Opioids. Opiates. I kind of get it now.
I've tried drugs before, never truly liked any of them. Have appreciated post-op pain meds before, for the brief healing interval, but never had issues once healed.
This seems different.
I had a minor procedure 4 days ago (a Friday) to repair a bladder-leakage-when-coughing problem I've had for several years. At the risk of EW! TMI!, he goes in through the vagina and makes an incision. Then inserts a long mesh ribbon, wraps it around the urethra (pee tube) and tunnels the two ends of the ribbon through the abdomen, exiting at the bikini line. Adjusts the tension, then sutures and snips off the ends.
Didn't sound TOO bad in theory. OMG.
Can barely walk. No position sitting or lying is comfortable. Intense back pain from contorted positions and long-deteriorated vertebra in my lower spine.
Hence the 10 Hydrocodone tablets they gave me. Relief from nearly all of it within 30 minutes. But back in 3 hours.
Called the surgeon's office panicked on Monday morning, so scared because I only had 2 Hydrocodone tablets left and there had been no improvement, plus they stop your bowels. Not that I have any appetite, but 4 days nada adds to the general discomfort. No call back all day. Actually had a friend of mine offer to overnight some of her stash from New Mexico (Thanks Beck!).
They finally ordered it yesterday, so I caught Beck before she went to the post office. I was so extra miserable from trying to delay pain control until I had more. Plus had sent my husband to Walgreens for a quick-acting laxative. He brought me suppositories...Which work. On the plus side? The urine leakage has nearly stopped. No trouble peeing, just pooping. I now have stool softeners in tablet form as well.
Hydrocodone provides immediate and near-total escape from what ails you. I can totally understand wanting to take 1 or 2 every 3 hours round the clock. No way do I want another addiction: gin and cigarettes are two too many as it is. But I totally get the temptation.
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