Pain medication post-surgery, at home

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NayaBean
NayaBean Member Posts: 50
edited July 2021 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had a single mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection on Friday. Came home on Sunday to find that my prescription for oxycodone 5 mg. is for only ten pills, which will last just a few days. Is this a normal length of time for pain relief medication? I don't know what I was expecting, really, but I thought it would be for than a few days. If this is normal, fine, but I figured I would check here.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited June 2021

    I got the same with my last MX. I only used the Oxycodone for 2 days, until I was able to move to a combo of Advil and extra strength Tylenol, which the nurse suggested. I'd never combined them before but it works great. But if you do that, make sure you are allowed to take the Advil - I recall being told I had to wait until 2 days post-surgery.

    How is your pain? I've had two single mastectomies and didn't have much pain with either beyond the frst couple of days - and really only the first day was bad. But maybe I'm lucky.


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  • typhoon
    typhoon Member Posts: 80
    edited June 2021

    My doctors didn't prescribe any painkillers beyond gabapentin. I never really had any pain - just discomfort at times, which was easily managed with gabapentin and extra-strength Tylenol for the first three days, and then the occasional Advil after a week had gone by.
    Hope your recovery is going smoothly and well!

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited June 2021

    I echo the previous posts. I had a bmx with immediate one step implants. I don’t know how many tablets I was prescribed but I remember only taking two or three of them before switching to OTC meds as needed. I know everyone is different but I was surprised and very pleased about having far less pain than anticipated. Take care

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited June 2021

    I was given a couple of days of oxy and then step down to something stronger than Tylenol and in between for about 5 days. Then Tylenol after that. Rest and recovery will do a lot to help heal you and you do not want to be addicted to those meds and it easy to do. Best wishes on your surgery and recovery.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited June 2021

    Ugh, let’s not forget the most unpleasant immediate se of opioids… constipation! For that alone, I have only taken them for the shortest period of time necessary.

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  • NayaBean
    NayaBean Member Posts: 50
    edited June 2021

    Thank you for the replies! You were all very reassuring.

    I am not actually in that much pain. It's mostly when I get up out of bed, and even that discomfort does not last beyond a few minutes. I was just worried that maybe the relative lack of pain was from the pain medication, and that once I used up my ten pills, real pain would kick in! But from you all say, I should not worry about that. So I won't!

    Oh, I should have mentioned I also had an expander put in, but I don't think that really causes much pain. What I really don't love is these pesky drains! They're not painful, but they are annoying. I will not be sorry to see them taken out. :-)

    Thanks again, all.
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  • Rozatx
    Rozatx Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2021

    These drains are so annoying!!! I think I’d feel much better if they weren’t a constant appendage to figure out what to do with any time I move. Plus draining/measuring/recording them twice a day is a chore since I get queasy but I’m the least queasy in my household. Hearing my fiancé’s audible gag is enough to send him out of the room and let me deal with it. Lol

    Pain escalated a bit on day 3 but after that I’ve managed on a Tylenol/Advil combo. But the gas & constipation from the big drugs is still there, whew! Relief via Amazon should arrive today. DMX on 6/28.

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited July 2021

    Raisins work well for that or grapes if you have any and you try some of those for a "natural" way to help with the issue from the pain the meds. I remember eating some of those when I was I was on them.

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  • MsMonster
    MsMonster Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2021

    I think it’s common now for patients to get a nerve block that lasts like 72 hours. I only got 6 pills and I needed more so I took some old ones my husband had. That got me far enough and I switched to heavy Advil.

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  • NayaBean
    NayaBean Member Posts: 50
    edited July 2021

    One of the anesthesiologists told me before the operation that I would get a nerve block in the back, but for some reason that did not happen.

    But the ten Oxy pills that I had at home were helpful, and since then I have been managing with Tylenol, so that's okay.

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  • Lille
    Lille Member Posts: 34
    edited July 2021

    I had a BMS with tissue expanders and was only prescribed 20 Oxy pills at that time. I only took them for the first couple days. I would have like to have taken them for longer however I taken one of my usual medications while on them. For some reason I assumed that oxy would take the pain away only to find the reality is that they only help take the worst of the edge off. Now I know! Still, I was glad to have a few spare pills to take after some of the fills.

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