Poll: How Long Did You Need Pain Meds?

Mommy2Six

Poll: How Long Did You Need Pain Meds?

Mommy2Six

A few days away from surgery, and wondering how long the pain generally lasts, how long midst people need the rx meds, etc.

grammakathy

are you having a mastectomy or a lumpectomy? I had a mastectomy and took one Norco the first night, then switched to an extended release generic Tylenol (labelled for arthritis). When I had my second MX and tissue expanders placed, I only took the same Tylenol at night. You will find a huge variation in what people need to take. Make sure you fill the Rx and take what is right for you. Good luck! The anesthesia from my first surgery left me feeling like I was in a fog for about three weeks and I didn't want to make it worse. The second time, I felt like myself immediately. The third surgery was somewhere in the middle of the two prevous ones

proudtospin

I had 3 lumpies, took a couple of Percocet the first time but never filled the second script or the third.  more like tylonel discomfort

think I went to a quilt show with a pal and walked around the afternoon my first one

daisylover

After lumpectomy, re-excision, and BMX without reconstruction, I took regular tylenol. (I did not use the Oxycodone or hydro-codon-acetaminophen provided - personal SE of migraine.) Everyone is different, though. Later, I took Gabapentin for about a month for nerve pain that showed up weeks after BMX.

labelle

After my lumpectomy I took Tylenol only. The BS gave me a script for hydro-codon-acetaminophen, but the package said it may cause nausea and I was nauseous enough after surgery, so I never took any. For me, post surgical nausea was more problematic than pain.

farmerlucy

I came home with a pain ball around my neck that I had for five days. I used the narcotics for a couple days and then switched to Tylenol.

wrenn

Not sure what they gave me post op from BMX but I only used plain tylenol the first day and from then on it was uncomfortable but not painful.

placid44

BMX w/ expanders was quite painful. I had dilaudid for several days, then Tylenol

Nash54

I had a lumpectomy...took pain pills the first 2 days so I could sleep.

exbrnxgrl

Pain is something felt and tolerated differently by each of us. That being said, most women don't seem to experience as much pain, once discharged from the hospital, as you might imagine (with a bmx). I recall taking rx pain meds for maybe a day or two and even then, only at night. I also had one step implants but was amazed that the pain was minimal. On the other hand, some women have had a much more difficult time. I hope you have an easy time!

tgtg

Remember that everyone has a different threshold of pain tolerance and reacts differently. After my lumpectomy, I took nothing at all, since it takes a lot to drive me to take an over-the-counter analgesic even. I used ice packs on my breast as directed after surgery, and that was sufficient. The next day brisk walking in the cool January air got both my circulation and my endorphins going and made me feel really good. Do whatever feels good for you. tgtg

Akitagirl

Hi there,

I agree with what everyone has said...pain is different for everyone and there is no "right" answer. For me, I am not allowed to take the one over-the-counter med that works for me - ibuprofen. Tylenol does not touch me and so I have to take a prescription strength. With that being said, after my BMX, I took all my meds for about 3 days and then reduced it to 1 dose in the morning and 1 in the evening. Now I am taking a little bit of percocet to help with the Neulasta shots during chemo. Nothing else touches it.

So, I may take more than others, but again...everyone is different.

Akitagirl

Mommy2Six

Thanks for weighing in, everyone!
I'm having a bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy. I'm hoping I have minimal pain.

glennie19

Mommy,,,, I hope you have minimal pain too.  But do get your pain RX's filled and have them on hand.  You may want them exactly as prescribed for the first couple days,, or only at night to help with sleep. Everyone is truly different.  Don't try to tough it out,, pain is stress to your body and delays healing.  If a whole tab makes you too sleepy,, cut it in half if it is able to be split.  If you are getting oxycodone or hydrocodone or Dilaudid,, it can be cut in half. Half a tab may take care of your pain, and not make you too groggy.  Seriously, most doctors never think to tell patients this.

