Final Countdown 3 days to go for Mastectomy and Diep Flap reconstruction....YIKES!!!!!!

Oh Mel, it's disgraceful that you are having to go through so much without proper pain relief.  I hope some of the suggestions work for you - even one of them - to give you some respite and some sleep. If necessary, go in by ambulance tomorrow - maybe the doctors will take it more seriously when they realise walking to the appointment is impossible!  Huge gentle hugs.  Wish I could be helpful, but the girls have made great suggestions.  xx  Michelle

Hi Mel, checking in on you - I take Nexium for nausea....would that work for you too? You can get it over the counter these days without a script. The other thing I had after my mastectomy was an anti-inflammatory....might be good to ask the doctors if you can have something like that to help with the back spasms?

So sorry you have to go through this with so much pain. Really feeling for you.

Nikki  <3

Melinda - my heart goes out to you and I do hope a level of comfort was eventually found beyond the 1.5 hr you mentioned above.  It is a struggle for me to understand why the public system and the team looking after you are treating this as cosmetic!  As to pain relief you are hamstrung but goodness you can't be the only patient that presents like you so there must be something that is on offer - hopefully you can get some glimmer of hope in your Tuesday appointment. You had said the Tuesday appointment was about wound management mainly, is that good?
You commented about the cut - is it bigger than you had understood?
Take care and sending you a virtual hug xx

Jane thanks, yes it's damn horrific really! I managed 1.5hrs in bed I have a new mattress topper so soft, I used pillows under my knees, it's progress, but pain in my upper back and chest is hard laying down. I'm looking at little slight improvements just going to take time. 

@KatyJoy fentanyl worked a little then they changed it to a slow release and put nurofen with it and I was dizzy disorientated. allergic to maxolon I used to have Ativan so that's what I'll get. The nurses made the doctors come deal with me as pain wasn't under control. They shrugged and said well doesn't seem to be anything that doesn't affect you they didn't know what to do! They basically put it on me that it was my problem I couldn't take pain killers. I even had a plastics doctor come at night and say gee well I'd sooner feel a little off than be in pain. It was horrific, it's not a little off, I get nauseas dizzy and shake. Oh then wanted to take my catheter out!! Ummm I couldn't walk or get to the toilet! BS! I will be slamming them on Tuesday as how strange....they expect I can get to the 7th fl from the Carpark walking wtf! Gobsmacked! so disappointed in all of it, never ever have I come across this or received lack of care. 

I can say and sorry for venting but after 6yrs of hard slog, I've had an absolute gutful! I'm exhausted, fed up with specialists and the medical profession! I will however in sheer aggressive determination, recover and move forward and never look back again! 

I am not unique in anyway and so many others going through so much more, my hat goes off to all of you for every single time you had to dig deep into the core of your soul! To get through one hour, one day, one week. 

Hugs melinda x

Obviously not asleep yet! Lol! Did the fentanyl work? If so it comes in a slow release patch that absorbs through your skin. If ondansetron didnt work, I presume you've also tried stemetil and maxolon? Lorazepam (Ativan) is also good for nausea. Another one we use is haloperidol, but in very small doses, it is actually an antipsychotic but interestingly good for nausea in very small doses. Diazepam (Valium) is much better for muscle spasms than lorazepam. Good luck! If your pain is not under control you need to call them and they need to work out something that works. Panadol and neurophen is ridiculous after what you've had.

Oh I do feel for you Melinda!  I've had major abdominal surgery in the past and remember that sickening pain and and sleepless nights.  I can't imagine going through that without good painkillers. 
I found 2 things helped me sleep back in my bed.  I put a lot of feather quilts on the bed and slept on top of them without the weight of anything heavy over me, just a light throw.  And sleeping on my back with my knees bent up seemed to take a lot of pressure off my abdomen.  You have been through so much and are an inspiration to so many women on this site, I'm so sorry you are going through this. Healing seems to take forever and always feels worse before it gets better.  Hopefully you will soon come out the other side and start seeing some improvement.
Sending my wishes that every day is better than the last and you have a restful night. Take care, Jane xx

Kate thanks! I had fentanyl in hospital. I had a meeting with pain management and laughed at when they told me to have danzatron for my nausea that I needed another dose, I said it didn't work....nope it didn't work! Wouldn't listen, another doctor was at a 
loss what I could have as I react to them all. They sent me home with panadol and nurofen which I said I have...what a joke! No hospital in the home program, no visit. I have to go to them Tuesday and I will be telling them again how badly they have handled it all. Pharmacist said there wasn't anything they could prescribe that wouldn't escalate my drug sensitivity causing me more problems, which is what happened in the hospital. Crazy!

anyway I've taken melatonin as was taking that prior to surgery and it helped with sleep so hoping I may sleep finally tonight. Have been stable for a few hours so happy with that. Xx

Wow Mel, you poor darling, it is so restrictive when there are so many analgesics you can't take! A few that weren't on your list were ketorolac, fentanyl, hydromorphone and norspan, have you tried those? They should have sorted your pain releif before they discharged you. Are you under a 'hospital in the home' type program where staff visit you at home? If you are there will be a doctor who can prescribe better pain releif and you should be able to get physio through that too. Also I agree with Share, rest is so important while you're healing. I hope tomorrow is a better day, sending you big hugs Kate xx

That will teach me to have two login open at once.  Glad you are stable at the moment.  Wishing you a restful night.
Gentle cyber hugs.
Paula xxx

oops wrong login