Pain - Oxycodone > Tylenol

I was prescribed oxycodone for my pain and it worked really well. A little too well perhaps. I was high as a kite and was sleeping whenever I wasn't resting. However, my Rx only lasted 3 days at the rate I was told to take it. I then transitioned to Tylenol Extra Strength. The transition sucked.

For 2 days, I felt horrible and was horrible to be around. I was cranky, crying, confused, and just wanted to curl up into a ball if I had the ability to do so with the freaking drains in my body. I reached my breaking point and asked Jonathan to call my doctor because I was in tears. I was able to get a new prescription for Oxycodone but it had to be picked up in person because it's a powerful pain killer that is often abused or sold illegally.

My incredibly wonderful fantastic husband drove all the way to a giant parking garage 45 minutes away, walked into the office for a tiny piece of paper, went back to his car and drove back 45 minutes to a CVS, then we got it filled on the way to pick up the girls.  While he went, my mom came over and we watched several episodes of Veep and I tried my best to relax my 4 day old stitches using only Tylenol and ice water. I'm blessed to have great people in my life.

I resumed taking Oxycodone once every 5 hours as opposed to two every 4 hours as I was initially instructed. That dosage lasted for a week and it was great. I was able to relax and let myself heal. (This was also perfectly timed with us hosting two Christmases!!)

I'm now back on Tylenol and the transition was MUCH easier. I take 1,000 mg of Tylenol every 6-7 hours and it's just what I need.

Drugs are great when prescribed and used appropriately.

Operation

Whew. What a day it was.

We arrived at 6:20 because it took us a bit to find the correct parking garage, the correct building, the correct floor, then the correct check-in desk. That hospital is massive.

I checked in, gave a sample for one last pregnancy check, they took my vitals, confirmed I wasn't pregnant, I answered more pre-op questions from the check-in nurse, met the anesthesiologist who asked me more questions, first nurse came back and fumbled to give me an IV in my hand (the WORST), another nurse came in to help, they asked a third because he had pushed it too far into my hand and it wasn't delivering fluids, so he pulled it out a bit and it started working. Oy.

My surgeon came by and did the official markings on my body on where incisions would be made! He left, nurses came back, 8:00 approached, I got into the hospital bed, they gave me my anesthesia, and I passed out before I even made it to the OR.

I woke up in a recovery bay completely hopped up on oxycodone. I felt discomfort but no pain. I fell asleep every 20 minutes or so and woke up again. I'm told that my doctor came to visit me. I'm told that we waited 2 hours or so before going home, I don't remember a thing.

I do remember being wheeled out to the car and having a hard time getting into it. Then I updated my Facebook surgery group and had a really hard time typing things correctly. It was like my body was drunk but my mind was sharp - really strange. We got home, my parents saw my shrunken body, I high fived the kids, then layed down for a few hours.


The meds were so strong that I have very little details beyond this. I barely remember my post-op appointment! But I do remember taking an after photo before going to bed and the smile on my face clearly shows how much of a space cadet I was.