Hi @melclarity - so much happening to you all at once.
The exhaustion, chronic pain and inability to get comfortable simply intensifies. It affects our outlook, influences our ability to just deal with the smallest of things.
You mentioned Ativan - I was prescribed that to take half a tablet 20 minutes before full body scans MRI (I am incredibly claustrophobic). It helped to relax me and I have also used this occasionally before going to bed at night to assist with drifting off to sleep (you know how your mind just thinks about every single thought/problem ?).
I too take panadol osteo every 8 hours and was prescribed slow release pain relief Targin (taken every 12 hours) so that the panadol osteo is good for breakthrough pain (in between taking Targin)
One of the phone staff @ BCNA put me onto OxyNorm (ocycodene) for when the pain is completely debilitating. I do not need it everyday - sometimes a week can go by and I don't need to take any. At this stage, Mel, the trauma & pain you are experiencing from major surgery is so confronting and when you are not getting the rest your body needs then the pain is just unbearable (good rest is so important to our body recuperating & recovering).
Maybe while you are in hospital you could make an appointment with your GP (for prescription of pain meds) and whilst your partner & Dad are staying with you they could pop into a K-Mart store and get a "pregnancy pillow". I have found it invaluable - it comes with 1 cover and my Dad bought another cover at the same time. It is advertised for $25.
See the link
http://http//www.kmart.com.au/product/body-maternity-pillow/615505Thinking of you Mel xxx
