Qs about opiods and gallstones

[jyl]

Ugh. Had a gallstone attack last night.

I have these maybe 2X year. There’s two stones, larger one is 25 mm. First diagnosed around ten (? ish ?) years ago. I decided not to have the gallbladder removed, instead I am careful not to eat the stuff that triggers the attacks (really fatty foods, basically). So now I only get the attacks that have no obvious trigger, like last night.

Nothing helps me, with a gallstone attack, other than painkillers. And a hot bath, oddly. I got presctibed a bunch of oxycodone 5 mg tablets long ago. Long enough so that docs would Rx 50 oxy pills for a kidney stone. Anyway, when I get a gallstone attack, I take one 5 mg pill from my stash.

Or used to. The pills are ten years old by now, and I have to take more to get the effect. Last night I took four, nominally 20 mg oxy. That helps. It changes six hours of pain and vomiting to about three.

Ok, getting to my point.

I’m almost out of oxy. I want to contact my doctor and get another supply of oxycodone. Are docs writing oxycodone for this sort of just-in-case reason? Is there a way I can ask without getting flagged as a junky? My doc has seen me for some 15 years and I wouldn’t think he tags me as an addict, but maybe they see everyone as an addict now? How would you approach your doctor?

[Nostril Cheese]

Im in the same boat as you, recent surgery at Providence.

The docs had no issues giving me a large amount of Oxys to deal with the pain. I was honest and explained my situation. I was also worried they would think Im an addict. However, its clear from my ankle that im in a great deal of pain. 20mg is enough to knock down the pain for three to four hours.

I'd just book an appt/go to ER and explain the situation. Doubt they would give you grief.

[Nostril Cheese]

Thankfully, the swelling is now gone.

[Sooner or later]

To both of you.. Ouch.

[mattdavis11]

My wife has been going to the pain center monthly for almost 8 years. She was in a bad car accident and has spinal damage. At first they had no problem prescribing Hydrocodone, but the war was waged and she had to start peeing in a cup for testing. I assume they were either skeptical she was abusing or distributing. Anyway, they pushed hard to get her off opiods. Last year she finally got off opiods and is now on another prescribed pain medication.

In our experience, they are reluctant to prescribe opiods. Her sister recently had knee surgery, and they balked at prescribing her opiods for pain during recovery as well.

[GH85Carrera]

My dad suffered with gall stones many times. His doctor finally said it is time to remove the gall bladder. He said that surgery hurt way less than one gall stone attack. He said he should have done it long ago.

[Rapewta]

Removing Gall Stones is a procedure today. In and out. Through the throat.
After the stone(s) are removed, schedule surgery for the bladder removal.
Today, most GB removals are done with some simple small holes on your stomach for the
modern tools to enter and wrap up the GB, then pull it out through you navel or some other location.

Don't put it off. Why suffer and have to take pain meds?
I did it. You keep putting it off and you could end up like me, jaundice, weight loss, throwing up after eating, sweats, itching all over, weak in the legs and just feel like dying.
In my case the stone clogged in my bile duct.
Don't wait for that to happen. Git-ur-Done!

Pain meds are for post surgery. If you are taking them to mask over what should be done, then
you are not fixing your problem.

[Mark Howard]

Similar situation with gallbladder here, no opioids tho. Had 2x attacks and that was enough for me. Had gallbladder removed last December, simple outpatient surgery, 3-4 days taking it easy, then back to normal. Have had no issues since and eat what I want. The worst part was the itching from my chest and stomach hair growing back.

[pete3799]

Had my gallbladder removed 10+ years ago.......don't miss it one bit.

[Arizona_928]

Opoids are like the ammonium nitrate. Yeah you can get it, just not anywhere easily.

Have you tried switching to weed? You know since it's quasi legal

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Rapewta

Removing Gall Stones is a procedure today. In and out. Through the throat.
After the stone(s) are removed, schedule surgery for the bladder removal.
Today, most GB removals are done with some simple small holes on your stomach for the
modern tools to enter and wrap up the GB, then pull it out through you navel or some other location.

