Question - pain meds and sleeping upright

Message

#1 Post by **ssspidermom** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:52 am

Hi all,

I had a Le Forte I last Tues.

I wanted to know how long you stayed on pain meds. I'm 9 days out and still taking them. At day 6 I stopped, and began to stop eating, and curled up in a ball, and then kept crying. Everyone told me to go back on the pain meds. Now I'm nervous about going off again. I have spread out my doses and reduced the amount to 1/4 dose, but my reaction when I went off last time wasn't exactly "Pain" the way I think of it, but intense pressure and generally feeling "Bad."

But it seems I could reduce even further, I'm just nervous.

ALSO - I am still sleeping propped up. I dont know how long I am supposed to do this. Any ideas? I remember reading here about someone stopping too soon and having lots of swelling. Am I past that? Sleeping upright helps because I have acid reflux and a lot of sinus congestion, but it would be nice to be back to my old sleeping position. Although I am worried because I sleep on my side typically with my cheek in the pillow, which would definitely hurt now. Thanks for any feedback you can give. You guys are the greatest!

#2 Post by **jjames** » Thu May 01, 2008 6:42 am

It's different for everybody, but after 9 days I'd definitely try to start weaning off the meds, you mean like you're still taking prescription pain medicine, right? Weaning off the meds for me meant substituting my percocet with Advil and the like till I was able to go without that. Have you tried substutition? As far as sleeping upright, wtih a BSSO, I know I did it for like a month. I did it as long as I could stand it, finally I was just like, screw it - I couldn't take anymore. But I hope you're doing good ssspidermom and you can get off the pain meds soon!

#3 Post by **loulou123** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:38 am

Id say i used the prescription painkillers for around 5 days, then switched to less strong over the counter ones.

As for swelling i properly stayed upright for something like 3 weeks, tho im still laying on extra pillows now (no where near as many tho) due to the fact i still have some significant swelling.

#4 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:04 pm

I had some issues trying to stop taking morphine. The first night I slept throught the night without waking up to take some morphine, I woke up dizzy, sweaty, nauseous, etc. I was in withdrawl.

I would suggest doing exactly what you're doing - gradually lower the dose, and the frequency, until you're just taking a miniscule amount, and then stop. And take some non-presecription med like advil instead.

#5 Post by **tazzle** » Thu May 01, 2008 4:13 pm

Hi I have not had surgery yet so cant realy add anything .... but just to say I am reading thei with interest because of the sleeping position bit.

I have always slept on my front *( well except when preggers

) with only one pillow .... to do otherwise is rther alien to me

It's the only thing that I "worry" about regarding the surgery .... worry isn't the right word .... but lets just say , I am no looking forward to that apsect of the recovery

hope you can reduce the pain meds and still feel ok ..........

#6 Post by **ssspidermom** » Thu May 01, 2008 5:30 pm

Thanks for the ideas! I appreciate all your replies. I decreased pain med. and actually the ibuprofen worked fine today, so I will take the hydrocodone tonight and then be done with it!

Tazzle - I have been sleeping with a great wedge pillow that is also scooped, so I am nestled into it. I found it online, and HIGHLY recommend it. Also I use a memory foam neck pillow so my head doesn't roll forward. I am camping out on the sofa downstairs, which is cushie. I am VERY cozy at night and sleep comfortably. I don't mind sleeping upright, but miss sleeping with my hubbie! But I think I will wait until I am feeling more "peppy."

#7 Post by **Andantae** » Mon May 05, 2008 11:12 am

Hi Sspidermom~

May I ask you where you got your wedge pillow with the scoop and the memory neck pillow? Thanks!

Andi

#8 Post by **ssspidermom** » Mon May 05, 2008 4:18 pm

I got the bed wedge at activeforevercom. It is called the Hermell Dual Position Comfort Bed Wedge Pillow. I think this link will take you there.

http://www.activeforever.com/showproduc ... dge-pillow

I got a memory foam neck U-shaped travel pillow at Walmart (it has batteries and vibrates, which I would not enjoy at all, but probably paid extra for.) You can order them probably from activeforever.com or makemeheal.com

I hope that helps! I am still using both. After the surgery I brought the neck pillow for the ride home and pretty much kept it on the first couple days, round the clock.

#9 Post by **kaycee** » Mon May 05, 2008 5:42 pm

ssspidermom:

Thanks for the info on the wedge pillow. I was actually thinking about buying a recliner but the pillow looks like it's pretty comfortable and I can move it from the bed to the sofa and then back again. Its alot cheaper than a recliner too.

kaycee

#10 Post by **Andantae** » Tue May 06, 2008 6:53 am

Yes, it helps much!!! Thank you, sspidermom. I did some looking myself, but I never found any which were scooped and I remember reading somewhere on AW that someone did not recommend the foam wedge because it didn't keep them upright. Having that scoop would make a huge difference.

I did find some memory foam neck wraps on ebay a while back. I'm glad to hear that you find it so useful. I am a confirmed side sleeper and cannot sleep upright even on a long trip in a car or airplane---this will be so helpful---thanks again!