Ugh?
Yesterday for my surgery when I woke up my son was still sick so my husband had to stay home with him and my mother-in-law and my friend came and took me to my surgery. Before surgery the doctor asked me if I had any worries about the surgery. I said the only worries I had or about the pain afterwards for the first few days since my body is used to taking Norco right now for my neck. I have been prescribed Norco at least for about five months maybe longer... I have always been extremely careful with that because I don't want to be addicted to it and I don't want my body to reject it and stop letting it work for me. But, after the Rhizotomy on July 29, my neck got extremely worse it did not get any better at all it just got worse and worse and worse.
So the pain clinic doctor prescribed Neurontin which is a nerve medication and upped my Norco to being able to take 5/325's up to 2 to 3 times a day.
Just recently they upped my Neurontin to taking 300 mg in the morning 600 mg at lunch and 600 mg at night time. I also already take 10 mg of Valium in the morning and 10 mg of Valium at night for the next spasms. Yes I realize that is a lot of medication. I'm also in a lot of pain. And my neck is constantly spasming. That's why had to have the surgery done.and, that is why had to have it done as soon as possible I can't be on this medication for the rest of my life it's not going to keep working.
So the one worry I had to I told the doctor before my surgery was that I was worried of the Marco would not be helpful after my surgery since my body is somewhat used to it as I take it at least one or two times a day sometimes more if I have a lot of neck pain. He said don't worry about it if there's any problems we will just prescribed me Percocet for a few days until you can get past the major pain of the surgery. Both my mother-in-law and my friend or sitting there and heard the entire thing.
After I woke up from surgery they gave me two Norco's and two somethings through my IV because I was having a lot of pain. I don't know what it was in my IV. But it was short term.that is why you got the smiling pictures of me in the ride home.
When I woke up from the surgery my first dose was given to me at 8:55 AM and I am allowed to take the medication every 4 to 6 hours and they said to stay on top of the pain as much as possible. So at 1 o'clock I immediately took two of the Norco's because I had already been feeling a lot of pain for a half an hour.after an hour I had not feel any pain relief whatsoever the incision on my elbow was burning and the elbow was aching immensely. So I called the office to let them know because that's what they told me to do. The nurse informed me that the doctor was not in the office any longer that day and he would not be back until this morning (Tues.) she said she would talk to him first thing in the morning and then call me and they could write a prescription and I would of course have to come pick it up because it's a controlled substance so I found a friend who would be able to come take me to go get it since Pete would be going to Ohio.
Again, my son is still sick and I gave him some Tylenol and he was resting okay on the couch with a video game when I went with my friend to go get the prescription this morning.they called me bright and early at about 930 which was very nice. They told me that it was a prescription for 10 of Norco. So I went to get it. The office is about 25 minutes away.
When we got there I read the prescription and it said take one 10 mg of Norco every 4 to 6 hours as needed. I asked if I could speak with the nurse because this was exactly what I was already taking except in a different form. Because when I was already taking was two of the 5 mg of Norco's every 4 to 6 hours as needed. I was actually taking them right on the four hour.because I was in pain before the four hours came but I was following the rules because that's what I do I'm a rule follower. So the receptionist came back and said nope this is all you could have. I said please they told me that I could have the Percocet I'm not a druggie I'm not asking for drugs, I have never had a problem with taking drugs before in my life I've had lower back fusion I've had bladder surgery I've had a hysterectomy I've had lots of problems and I have never had a problem with taking pills. I had my friend with me who had listen to the doctor tell me that he would prescribe Percocet if the Norco didn't work.
So the receptionist went back again and found the nurse, who came and got me and I told my friend to come back with me if she could please. The nurse was obviously frustrated and told me that she told me on the phone that I was coming to get the 10 mg of Norco. I said I don't understand how This works I assumed you were telling me that I could come and pick up a prescription for Norco that was 10 mg that I could take two at a time. I am not aware of how this stuff works so I just assumed that was it was. I'm not looking to get Percocet I'm looking to get pain relief. She told me that 10 mg of Norco is stronger than two of the 5 mg tablets. She said she would go ask the doctor and see if he will prescribe the Percocet. She left the room for about 30 seconds and then came back and said no he never prescribed Percocet. My friend who had been there stood up for me and said no, he told her that he would prescribe it if the Norco didn't work this one 10 mg pill of Norco is going to be the exact same thing as what she is already taking and it's not going to help anymore than what she already has. The nurse was adamant that 10 mg tablets are stronger than two 5 mg tablets. So we had no choice but to leave.
