Is pain free possible? Asking for stronger meds for PD cath placement.

[*kana*]

Hi,

Just a little about me before I ask my question. 

I had both my PKD kidneys removed on June 17th and the hospital didn't give me much for pain.  I was on a morphine pump for 2-3 days and then Tylenol.  I was also sent home with no meds and told to just take Tylenol for pain.  I vomited for 2 weeks after having been cut from just under my rib cage to my pubic region and the pain became almost unbearable.  I then got a cold with a nasty cough and then pleurisy.  My friend and attempted donor gave me the rest of her pain meds(5mg oxcy) because I just couldn't take it anymore.  The hospital was very generous with her pain meds.      

I am finally feeling better and due to have my a PD cath replaced on Wednesday.   I had it done back in Nov and it hurt like heck.  I was given vicodin 550 and then 750 when the 550's didn't work.  My husband took pity on me and called.

I have now become the biggest pain wimp and want something stronger and that works.  I just want to cry all day because I can't tolerate going thru anything more right now.   How do I ask for meds without sounding like a drug seeker?    I work in a hospital and know them kind of people.    I also have a cupboard full of vicodin and oxcy with refills that is proof that I am not a user.   

Thank you in advance  (sorry if I sound really pitiful)         

[Hanify]

Does the vicodin not work for you?  Sorry I can't help much cos I didn't have a lot of pain when I had my pd cath put in.  Did the first one never work?
Cheers
Bern

[Wayne]

I was given Vic 550s when I had my pd cath placed.  I only took some that afternoon but didn't need any after that.  But I had to take 2 for them to kick in.  When I had my fistula surgery they gave me Darvacet (don't remember the dosage, except it was higher than the Vicodin) and it seemed to work better.  I told my neph I had to double up and he said that might be because of all the "hard" medicines that I have taken over the last few years...which made my stomach tougher I guess in lamen's terms.

[Erin8607]

Not many pain meds work for me anymore and I'm having a heck of a time getting any doctors to listen to me. I was denied even a temporary script after my last fistulagram that has left my leg nearly double in size. Good luck with being pain-free. I don't understand how people I know can get scripts for dilauded and morphine for what I'd consider minor issues, yet I can't even get percocet for post-surgery/post-procedure pain and swelling. 

[billybags]

Hi Kana, So sorry to hear about your pain. My husband is going through the same thing, he had the e-coli bug that gave him peritonitis, he had to have his pd tube out. The pain was excruciating. He had to be re-admitted to hospital a week later because he could not stand it any longer.All tests were done, scans, ct scans, bloods every day, antibiotics (all sorts) pain killers, including morphine. They now say every test has come back and they are ok.To-day they are releasing him and have said "let the body do its own thing and let it sort its self out". To my husband this pain is very very real so I know what you are going through.Some times I wonder what it is all about.As well as having all this going on he is doing emergency Heomo three times a week, I feel so sorry for him because this has been ongoing for a month. Hope you feel better soon.

[Inara]

I also don't understand how some people get really strong pain meds with (seemingly) no medical reason.  I know of several people who have admitted they sell them and aren't in any real pain at all! 

When I broke my leg (and two toes) a few months ago, my pain wasn't controlled even in the hospital!  I sat in the ER for 9 hours without so much as an aspirin!  When I finally got pissed off and demanded something, I was made to feel like a drug seeker.  Hello? 3 broken bones?  WTF?  I've never been so angry in my LIFE!

I'm so sorry you're in pain!  I guess the only advice I have to give is to keep bugging your doctor.  Call every day...get a family member to call everyday.  Eventually, he may give in.  Once you're on something that works, let the doc know and thank him!  That may help reinforce that you ARE actually in pain and not just trying to play him. 

It only takes a few REAL drug seekers to make a doctor feel angry and become jaded.  They ruin it for all those who are actually in pain!

[*kana*]

Thank you all for the kind replys 

Does the vicodin not work for you?  Sorry I can't help much cos I didn't have a lot of pain when I had my pd cath put in.  Did the first one never work?
Cheers
Bern

No, nothing seems to work for me.  The first PD cath worked perfectly until I thought a transplant would give me a better life.  Stupid me for wanting more/better.  They took my PD cath out to remove my kidneys, then planned on putting in my friends kidney and wha la.....I'd be good as new.   The big guy upstairs hates me so things didn't work out the way we had it all planned.  My friends kidney had a small lesion and they removed it but instead of giving it to me, they sent it to pathology.  I am now doing hemo until I can return to PD.     


Billybags,
I hope your husband finds some relief soon.  This crap can really made a strong person cry.  Best of luck

I was made to feel like a drug seeker

I had a kidney infection and went to the ER in pain and they made me feel this way.  Thats partly why I am so sensitive to asking for stronger meds.

I was given Vic 550s when I had my pd cath placed.  I only took some that afternoon but didn't need any after that

When I had my last PD cath placed I was ok the first and second day but the third day was excruciating.  I normally only need a couple days of pain meds and then I am ok. 

[Hanify]

Oh God how disappointing!  I can only say that the medicos really do have to be careful I guess cos they don't want people to have other problems with drug dependency.  Unfortunately you are all paying the price for that carefulness.  I guess just keep bugging them?  Thinking of you all - I can't imagine how bad it must be.

[peleroja]

If you find ANYTHING that works, let me know!  Anything they gave me via IV made me throw up, so now I tell them morphine is good, but only if you chase it with an antiemetic.  All the pills they gave me - dilaudid, vicodin, Tylenol with codeine, etc. did nothing for me.  Percoset took away my pain, but then made me throw up and pass out for 6 hours.  Mostly I grit my teeth and put up with the pain.  I'm beginning to think that unfortunately it comes with our disease.  Does anyone know if there's a connection between kidneys and pain?  Kidneys control so much else in the body, it wouldn't surprise me if they have a connection to pain.

[Tallons5]

Boy is this a scary topic! sorry don't mean to sound light about this even tho I am no stranger to pain, a lifetime of muscle cramps and low back pain and several years ago developed neuropahy in my legs an hands, umm and a shoulder replacement that has not given me the release promised, My wife and I have been fortunate to find a doctor willing to write script for what we ask I agree one has to keep complaining and asking, I have learned long ago that some doctors think pain is only in our minds perhaps if they could feel what we feel their opinions would change wishful thinking I know.

[*kana*]

Ok, I had my PD cath placed on Wednesday and just what I thought would happen did.  I woke to severe pain and the nurse telling me she just gave me more morphine.  I told her that I still had severe pain.  She gave me more morphine and more and more......After about 1 1/2hrs I was crying like a big baby. 

I am seriously not a drug seeker but Morphine does not work for me and I am totally being traumatized by being made to suffer.  The nurse got tired of my crying and asked me what works for my pain.  I told her nothing it seems.  She gave me Dilodid and I became the comfortable well behaved post op patient.  I also bet I got a black mark on my record.      

Why doesnt Morphine work for me?  I want to behave and not be one of "those" patients but how do I make them understand?

[monrein]

Kana, are you by any chance a redhead?  Crazy question I know, but I was reading an article the other day about the fact that redheads generally tolerate pain less well than other people, even to the point where they need more anesthetic to put them really under.

I would try to speak with the doctor prior to anything being done and let them know about your lack of success with the morphine etc.  Try to make a plan ahead of time so that you don't end up being made to feel like a pain pill abuser. 

[Des]

I take Synap-forte...  I think it is paracetamol with codiene. Adcock Ingram is the manufacturer.
(not sure if you get it there) .... brilliant stuff. It can be addictive so I only take it when needed.

I have had stones, infection and my PKD kidneys are huge and it causes a lot of pain. It really works for me.

I hope you find something that you can use. (and a doc to agree)