This post may be just me venting so be advised, it is somewhat rambling.
I'm 10 days post-op.
They sent me home with a list of drugs to take, and a list of stuff you took that you should not take. They send papers on what to do when you get home. Then there are papers on this and that and somebody's mother. I swear, How can a normal human assimilate all that information just after a major surgery is beyond me. Two days, my wife and I thing we understood all the instructions. But, I don't live well by an instruction book.
First, I had questions about the pain meds. I researched through all the documents and I did not find the answer. I was trying to figure out how often I can take a pain med. Under 'take as needed' it listed oxycodone every four hours and Tynelol every four hours. Silly me, does that mean I could take something every two hours if I alternative them. Should I not take them together? I finally decided 'as needed' was my decision, so I went to a four hour schedule which worked.
Then, day 3 at home, I was itching for my nightly drink of Dewar's. Again I read ton of papers and not anyplace did they say I could NOT drink. I read all the documents on the drugs I was taking from the hospital and the drug store. I found that Dewar's was not good with Oxycodone. So I figured I would get off it, and I did. The next evening, after taking only Tynelol for 24 hours, I had my Dewar's. But gave it up after that one night, for it did make me dizzy.
Then after getting a power recliner, I finally was able to sleep, but not through the night. Pain and the need to pee would wake me up to take Tynelol or hit the pot. My Vivofit tells me that for the past two nights, I have had to get up every two hours. Six hours of restless sleep is not good sleep, but better than 1.5 hours of restless sleep. One of the items they told me to stop taking is Saw Palmento. I took it to stop the need to get up every two hours to pee. I was working to the extent I may use to get up twice a night. While in the hospital, needing to pee often didn't bother me for I was either had a catheter in me or a roommate that was keeping me awake. But now that I'm home, I want to go back on my Saw Palemento. Of course, in all the ton of documentation, they never say why they want me to stop it. My own research shows it may be a issue with it and Plavix, which is a new drug I came home with. The other tidbit I encountered doing this research is that Plavix and alcohol.
Oh bummer! If I follow the safest guideline that means no Dewars and I get up to go pee every two hours. Or I can cheat, and take Saw Palmento in hopes I don't bleed internally.
I know, somebody is going to say: "talk to your doctor". It's Sunday here in the US and I'm not any of my docs will know what is the correct answer for me. They will just quote the "protocol".
So, I thought I would ask my trusted friends here to give me their input.
Thanks for slugging though my story.
Fred
I'm 10 days post-op.
They sent me home with a list of drugs to take, and a list of stuff you took that you should not take. They send papers on what to do when you get home. Then there are papers on this and that and somebody's mother. I swear, How can a normal human assimilate all that information just after a major surgery is beyond me. Two days, my wife and I thing we understood all the instructions. But, I don't live well by an instruction book.
First, I had questions about the pain meds. I researched through all the documents and I did not find the answer. I was trying to figure out how often I can take a pain med. Under 'take as needed' it listed oxycodone every four hours and Tynelol every four hours. Silly me, does that mean I could take something every two hours if I alternative them. Should I not take them together? I finally decided 'as needed' was my decision, so I went to a four hour schedule which worked.
Then, day 3 at home, I was itching for my nightly drink of Dewar's. Again I read ton of papers and not anyplace did they say I could NOT drink. I read all the documents on the drugs I was taking from the hospital and the drug store. I found that Dewar's was not good with Oxycodone. So I figured I would get off it, and I did. The next evening, after taking only Tynelol for 24 hours, I had my Dewar's. But gave it up after that one night, for it did make me dizzy.
Then after getting a power recliner, I finally was able to sleep, but not through the night. Pain and the need to pee would wake me up to take Tynelol or hit the pot. My Vivofit tells me that for the past two nights, I have had to get up every two hours. Six hours of restless sleep is not good sleep, but better than 1.5 hours of restless sleep. One of the items they told me to stop taking is Saw Palmento. I took it to stop the need to get up every two hours to pee. I was working to the extent I may use to get up twice a night. While in the hospital, needing to pee often didn't bother me for I was either had a catheter in me or a roommate that was keeping me awake. But now that I'm home, I want to go back on my Saw Palemento. Of course, in all the ton of documentation, they never say why they want me to stop it. My own research shows it may be a issue with it and Plavix, which is a new drug I came home with. The other tidbit I encountered doing this research is that Plavix and alcohol.
Oh bummer! If I follow the safest guideline that means no Dewars and I get up to go pee every two hours. Or I can cheat, and take Saw Palmento in hopes I don't bleed internally.
I know, somebody is going to say: "talk to your doctor". It's Sunday here in the US and I'm not any of my docs will know what is the correct answer for me. They will just quote the "protocol".
So, I thought I would ask my trusted friends here to give me their input.
Thanks for slugging though my story.
Fred
