot. I wish I could help you out with the med questions but I just have no experience with MScontin. I feel for you I know what you are saying; one thing leads to another and another. All I keep telling myself is to try to take one issue at a time. But it is hard to handle when sometimes two or more things will crop up at the same time. When is your surgery scheduled by the way?

[suede]

Mark,
It isn't the surgeries that bother me really, I feel I have become an old hand at it, it's just not being able to drink anything that tears me up, as I have to have something to drink at all times, due to the dry mouth.

Lisa,
Right now I'm not really feeling any pain, but then I had 2 shots of morphine and one of demerol and a darvocet before leaving the surgical center.
I dread it when it wears off, which I know will be soon.
I'm pretty sure it's the difference in brands that are causing the increase in pain, I'll sure find out when new script is renewed.

Kathi,
I know why they tell you nothing to eat or drink, of course I had to find out the hard way.
I have always done what they have said but after I had heart surgery I tried drinking to soon after and though I would die for getting so sick.
I don't know it seems like it is one end or the other that something is wrong it really bites when both and all act up at the same time.

Surgery went well as far as I know I go back in 2-3 weeks to get the other biopsy report and news.

Linda

[Mark N]

Linda, I haven't had any problem with nothing to eat or drink before surgery but you remind me that I now am dealing with dry mouth and how much tougher it would be if I had to do it now. The dryness would make it tough to avoid something to drink.

[Maggie]

There is a prescription medicine for dry mouth. I looked all over to find an old bottle to give you the name but no luck. Maybe Pharm Steve would know if you want to post to him.

I took the medication after a series of botox injections for occipital headaches.
Maggie