carol360 2 Posted January 17, 2016 Has anyone had problems with absorbing their pain meds after surgery? I am 3 years post op gastric bypass and had left total knee replacement 10 days ago. I have been in so much pain and strong meds not working much. Has anyone else had this problem? Thank you so much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Djmohr 6,965 Posted January 17, 2016 Honestly I have not had any problem absorbing pain meds. I had cervical fusion and another back surgery in June and November. I could literally take Tylenol 3 with my cervical fusion and it was very strong for me. I have since built up a tolerance given I have had 2 major surgeries and blew my shoulder out. Having that repaired on 2/12. I have been taking daily pain meds since November so I know I am building a tolerance. I am on heavy duty pain meds now but I have had no issue with malabsorbtion. Maybe you just need something stronger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cervidae 2,389 Posted January 17, 2016 I'm 5 months post op and I had my wisdom tooth out last month. I found out a few hours after the extraction that hydrocodone no longer even TOUCHES the pain. That was an excruciating few hours in the ER. I ended up with oxycodone which did the trick, even though they were both the same strength. Sometimes weirdness happens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miss Mac 6,262 Posted January 17, 2016 Same for me. Hydrocodone is like Tic Tacs now. I was switched to Oxycodone with much better results. It helps enough that I do not have to take Lyrica which was seriously hindering my weight loss. I went back on it once when a pain clinic appointment was too far out and I gained ten pounds in twelve days! One thing about Oxycodone though......it makes me really sick to my stomach. I just have to decide if I want to be immobilized by pain or slowed down by nausea. Most of the time nausea wins. I have had total knee replacements on both knees. I promise you that once you get those staples out, the difference in your pain level will be like night and day, pickles and twinkies, snakes and kittens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cervidae 2,389 Posted January 17, 2016 @@Miss Mac I had terrible nausea too, even frequent heaving... Which would have been vomiting if I could have kept any food or liquid down. Fortunately my doctor prescribed me a dissolvable anti-nausea med that helped a lot. Still, I almost wish I had just dealt with my wisdom tooth pain than gone through those painful, nauseating weeks of recovery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emilie.Lancaster 189 Posted January 17, 2016 If you think the WLS is causing absorption problems for the paineds, there are alternatives. patch, suppositories, and injection. Can you get that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emilie.Lancaster 189 Posted January 17, 2016 I mean request that? (Get that sounds like I think you are thick, and that's not what I meant. ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
traumatrish2 1 Posted January 17, 2016 I feel your pain after having this surgery I had a lot of problems with some of my daily meds. Like my ambien cr wouldn't dissolve with the stomach acids. I had to switch from aciphex to Zantac. Pain meds were tough I had to go to dilaudid . It works the best. I was hospitalized 5x after my surgery in the 5 months following bypass. I ended up going to a gastroneurologist. He's helped a lot. Hope you find what works. I had a total knee replacement surgery a few years before my bypass surgery Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BethinPA 305 Posted January 18, 2016 I definitely have decreased absorption of medication post sleeve. Or increased metabolism- not sure. But I had both of my knees replaced pre- sleeve, and it hurt like a son of a bitch regardless. It's just a very painful surgery. But the pain is temporary, and the surgery is worth it. I turned a corner at about week 4. Just keep doing your exercises and know that this pain will pass. I feel for you!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites