Over the past few months I've learned something about
Prescription medications
The pain
medication Tramadol Hydrochloride reacts negatively with SSRI anti-depressants,
and causes nausea. Although I don’t take SSRIs, I did feel incredibly seedy
when I used Tramadol for the heel pain, but suspect the cause of the seediness
was just the combination of Tramadol and radiation therapy. If I ever use
Tramadol again I will take it in conjunction with an anti-nausea agent.
From day one after the foot surgery I tried to use less
and then much less oxycontin or endone than were prescribed, a) because I live
in terror of addiction to anything over and above chocolate and b) pain levels
were gradually diminishing.
Every time I visit a new practitioner, I am required to
dutifully complete a form listing all my current medications. Beyond surgeons checking
that people are not taking blood thinners, it seems there is a limited benefit
from the exercise.
I guess the reality is that a specialist is a specialist is
a specialist. Bone surgeons know bone surgery, breast surgeons know breast
surgery etc. This does not make them pharmacists.
A few years ago I had some major bowel surgery, and TO says that when she came to visit one day, I was talking to the wardrobe in my room. Fortunately, she took a peep at my hospital charts and was able to identify the problem and alert staff. Heaven help those without a TO to advocate for them.
A few years ago I had some major bowel surgery, and TO says that when she came to visit one day, I was talking to the wardrobe in my room. Fortunately, she took a peep at my hospital charts and was able to identify the problem and alert staff. Heaven help those without a TO to advocate for them.
I now know not to
touch opioid painkillers again. The shoulder surgeon I have lined up discussed
the medication problem with me and will be talking to the anaesthetist before
surgery. Bone man also discussed the effects of cortisone, so I took myself off
to see the “head” honcho, and I think I have things covered now.
Nutty as a Fruitcake
The few of these opioid tablets I did take were still enough
to make me hypo-manic with mixed moods. A few more doses after that and my Jekyll-ine persona
gave way to Ms Hyde – every person chez fruitcake deserves a purple heart.
It’s taken weeks for me to “come down” [at least partway]. Every
time Ms Hyde appears, Dr Jacqueline is full of remorse and shame and takes to
curling into a foetal ball and sobbing – only marginally less pleasant for
others than when I am simply uncontrollably obnoxious and feral.
After a few years of being quite stable, and being the
person I’ve conned our dogs into thinking I am, the crash has added to the more
“acceptable” medical issues. Years ago I accepted that each subsequent crash is
worse than the crash before, and it’s very draining [for everyone].
I could go on, but this is not the proper forum. Just wanted
to make a comment on issues arising from surgical prescriptions.
