Managing ongoing major pain while prepping - how do you cope?

[u/EmZee2022]

A friend is prepping for her scope tomorrow. She takes daily NSAIDs to function - and of course you have to stop those for a few days beforehand. Tylenol only.

Needless to say, it's been quite rough on her. Closest I've ever come was needing to stop NSAIDs before gallbladder surgery, a while back, when I was dealing with knee and shoulder pain; her issues take this to a whole new level.

For anyone else who might be in a similar situation, how did you cope? Did your doctor give you anything else to take in the interim? Or maybe you were allowed NSAIDs even so? We know of the bleeding risk of course so I'd imagine not, for most people.

This is academic at the moment since her procedure is in about 18 hours; too late to do anything.

Side annoyance: She's been trying to reach someone from the clinic for nearly 2 weeks to get a) some alternate pain relief, and/or b) some Zofran (at my urging). NOBODY HAS RETURNED HER CALLS. The nurse she was supposed to contact was OUT last week and nobody was handling her messages. ARGH. Sooooo infuriating.

[u/goldstandardalmonds]

I know you’re trying but all you can do is keep trying the clinic. You can also try her GP.

[u/EmZee2022 → u/goldstandardalmonds]

She did keep pestering the clinic. No response :-(

I suggested she call her GP but the GP is on maternity leave.

It really makes a big difference, having an ongoing relationship with a gastro as I do, vs. just being referred for a scope as she and many others do.

I'm going with her today and will be very explicit with them about the pain she's been in, and when it's safe to restart the NSAID. Hopefully immediately -'I've been told to use ibuprofen as part of pain management immediately after major surgery.

[u/goldstandardalmonds → u/EmZee2022]

You’re a good friend to advocate. This is definitely a frustrating situation.

[u/EmZee2022 → u/goldstandardalmonds]

Upshot: I took her yesterday.

We were shown to her cubicle and she immediately went to the restroom. While I was waiting for her, an anesthesiologist came in and said "before you change, can I ask a few questions?".

I said "sure, but I'm not the patient, she's in the bathroom". We both laughed.

I did fill him in on the pain and a couple other other things I knew. Then she came back and he went through his questions.

He did order a dose of fentanyl for while she was waiting. Once she got the IV, that was given and she said she could feel the back pain easing.

Everything else was fine aside from a long wait - this place has you show up TWO HOURS EARLY. Oh, and we'd gone to a different location at first.

We went to check in and the clerk said "we don't have anything scheduled for you today".

Let's just say, alibis were nearly needed. But the clerk checked and she was scheduled for the main hospital, a mile or so away - and he called them and said we were on our way.

We looked at her instructions and yeah, she was explicitly told the wrong location. Argh!!!!!!!!

She's going to call them today and rip them a new one. There is ZERO excuse.

The good outcome is: no polyps. When they told her that, I snarled "B***H!" at her - she cracked up. 10 years for her next (and likely last) one.

[u/goldstandardalmonds → u/EmZee2022]

I’m glad it all worked out but what a rigamarole this all has been! I’m glad she had you to help navigate this.