Poll: How Long Did You Need Pain Meds?

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

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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...

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

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.

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.

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.

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.