Re: Another Pain Medicine Question
From: Laura (sweetiepie42055423@yahoo.com)
Thu Oct 3 22:45:12 2002
At Thu, 3 Oct 2002, Sarah wrote:
>
>I've been taking Lortabs for quite a while now for my pain due to
>adehsions. For the most part, they help me. My doctor recently told me
>I should be taking Coalesce (Spelling????) as a stool softener, as he
>said all narcotics usually cause constipation.
>
>I had to go to the ER yesterday because the pain was so severe. They
>took an x-ray, and said I didn't have a bowel obstruction, but said I
>was totally constipated. I tried explaining I just started taking the
>stool softener, but wasn't used to taking it, so had skipped some doses.
>The doctor told me I had to get off the narcotics, no matter what. I
>tried explaining that Lortab was the only thing that helped my pain at
>all, but he didn't want to hear it. He told me adhesions cause bowel
>obstrucitons (duh, I'd already told him that was my concern), and they
>don't cause pain. Needless to say, I was ready to kill him - I was not
>a nice person to him or the nurse, and I do feel bad today.
>
>Any suggestions at all from anyone? I do not want to give up the Lortabs
>since I can't find anything else to help me w/ pain. My mother talked
>to the doctor after I stormed out crying, now she's agreeing w/ him, and
>thinks I should stop taking it. I told her even when I'm not totally
>constipated, I'm still in pain, that just being constipated isn't
>causing the pain. She doesn't understand, and really doesn't know how
>to help me. I feel bad, because I'm taking it out on her. I have asked
>her a couple of times to get on this web site & read some stories, but
>she hasn't. I think that might give her a better understanding of what
>I'm going through.
>
>I'm at my limit now, where I'm desperate for surgery, even if it's only
>a temporary relief. I know I'm at my limit, when I'm laying in bed at
>night, can't sleep, and look at my bottle of Lortabs & consider taking
>all of them just becuase I'm so damn frustrated. But, I don't know if I
>will find a doctor who will do surgery, as many have told me they won't
>touch me until I have a bowel obstruction. I don't want to wait that
>out, but I don't know what to do. I'm saving for Germany, but that will
>be a while.
>
>Sorry for rambling, please, if anyone has any suggestions, tell me. I
>just want some pain relief while I'm waiting for surgery.
>
>Thanks for letting me vent here. This place has been wonderful, and I'm
>so happy I found it.
>
>Everyone, take care!
Hi I can relate totally to your problem. I suffer from chronic
constipation,and that is one of the causes of my pain. The few time's I
have been perscribed narcotic pain medication's,I was warned about the
constipation they can cause. I would just keep taking ur stool
softner,and I have found that Milk of Magnesia work's the best for me. I
have tried a million thing's to releive my constipation,including
perscription laxative's,and MOM is the best by far. It is kind of a
catch 22 in my case,the constipation causes severe pain,but you cant
have narcotic's to relieve the pain,because it will make you more
constipated. I have actually gone 2 week's without a BM. Anyway,I can
understand your pain and frustation. I am praying for you. Take care.
Laura