I'm Really Really Upset!!!

[Guest guest]

I just got off the phone with my doctor and I dont know what to think

or how to feel.... I feel deeply upset.... as you may have read in

earlier posts of mine, I have been having some problems with my pain

medication adequately managing my pain. As I was leaving the

hospital, I made sure to get very explicit instructions from the

nurse, per the discharge instruction sheet from the doctor she went

over with me, about what meds to take when and how much. For

inflammation,I was recommended take something like Motrin and to

follow the label instructions. I was prescribed hydrocodone. And I

had cephalexin to take as my antibiotic. I went home and proceeded to

take the meds as instructed. They weren't cutting the pain so I kept

changing the frequency between the meds and tried a couple different

combinations- giving each a day or so to even out and start helping.

Nothing did. Finally I could no longer bear it- the pain wasn't

helped enough for the med to last for the 3 or 4 hour duration until

the next dose was due. Forget about sleeping through the night, let

alone over sleeping by an hour. Sunday morning my mother called and

spoke to the afterhours resident. First he mentioned that I could

take a lot more motrin with the present dose of the hydrocodone. Then

he prescribed percocet instead of the hydrocodone because I was

convinced it wasn't helping and needed something better. He never

mentioned taking more of the motrin with the new pain med. When my

mom picked up the meds, the pharmacist mentioned that I could take

more motrin at a time- 2 pills instead of one every 4 hours. So I

started on my merry way with the new meds and routine. They seemed to

help more, but definitely didn't help beyond their 4 hour scope. (I

have not slept more than three hours together since before my surgery

last Weds 3/9.) I am ragged at this point.

Then, Monday evening, after the Doctor's office had already closed, I

noticed an itchy rash all over my body. I looked at the prescription

information that came with each med. Only the hydrocodone that I had

discontinued the day before and the antibiotic listed skin

rash/itching as adverse/allergic reactions. So, I called the after

hours number again and spoke with the same resident doctor. He

advised that I switch back to the original pain medication and

reitterated that I take the increased dose of motrin as well. So, I

started that. I mentioned to him that the newer pain medication

mentioned nothing about skin rash or itching as a side effect, but

that only the antibiotic I was on did. He said that I was fine before

and the only change was with switching the pain med, so I should

switch back and that he'd call in the morning to check my progress.

Well, as the night progressed, the rash spread and worsened becoming

oh so much itchier. (One place where I have the rash is my upper arms

and underarms. You can imagine what I look like when I am scratching

myself there- banana anyone??) So, I called my doctor's office in the

morning. He said it WAS probably the antibiotic and to discontinue

THAT, and in its place he'd prescribe another. He also asked how the

pain meds were going and asked " you've been taking 4 motrin every 4

hours, right? " WHAT?!?!?! WHAT!?!?!?! I started to melt..... I told

him only since yesterday, explaining that I had NEVER been instructed

to take that many at my discharge- that I was only instructed to

follow the label directions. He repies that " Oh, no. That wouldn't

begin to scratch the surface. Furthermore, that motrin is more

important than the narcotic in regulating your comfort because it

helps so much with the inflammation. " I am dying at that for the

amount of pain I have suffered NEEDLESSLY the for past 5 days and for

the amount of sleep I have lost and how both have been to the

detriment of my healing. He proceeds to tell me I should have called.

HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW!?!?!!? I kept trying to change things. I

didn't want to bother them with such a question if I could simply

tweak what I was doing and resolve it myself. I didn't know how much

pain I should reasonably expect to be in. I was following their

instructions. Simply put, I DIDN'T KNOW. and furthermore, NO ONE TOLD

ME. I told him that I was never given those instructions at my

discharge....

YOu guys!!! I feel SO upset and depressed! I Just can't get over

what I have gone through and how much I have been hurting and feeling

beyond miserable but enduring everything- ALL FOR NOTHING because no

one thought my comfort was important enough to ensure I got the

correct instructions. When I got off of the phone I melted into a

puddle of sobbing and tears. I just can't believe it. I have felt so

Horrible and all for nothing. I have felt so terrible when I didn't

need to be feeling terrible. I never had to feel that way, I could

have had such a better time of it. I just am so upset. I can barely

stop crying and feeling so pathetically sorry for myself.... My eyes

tear up everytime I think of what I have been through for no reason.

Some else was lazy at my expense. I am just so exhausted and now

completely emotionally battered as well as physically.

Thank you for listening to my pity party....

katja