Mommy2Six

Great advice, Glennie! Thank you!

daisylover

Everyone has different pain tolerance. You should not suffer with pain - try the meds they offer or request what you know works for you. Just make sure that you request your surgeon order in advance what you think you will want (like Tylenol for me). Most people seem to agree that BMX without reconstruction is less painful than expected. The site of your SNB tends to be the most sensitive. Then, the drains are a bit of a hassle... It will all become a distant memory sooner than you think.

feelingoverwhelmed

I just had a double mastectomy with expanders put in. I took my pain meds for the first couple of days... And still take them at night so I can sleep. I am still in a lot of uncomfortable pain. Tried Tylenol today and did pretty good with it. I go next week to get my last two drain tubes taken out. Hope by then the pain is More tolerable!!!!! the right side seems to be more painful than the left. I have to do radiation so my progress is gonna be longer. Anybody else doing the same??? 

flannelette

I think one of the most important things for me was my anesthetist - who came to ask me, while waiting to go into surgery, if I would like to try his "24 hour pain block". I'd never heard of it! He said I'd love it but not all anesthetists can do it so I was lucky. so I said yes. I think it might be called a thoracic epidural - I sat up on the edge of the operating room table & it felt like a corkscrew (with absolutely no pain) going into my mid-back, left side (I had UMX). Then, they scooted me over to where I had to lie down & also used the regular anesthetic. Woke up wonderful, up to my room, gobbled dinner..... I never had a moment of pain. Ever. I mean not one tylenol for it and that was 6 years ago. The night nurse asked if I'd like a morphine? injection around midnight so I said yes, just in case - but really, I don't think I needed it. Cannot recommend it enough. Although I think, generally, MX not that painful...

SpecialK

flannelette - sounds like a thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) - same idea as an epidural for childbirth.  I had one also and did well with it.  Took Rx pain meds for a few days and then switched to Tylenol - had a BMX with expanders, a port placed and bi-lat SNB.

Akita - are you taking any Claritin with your Neulasta?  It helps many - start the day before and take at 24 hour intervals (or even 10mg at 12 hour intervals) for several days.  The antihistamine helps with edema in the marrow so can alleviate discomfort.

kamm

Lumpectomy: Advil for twentyfour hours. Double Mastectomy with expanders: Percs for 10 days. On the tenth day the pain just disappeared.

flannelette

SpecialK - thanks for filling me in on the right name for "24 hour pain block". I thank my lucky stars that anesthetist was on duty that day...looked it up on google just now - very interesting -

DiveCat

I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate implants. I took Percocet for about three days then switched to OTC meds...still have Percocets left and not sure when I will ever use them! Most of my own discomfort at that point was more to swelling and tightness, rather than pain. Muscle relaxers helped me more from thenthan any pain medications.

Everyone is different though, and some women are on pain meds longer than that!

I agree it is important to stay on top of the pain though, as it does delay recovery and affects your mental state. Be diligent for at least a few days, and then you can slowly wean off and/or switch to OTC.

Luckydog42

I had UMX with sentinel node biopsy on a Monday. On Thursday, I tried to make it through the day with no pain meds, but ended up taking 1/2 Percocet. Friday I took nothing, not even Tylenol. I really only had pain when moving, especially getting out of bed or from a chair.

Susie_Maryland

My BS used a kind of timed-release regional anesthetic called Exparel, which gave me over 3 days of pain relief. I have terrible nausea and vomiting with any opioids, so she thought this would help me for the first few days after surgery without having to resort to the oxycodone. I have to say, it worked GREAT for me. After it wore off on about day 4 after surgery, I was able to get by with extra-strength Tylenol for the next few days, and since then haven't taken anything.

ganzgirl2010

I had bmx in august and Im still on pain meds ! I am on gabapentin..900 mg's...oxycodone 5mg's as needed motrin 800 mg's and Tylenol .

daisylover

Ganzgirl, physical therapy really helped to resolve a lot of discomfort for me at 4 months - have you tried PT? I would recommend finding someone who works regularly with breast cancer patients - it makes a huge difference. I see someone in Wellesley,MA right now but saw someone at Lahey closer to the time of my surgeries. Wishing you freedom from pain.

pamfightson

I was given Percocet when I left the hospital for days after my surgery. I took one and hated the way I felt so I switched to Norco. I took one a day for a week or so but then my pain went mostly away. Every few days (usually after I overdo things) I have to take a Norco. Otherwise I take Tylenol and/or Ativan.

I was still dealing with a neck/shoulder strain on the same side of my UMX when I had the surgery, otherwise I don't think I would be taking anything.

Ariom

I had Umx, no recon and no pain meds at all, just had discomfort from weird sensations, not pain. I suffer more from drug se's, so prefer to avoid, as much as possible.

I had a broken toe at the same time and the pain from that, gave me more grief, than the Mx.