i came home yesterday and I must say all in all my experience was very good. The anesthesiologists, at my preop room convinced me to do eppidural and GA. it tuned out great. woke up soon, no nausea or anything!, Now, I need some other questions answered: I aM ON narco(vicodin) and I am itching a lot. Also I must need a stronger stool softener, cause The M of M aint working. Also, cant sleep very well. Any suggestions. Its wonderful being "on the other side"
i am home! surgery was Monday
- Thread starter creblue
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TBONE
senior
Cred--can't answer your questions...hope all is well...welcome to the other side!
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Well done, creblue! Funny how all that long, long time of anxiety suddenly seems to be melting into the past!
As for your problems:
Vicodin (acetaminophen and hydrocdone) has listed amongst the side effects itching, constipation and problems sleeping.
For the first you need to contact your surgeon or PCP and get it changed.
For the second, most pain killers cause constipation; treatments include things like prune juice, dried prunes, Dulcoease or Fybrogel.
Third is a problem. You just have to nap when and where you can and wait for better times. Your doctor might prescribe you a light hypnotic, something that won't conflict with your pain killers.
As for your problems:
Vicodin (acetaminophen and hydrocdone) has listed amongst the side effects itching, constipation and problems sleeping.
For the first you need to contact your surgeon or PCP and get it changed.
For the second, most pain killers cause constipation; treatments include things like prune juice, dried prunes, Dulcoease or Fybrogel.
Third is a problem. You just have to nap when and where you can and wait for better times. Your doctor might prescribe you a light hypnotic, something that won't conflict with your pain killers.
Texas
alpha
Great news!! I new you would be fine. I was on that to made me itch. It did go away though. I didnt have to change medicine. I am so happy it was all good for you...Sleep will come in time. Did they give you anything to help you sleep. if not think about that. And call and tell him they should give you something...Congradulations. I am so happy for you....(.I must have been typing while Jo was !!!)
Scott
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Glad to hear it went well :thmb:
I didn't sleep well for a few weeks. For me it was hard to get comfortable. It was easier for me to sleep on my couch for some reason. Plus I was afraid to take any sleeping pills with all the other meds.
It will be a lot better soon. Sooner than you think.
I didn't sleep well for a few weeks. For me it was hard to get comfortable. It was easier for me to sleep on my couch for some reason. Plus I was afraid to take any sleeping pills with all the other meds.
It will be a lot better soon. Sooner than you think.
loggon
big-cheese
Wecome to the other side.
If you are itching, you are having an allergic reaction to
the vicodin. You need to call doctor as Jo said and get it
changed.
Sleep, well you get it when you can. A problem we all had
and it may last for a couple of weeks or so. But you can get something that might help from your doctor.
So glad you are doing well:thmb:
If you are itching, you are having an allergic reaction to
the vicodin. You need to call doctor as Jo said and get it
changed.
Sleep, well you get it when you can. A problem we all had
and it may last for a couple of weeks or so. But you can get something that might help from your doctor.
So glad you are doing well:thmb:
Creblue....HOORAY!!! Here you are with the rest of us recovering BoneSmarties!!!
So glad to hear your hospital experience was good. What you are experiencing now is soooooo normal!
Jo was right about the meds. There are LOTS of choices and you can get that switched to something that doesn't give you the itching reaction.
Send someone to the drug store (or grocery store) immediately and have them get you the capsule type of stool softeners. I got the CVS brand and they worked great. Start with one capsule in the morning and one in the evening. They also sell yummy orange or lemon flavored dried plums (prunes) that you can munch on (just don't eat too many at once till you see how well they work). All this stuff WILL work and you'll feel a lot better as you become lighter on your feet :hehe:
Ice, elevate, and nap as much as you can and you will begin to see progress every day or two.
Post often! We love hearing how well you're doing!!
So glad to hear your hospital experience was good. What you are experiencing now is soooooo normal!
Jo was right about the meds. There are LOTS of choices and you can get that switched to something that doesn't give you the itching reaction.
Send someone to the drug store (or grocery store) immediately and have them get you the capsule type of stool softeners. I got the CVS brand and they worked great. Start with one capsule in the morning and one in the evening. They also sell yummy orange or lemon flavored dried plums (prunes) that you can munch on (just don't eat too many at once till you see how well they work). All this stuff WILL work and you'll feel a lot better as you become lighter on your feet :hehe:
Ice, elevate, and nap as much as you can and you will begin to see progress every day or two.
Post often! We love hearing how well you're doing!!
prairienut
senior
Congratulations, creblue! So happy for you that you can now begin the healing process. I also did not sleep well the first few weeks. I learned not to fight it. If I was laying there sleepless, I would get up, tool around with the walker/cane, make a cup of tea, read Bonesmart posts, watch the news on TV, take another pain pill if it was time, then go back to bed. Usually, I could then fall asleep again for a few more hours. During the day, I would take naps to make up for lost sleep. After the first few weeks, it all gets much better and easier.
Keep us posted.
Gail
Keep us posted.
Gail
Steph
graduate
Excellent news Creblue - I am really glad it went well. Take it all easy now and let your body decide when it has had enough, it will tell you. It is onwards and upwards from here on.
Take care.
Take care.
DianeC
junior member
Welcome back!
I had trouble sleeping initially. I didn't want to get out of bed when I couldn't sleep since I was trying to keep my feet elevated, so I would sleep, then read until I was tired again. I would take 2 or 3 naps a day. I'm sleeping a bit better now so I'm only taking 1 or 2 naps during the day.
I have found that Fiber One cereal (14g of fiber in 1/2 cup) is pretty effective for getting things moving.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Diane
I had trouble sleeping initially. I didn't want to get out of bed when I couldn't sleep since I was trying to keep my feet elevated, so I would sleep, then read until I was tired again. I would take 2 or 3 naps a day. I'm sleeping a bit better now so I'm only taking 1 or 2 naps during the day.
I have found that Fiber One cereal (14g of fiber in 1/2 cup) is pretty effective for getting things moving.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Diane
JudyS
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Creblue
welcome back . I am so glad all your worry time is over. Anticipation was tough!!!
I use stool softener capsules evey day. Talk to your doc about itching, but for me on morphine it did get to be less and then totally go away.
Naps during the day work although I always use a mild sleep aid and it worked after surgery too. But, I still slept most of the afternoon.
It is time to rest and ice and elevate.
judy
welcome back . I am so glad all your worry time is over. Anticipation was tough!!!
I use stool softener capsules evey day. Talk to your doc about itching, but for me on morphine it did get to be less and then totally go away.
Naps during the day work although I always use a mild sleep aid and it worked after surgery too. But, I still slept most of the afternoon.
It is time to rest and ice and elevate.
judy
Peta
supremo
Welcome back Creblue - I'm glad you're home safe and sound! As everyone else has said - it will all be downhill from here! :thmb:
As for the lack of sleep - we've ALL experienced that I think! Try not to stress too much - just rest when you can! Life eventually gets back to normal!
As for the lack of sleep - we've ALL experienced that I think! Try not to stress too much - just rest when you can! Life eventually gets back to normal!
Jean
senior
![[Bonesmart.org] i am home! surgery was Monday](https://data.bonesmart.org/attachments/29/29659-3391e09ca6e89d6e97081f974e9d4bfc.jpg?hash=M5HgnKbonW)
Sheilapinetree
junior member
Creblue
I am so glad to hear that you are home. You didn't go to a rehab place? I am home know since Monday June 22 from rehab and I feel great - better actually than I did at the rehab. I do have trouble sleeping at night because I couldn't get comfortable. I had my staples removed yesterday and sitting is more comfortable and i can actually roll over onto my right side at night. Sleeping is more like an hour at a time. I had a nap today for about 2 hours and that is the longest I'd slept in one time.
Sheila
I am so glad to hear that you are home. You didn't go to a rehab place? I am home know since Monday June 22 from rehab and I feel great - better actually than I did at the rehab. I do have trouble sleeping at night because I couldn't get comfortable. I had my staples removed yesterday and sitting is more comfortable and i can actually roll over onto my right side at night. Sleeping is more like an hour at a time. I had a nap today for about 2 hours and that is the longest I'd slept in one time.
Sheila
Nana55
member
Glad to hear you did well and now have the surgery behind you. :wahey: I had to use stool softners each day since I took Percocet and was also on iron supplements that are constipating too. Drink plenty of fluids and move about as you are able.
I think I would try to get the Vicodan changed if you are itching. A little allergic today could lead to a lot allergic tomorrow.
I think I would try to get the Vicodan changed if you are itching. A little allergic today could lead to a lot allergic tomorrow.
Texas
alpha
Hope EVERYONE is well and feeling better !!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get well soon !!!!!!!!!
Troweltalk
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Glad to hear all went according to plan.
The bowel movement issue was one several of us have commented on as being both a bit of a surprise (to us non medical professionals) and in my case, probably the most difficult part of the first week home.
Follow doctors advice, but all i can tell you is NOTHING worked until i told my wife, "we're going back to basics. Get me a bottle of prune juice." 12 hours later, the earth moved, and moved, and moved... :shk:
This too will pass... :p
The bowel movement issue was one several of us have commented on as being both a bit of a surprise (to us non medical professionals) and in my case, probably the most difficult part of the first week home.
Follow doctors advice, but all i can tell you is NOTHING worked until i told my wife, "we're going back to basics. Get me a bottle of prune juice." 12 hours later, the earth moved, and moved, and moved... :shk:
This too will pass... :p
Steph
graduate
The old tried and tested remedies always work the best - good old prunes :thmb:
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