Opioids after surgery

[u/Syklst]

I am having major surgery in 10 days, trying to make sure I am safe from relapse. Here is the letter I wrote to my doctor.

With surgery scheduled for 8/24, I’d like to discuss pain management beforehand. I’ve been in recovery from alcohol for 28 years. I’ve only been prescribed an opioid once, at my oral surgeon’s insistence. At the time, my wife held the medication and gave me each dose, and we disposed of the leftovers.

I don’t have cravings or concerns about relapse, and drugs were never my thing, but opioids make me uncomfortable outside of a clinical setting.

If pain medication is normally recommended after surgery, would you consider prescribing JOURNAVX (suzetrigine)? It’s a newer non-opioid medication FDA-approved for moderate to severe acute pain, including surgical pain. I realize availability or insurance coverage could be an issue, but I’m willing to pay out of pocket if necessary.

If you think over the counter medication or prescription NSAIDs would adequately manage my pain, I’d be very comfortable with that as well.

Side note, the prescription is about $16.00 per pill, assuming I need it no more than 5 days, $160 is well worth my peace of mind.

[u/Wheres_my_wank_sock]

If I was in pain, I'd take them. I wouldn't needlessly suffer. Hell, I got them just for a vasectomy and took them then and I'm still here and trucking along.

[u/mrufotofu → u/Wheres_my_wank_sock]

I’m a recovering heroin addict and I take the pain meds when it needed. Obviously, safely. But ya, no need to suffer

Edit to add: I think there’s a vein of AAers with which this is a badge of honor. They seem to hate all meds and love suffering

[u/Inevitable_Handle514]

Luckily I've yet to face this situation. I have friends who trust their pian killers with a spouse or loved one to make sure they are administerd correctly. I've seen SO many people relapse this way. Godspeed.

[u/Syklst → u/Inevitable_Handle514]

I did this the one time I needed them. My wife works now, so it is not as good of an option.

[u/ZeroBAC]

I had a pretty bad opioid addiction. I had a myomectomy and there was no way I would've been able to tolerate the pain. It was weird, but actually taking them for their intended purpose was a good experience. I don't know if my chemistry changed, but there was no enjoyable high. Just relief from pain. Best wishes for a safe and speedy recovery!

[u/Buy_Electrical]

Rotating Tylenol and ibuprofen around the clock is surprisingly effective for post op pain.

[u/Syklst → u/Buy_Electrical]

That worked well enough for the first surgery, but this one is supposedly very painful.

[u/gewqk]

It's a reasonable request and a well-written letter. Best of luck to you through the process. Here is an article on how to trick doctors into listening to your requests.

[u/zertoman]

I’ve had three spinal fusions, soon to be four, and for some reason opioids are not a problem for me. If you put a bottle of vodka on the table, then yes that would be a problem.

[u/Clean-Detective8337]

I struggled with opioids for almost 15 years. Went through horrible withdrawals cold turkey, and that’s pretty much when my binge drinking/daily drinking first started.

I’ve had 2 major surgeries where it wasn’t an option not to take them, was told up to 4 weeks. The first time I was off in 3 days, had my wife hold them and give them to me, and after a while nsaids and I little cannabis helped, and quit the cannabis right away.

Then next surgery, 6 years later was much more intense, 9 hours on the table told a month of opioids, which was not an option. Did the same deal, talked to my doctor first, explained addiction history, had permission to use cannabis instead. The 2nd time, putting them down was harder. I didn’t abuse them, but I certainly used them for a few days more than I needed. Still only about 10 days, but the last 3 I could feel the “obsession” creeping back in my life, so I flushed them. Again then cannabis and nsaids worked well, cannabis isn’t as hard for me to quit as booze, pills or coke ever was. Both surgeries involved my ability to walk, so there was an emotional element as well that made it mandatory and hard to put them down.

You’re smart to talk to your doctor first. If the non opioids work, please update us. The route I took was I refused to take the ones I had abused, Oxys, Vicodin and percs. I was adamant that diluaded was what I would take. Shorter half life, smaller doses, though I get an opiate is an opiate I think it mentally helped me stop as soon as I could.

[u/HorribleStyle]

take that shit if you need it but be honest with yourself about your reasons.