Don't put it off. Why suffer and have to take pain meds?
I did it. You keep putting it off and you could end up like me, jaundice, weight loss, throwing up after eating, sweats, itching all over, weak in the legs and just feel like dying.
In my case the stone clogged in my bile duct.
Don't wait for that to happen. Git-ur-Done!

Pain meds are for post surgery. If you are taking them to mask over what should be done, then
you are not fixing your problem.

Oh, interesting. If they get the stone out, why do they then take out the gallbladder?

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Thankfully, the swelling is now gone.

Yikes that looks bad

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by jyl

Yikes that looks bad

I know - what is the issue?

jyl, best to you. Nothing to add other than that.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I know - what is the issue?

jyl, best to you. Nothing to add other than that.

Cellulitis in my ankle joint. That was like three weeks ago. Came out of nowhere, mild fever and my ankle started swelling up. My buddy had to literally carry me into the ER.

They cut open my ankle and drained it, plus a LOT of IV antibiotics. Two weeks in the hospital trying to get it under control. They still dont know exactly what caused it, but they did find scar tissue inside the joint. Probably old motocross injuries.

Pain was on par with kidney stones. I literally just got back from the pharmacy for more antibiotics and pain meds. I can sort of walk now, but have a big support boot and go into PT next week.

fun times.

[jyl]

Cellulitis, I thought that’s women’s thighs? Sorry, shouldn’t joke - that sounds bad.

Turns out I have two friends recently post knee replacement surgery who are willing to barter oxy tablets for delivered meals. Uh oh. This doesn’t look good, does it.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by jyl

Cellulitis, I thought that’s women’s thighs? Sorry, shouldn’t joke - that sounds bad.

Turns out I have two friends recently post knee replacement surgery who are willing to barter oxy tablets for delivered meals. Uh oh. This doesn’t look good, does it.

I guess I should just tell everyone I smashed my ankle wrestling a bear over the salmon I caught by hand out in the Gorge.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I guess I should just tell everyone I smashed my ankle wrestling a bear over the salmon I caught by hand out in the Gorge.

Well, that's what I assumed...

Holy smokes that looks painful. I have a lot of arthritis from past injuries but so far nothing to compare with cellufingllitus.

Best you two!

[pavulon]

Each time people have a "gall bladder attack", the body can lay down scar tissue which can make removal more difficult. Also, if a stone becomes lodged in the cystic duct, an ERCP may also become necessary to remove or dislodge it.

I'd imagine everyone is aware of the opiate issues for patients which results in accountability for providers and tighter control over numbers of opiate pills made available to patients--who may or may not be taking them for legitimate or illegitimate reasons. It can become medical quicksand.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Each time people have a "gall bladder attack", the body can lay down scar tissue which can make removal more difficult. Also, if a stone becomes lodged in the cystic duct, an ERCP may also become necessary to remove or dislodge it.

I'd imagine everyone is aware of the opiate issues for patients which results in accountability for providers and tighter control over numbers of opiate pills made available to patients--who may or may not be taking them for legitimate or illegitimate reasons. It can become medical quicksand.

My two stones were well characterized including size, both much too large to get lodged in the - duct of Odi? It has a cool name, which I can’t quite recall. So the docs told me I wasn’t going to have a serious attack, just the “usual” ones. That said, if I can’t get pain meds then having 1-2 attacks a year isn’t going to be so acceptable.

One of my friends recovering from knee replacement says her doc is being very tough about giving her any more oxy. She is having the other knee done in January, poor gal.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by jyl

Ugh.
I’m almost out of oxy. I want to contact my doctor and get another supply of oxycodone. Are docs writing oxycodone for this sort of just-in-case reason? Is there a way I can ask without getting flagged as a junky? My doc has seen me for some 15 years and I wouldn’t think he tags me as an addict, but maybe they see everyone as an addict now? How would you approach your doctor?

I've used Oxy ever since my SCI 20 years ago. My doc writes a script for 20 tabs and I only use them for severe break out pain so the script lasts for three or more months. With that amount of time between refills no one raises an eyebrow.