Absorbing pain meds after surgery

[carol360 2]

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.

[Djmohr 6,965]

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.

[Cervidae 2,389]

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.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

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.

[Cervidae 2,389]

@@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.

[Emilie.Lancaster 189]

If you think the WLS is causing absorption problems for the paineds, there are alternatives. patch, suppositories, and injection. Can you get that?

[Emilie.Lancaster 189]

I mean request that? (Get that sounds like I think you are thick, and that's not what I meant. )

[traumatrish2 1]

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

[BethinPA 305]

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!!