THR The Other Side...is now My Side

[marcopollo]

Poppet, thought you were gonna take a nap!

 

[Poppet]

I lied!

 

[fiddletwist]

I am thinking I will drop the meds sometime close to the two week mark - I have been making it through the night without needing one, and today I didn't take one in the afternoon so I'm doing one every 12 hours now. I am cleared for outpatient PT and will start that next week. I definitely run out of energy fast when I do get up for an extended period of time, and I'm sleeping long nights. I intend to do some work at home after three weeks, so that I can return part time after four weeks (which is when I have my doctor followup) - I am trying to stretch the sick leave I have. It's amazing how little pain there is. The visiting nurse signed off on me today too, and took off the bandage as well.

 

[Poppet]

Be cautious fiddletwist reducing your pain meds too soon, it is very hard to play catch up if you get breakthrough pain when reducing meds. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle as it can be a bit demoralizing when suddenly confronted with a bad day with pain... I am very much a conservative, lol

 

[marcopollo]

fiddletwist, two week mark, that is about when I weaned off the opiates with no issues since. An occasional Tylenol.

Sleeping through the nights is getting better. I've gone from up every hour or two (to get up and pee) to about once per night. Only meds I take before bed is cannibis (I have a prescription from my PCP) and that seems to help since I started taking that again after stopping the oxy.

 

[Warhorse]

fiddletwist, two week mark, that is about when I weaned off the opiates with no issues since. An occasional Tylenol.

Sleeping through the nights is getting better. I've gone from up every hour or two (to get up and pee) to about once per night. Only meds I take before bed is cannibis (I have a prescription from my PCP) and that seems to help since I started taking that again after stopping the oxy.

Really...cannibus, does that help you sleep, or does it numb the pain down?

 

[marcopollo]

Warhorse, I think both. The strain I get has a higher ratio of CBDs-to-THCs...CDB (Cannabidiol) being the constituent of the plant that is more medicinal than the THC which is the psychoactive part. Here is a link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabidiol) with some more info on CBD. An Israeli research group has evidently developed a strain that is virtually all CBD and no THC. The one I get (Harlequin) still has some THC. I make a tincture as well as smoke.

Either way, I consume for the medicinal effects, but for whatever reason (pain relief or sedative effect) it helps me get to sleep and stay asleep longer. The smoking is what helps me to sleep. Sometimes I will take the tincture during the day to "numb the pain down." What I like is I don't get the "high" I get if I consume "regular" pot.

 

[marcopollo]

PS...and yes, I did clear this with my OS who said it was OK postoperatively as long as I wasn't under the influence when I came in for the surgery!! I had to laugh at the thought of that. He told me he once had someone come to surgery drunk! They sent him home...

 

[Warhorse]

Warhorse, I think both. The strain I get has a higher ratio of CBDs-to-THCs...CDB (Cannabidiol) being the constituent of the plant that is more medicinal than the THC which is the psychoactive part. Here is a link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabidiol) with some more info on CBD. An Israeli research group has evidently developed a strain that is virtually all CBD and no THC. The one I get (Heirloom) still has some THC. I make a tincture as well as smoke.

Either way, I consume for the medicinal effects, but for whatever reason (pain relief or sedative effect) it helps me get to sleep and stay asleep longer. The smoking is what helps me to sleep. Sometimes I will take the tincture during the day to "numb the pain down." What I like is I don't get the "high" I get if I consume "regular" pot.

I think I would prefer a 50%/50% CBD to THC, might as well "enjoy" the medicating procedure.

 

[marcopollo]

Well...there is a little bit of a high

 

[fiddletwist]

Wish I could do that! I'm having terrible insomnia - started before I quit the narcotics and is continuing after! Nothing is helping!

 

[bottomshollow]

fiddletwist, have you considered seeing your GP and getting a prescription for a sleep med? Just something temporary to get your bio-rhythms back in sync so you can get back to sleeping normally.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[fiddletwist]

fiddletwist, have you considered seeing your GP and getting a prescription for a sleep med?

Hm, no, have not, but if this goes on I might...
It did occur to me today that this might not be surgery-related but menopause-related. Prior to surgery I was on premarin for insomnia and hot flashes and also bone preservation (family history of osteoporosis) but they asked me to discontinue this until I was told I could resume. Maybe I should be shopping for black cohosh tea...

 

[marcopollo]

fiddletwist, how has the sleeping been going? Are you napping a lot during the day? That could effect your night sleep? How about coffee or tea in the afternoons or evenings? Maryland is not a medical cannabis state?

 

[fiddletwist]

fiddletwist, how has the sleeping been going? Are you napping a lot during the day? That could effect your night sleep? How about coffee or tea in the afternoons or evenings? Maryland is not a medical cannabis state?

No I am not napping. I'm reasonably sedentary, because I'm not going to work. I think it's the lack of my estrogen replacement therapy, which I should get back next week. The surgeon's PA gave me seven days of Ambien to get me through this. It is gradually losing its effectiveness but I do not intend to take any more than 5mg a night. At least I've re-established a tendency to sleep at night.

 

[marcopollo]

First day back to work today!! Was like a kid going back to school after having the summer off. I called it my "practice retirement" though I am probably 8 years off from the real thing...just a lot of my friends have been retiring. Disadvantages of being younger....

Had my 6-week post-op last Tuesday and the OS was very happy with my progress. My X-rays were great. Wound healing well. He released me for work, driving, hot tub, ping pong, dancing. Met with his PT and she watched me walk. Gave me some gait training and some things to work on. But I'm feeling great about it all. No more cane. No more ice. Things are good!

Still going to go to local PT for a few weeks...just to force myself to do the work. Took a nice long walk around one of our marshes after work today. Was sunny and warm and just wonderful to walk at a hard pace for a good distance...WITHOUT ANY PAIN!!!

 

[randy62]

I am going back to work today! I am happy and excited also. Except for all the emails, let see 400 emails a week and I need only 40 of them times 8 = circa 320 mails I really need to read and have a grasp on. Plus system PIPs woo hoo fun.

 

[Warhorse]

First day back to work today!! Was like a kid going back to school after having the summer off. I called it my "practice retirement" though I am probably 8 years off from the real thing...just a lot of my friends have been retiring. Disadvantages of being younger....

Had my 6-week post-op last Tuesday and the OS was very happy with my progress. My X-rays were great. Wound healing well. He released me for work, driving, hot tub, ping pong, dancing. Met with his PT and she watched me walk. Gave me some gait training and some things to work on. But I'm feeling great about it all. No more cane. No more ice. Things are good!

Still going to go to local PT for a few weeks...just to force myself to do the work. Took a nice long walk around one of our marshes after work today. Was sunny and warm and just wonderful to walk at a hard pace for a good distance...WITHOUT ANY PAIN!!!

Congratulations marcopollo!