On our way back to our house I called my local pharmacy who knows me very well because I have to go there all the time for all my children's meds and all my husband's meds and all of my meds. I asked them if the 10 mg of Norco was stronger than two fives. This was the pharmacist and not a pharmacy tech she said absolutely not of course they're the same actually two fives would be just a tiny bit stronger because it would have more acetaminophen in it even though that is worse for your liver. But in reality two of the 5 mg tablets and one of the 10 mg tablets have the same amount of coding and they're going to be the same amount of medicine.so the nurse can put you lied to me which I had already known and I was extremely frustrated and crying and in pain.
I decided to call the pain clinic where I normally get my narcotics because I signed a contract with them but I will only get any narcotics from them and I will only get them filled at one pharmacy all the time. And that is what I do. They knew I was going to have the surgery, and they said whatever the doctor prescribed was fine I just had to let them know once he prescribed it what I was going to be taking. And then they would write it down and it would be fine. So I let them know but they take a long time to call back.... When they did finally call back they said they can't do anything about the pain medicine that the surgeon prescribes, the surgeon needs to prescribe the stronger medication not them. But whatever he prescribes is fine I just need to let them know.
The doctors office where I had the surgery at has a online patient portal where you can write emails to the doctors or nurses and I decided that I needed to do that. I decided that it's time for me to stand up for myself. I've been doing this more and more lately and most of the time it backfires at some of the time it helps so I guess decided to go for it. Because I was in a lot of pain and I was crying I did not know what else to do. I was alone and sad and hurting.
I wrote that I wanted the doctor to read the note and not just the nurse. I wrote that the nurse straight out lied to me and told me that the 10 mg tablets were stronger than the two fives and that was all I could take and that the doctor said that he would never prescribed Percocet. I want to the doctor to know that this was going on and that I was still in major pain and I did not know what to do about it but I did not feel comfortable that the nurse had lied to me straight out.
The doctor was very kind and call me back himself after an hour or so and sad I am more than welcome to take two of the Norco 10 mg or I can take one of the 5 mg and one of the 10 mg together and see how that goes and if that does not work tomorrow morning he will prescribe Percocet. He did not say anything about what the nurse said and that's fine I didn't need to get into that with him I just won't want to be out of pain I want to be able to take care of my kids.
So around 130 or so I took two of the 10 mg tablets and it did not me out and I got a good rest for about an hour until I had a few phone calls which was fine. Then my kids came home and I've been awake ever since. I decided just to take one of the 5 mg tablets and one of the top milligram tablets at 5:30 which was an hour ago and I am hurting quite a bit but not horribly, I am about pain of a five which is not great but not horrible either before it was like a pain of an eight and I was in tears. When I can take my next dose at 9:30 I will take the 2 - 10 mg tablets since I will be going to sleep and it will be okay for me to be knocked out for a little bit and get some real rest.
If I don't get real rest tonight and I'm still in a lot of pain in the morning and the two Norco's are not cutting it and I will call the doctor for the Percocet in the morning I have already called the pain clinic and explained everything that's going on and told them what I am taking right now. If it changes a nice change to the Percocet I will call and let them know. I am keeping ice on it almost constantly. I am resting as much as possible but it is really hard with a sick child.
I am extremely thankful for my church bringing dinner each night to us. Also a friend was able to get some groceries for us and brought me flowers and a balloon and a card from my church and it was very kind and thoughtful. Unfortunately no one can stay and hang out and chat with me or help me around the house or do anything since My son is sick and no one wants to get their family so either which I totally understand.
I understand that my parents are having a wonderful vacation and they totally deserve it and I'm very happy for them. I understand that my husband is having one of the most important meetings of his entire Xerox courier tomorrow morning and I am praying for him. I know that no one is leaving me on purpose or has to be a way for me on purpose. I know that my son is not sick on purpose this is just how things worked out and it will make me a stronger person I know. In the midst of it it is very hard. In the midst of it I am in a lot of pain. In the midst of it I'm exhausted and I just want to sit and watch TV or read a book and relax and not do anything. But I have yet to do that today.
So far it looks like my son will still be too sick to go to school tomorrow as he has a fever right now. So this looks like it will be my day again tomorrow except for I won't have to be running back-and-forth to the doctors office for prescriptions and then to the pharmacy for prescriptions and calling doctors offices in pain clinics. At least it will just be me and him here. I do have a friend taking me to acupuncture at one point and maybe that will help too.
Pain can be such overwhelming thing. I am keeping my eyes packs for often as possible and they just keep melting I'm melting and melting. Mostly the incision on my elbow is what hurts the most and the elbow eggs. I know I will make it through and in a week this will be no big deal. But right now it is hard. Thank you all for asking how I'm doing I don't want to complain I don't want to be negative. This is what is going on it is what it is and I'm trying to just take it for what it is.
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