What is normal and what isn't?

[Guest guest]

I think that is the one thing that is really bugging me.

I'm getting all these symptoms, and have no idea what is part

of 'recovery' and when its time to go back to emergency.

I'm not a fan of pain killers at all, I feel so blah on them.. but

last nite,and this seems to be a regular routine now.

I lay down to sleep.. It normally takes 5 or 10 minutes.. but Now i

am only remotely comfortable on my back with a pillow under my

knees.. But last nite, It felt like someone had a hot poker and was

jabbing into my stomach. (and I mean the place just in the middle

below the rib cage.).. After an hour and a half writhing in agony..

and this would be just as bad as my worst attack, if not a tiny bit

worse.. Well I finally took two strong pain killers. So 30 minutes

later, I feel 'high sorta' from the pain killers and still have

moderate to bad pain.(I really hate that 'high' feeling from pain

killers. I hardly take them ever and it really affects me)

30 mins later, I kinda didnt' care about how bad the pain was, but

it occurred to me that this was not normal, this pain.. I mean its

worse than after the operation.

So does anyone or has anyone had this 'hot poker in the stomach'

after gall bladder surgery pain?.. OR should I have just gone back

to emergency.

Now yesterday was my first day out and about.. could I have over

done walking? So the result is agony?

Thankyou for reading my post, and for anyone that responds.. I

really do appreciate the information. Its a bit of a dark cloud

finding out information round here. (anything I have asked, I get

the response.. well everyone recovers differently.. *I know thats

true, but its so open-ended. )

[Guest guest]

Hey Frag,

No one likes taking pain killers. I don't know anyone who gets a rush from

doing them. They are a necessary evil. When I first got arthritis in the

'90s, I told my doc that I didn't like taking pain killers. He told me, " Get

used to it. You will be taking them for the rest of your life. " He had no

way of knowing how right he was.

I have had a horrible attack this morning. Just a killer. Pain is at 9.5.

Now I had to make a decision, like we all do. I can either lay around and

moan all day, or take these things and try to get it under control. So I

take them, like we all do.

Suffering pain does not make us better people. Pain does not guarantee us a

place in heaven. Suffering does not improve our character. It's just a part

of life that we must endure the best we can. Part of that endurance is

taking pain killers so we can have a semblance of a normal life.

Sorry for the diatribe.

Hope your better soon.

Jerry/NC

***************************************

>

> I think that is the one thing that is really bugging me.

> I'm getting all these symptoms, and have no idea what is part

> of 'recovery' and when its time to go back to emergency.

>

> I'm not a fan of pain killers at all, I feel so blah on them..

[Guest guest]

Sorry I didn't mean to make light of taking pain killers.- or

suggest that someone here should or shouldn't be taking them.

I was actually more concerned that the pain I was feeling was

something that I should be going to emergency for.. especially since

i hadn't had any pain killers for a week now, and that they would

mask somethign more serious.

I find the lack of information from Dr's about this has really left

me lost.

> Hey Frag,

>

> No one likes taking pain killers. I don't know anyone who gets a

rush from

> doing them. They are a necessary evil. When I first got arthritis

in the

> '90s, I told my doc that I didn't like taking pain killers. He

told me, " Get

> used to it. You will be taking them for the rest of your life. " He

had no

> way of knowing how right he was.

>

> I have had a horrible attack this morning. Just a killer. Pain is

at 9.5.

> Now I had to make a decision, like we all do. I can either lay

around and

> moan all day, or take these things and try to get it under

control. So I

> take them, like we all do.

>

> Suffering pain does not make us better people. Pain does not

guarantee us a

> place in heaven. Suffering does not improve our character. It's

just a part

> of life that we must endure the best we can. Part of that

endurance is

> taking pain killers so we can have a semblance of a normal life.

>

> Sorry for the diatribe.

>

> Hope your better soon.

>

> Jerry/NC

> ***************************************

>

[Guest guest]

I am the same way, I don't take painkillers because i don't like that

high feeling and I also don't do well on them.

I went through the GB surgery, the pancreatitis attack I had 2 months

ago in the hospital and a major surgery 4 years ago without

painkillers.

I once took a half a Vicodin and it slowed my respitory rate down and

I was " nodding off " . I sat shaking in the shower for 4 hours until it

wore off.

So I'm afriad of how I will handle pain if my CP worsens.(praying it

won't)

Eileen

[Guest guest]

I didn't think you were joking. Taking analgesics is a problem for most of

us. But at some point you need to realize that it is a necessary evil. Lots

of folks DON " T realize that and suffer needlessly. I know people who

actually refuse scripts from their docs for meds. A very silly and

counterproductive attitude. THen they want sympathy for their pain. Not from

this boy.

Doctors are characterized by their lack of information. You really have to

dig outside the docs office to find out what you need to know.

BTW, if you THINK you need to go to the ER, you probably do.

Good Luck,

Jerry/NC

*********************************************

>

> Sorry I didn't mean to make light of taking pain killers.- or

> suggest that someone here should or shouldn't be taking them.

> I was actually more concerned that the pain I was feeling was

> something that I should be going to emergency for.. especially since

> i hadn't had any pain killers for a week now, and that they would

> mask somethign more serious.

> I find the lack of information from Dr's about this has really left

> me lost.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Sorry I didn't mean to make light of taking pain killers.- or

> suggest that someone here should or shouldn't be taking them.

> I was actually more concerned that the pain I was feeling was

> something that I should be going to emergency for..

had his gallbladder removed in August. When he felt his pain

was more than normal - after a week or so, they had him come in for an

ultrasound to make sure there was no leakage going on from his ducts.

This may have been a warning for you to go be checked out. I think

if you have any pain after surgery that is much more intense and

different from your usual pain, that it warrants at least a call to

the surgeon, or a visit to make sure nothing else is going on. Good

luck and I sure hope you are feeling better. LInda

[Guest guest]

fragduesers wrote:

After an hour and a half writhing in agony.. and this would be just

as bad as my worst attack, if not a tiny bit worse.. Well I finally

took two strong pain killers. <

Since I haven't had gallbladder surgery, I can't tell you what to

expect or what is normal or not. I just had a suggestion for you for

those painful nights when you're experiencing difficulty falling

asleep because of the discomfort.

Wrap your abdomen in a heating pad, with a medium setting for about

15 minutes. Repeat as necessary. Many of us are devoted to our

heating pads, and use them whenever we're experiencing night time

pains. Just remember to turn it off before you fall asleep, otherwise

you could get burned if left on too long.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.

>