Monday's surgery

[dave77]

Still recovering from my femoral endarterectomy, it went well but is a lot more painful than I was expecting, the incision was really more than I expected, about 5 inches long and 2 inches deep right where the leg meets the groin. Have been rationing my good pain meds as they most likely wont give me any refills. Pain is not bad sitting or laying down so I'm just taking them during the day when I'm up walking around more. I have enough for 3 more days. That's one bad thing about the opioid problem and I understand that some people can become dependent on them very quickly, but doctors can't give a decent supply to patients who legitimately need them.

In the past I've had injury's and surgeries where they've given me enough opioids for a couple of weeks and when the pain was gone I'm done with them, now it's usually "here's enough for a few days and then take some Advil." I was actually kind of surprised he gave me enough for a week. At least when I run out I can start driving again, I won't drive at all when I'm taking oxycodone. I can drive on Vicodin, they hardly affect me. Neither one really makes me drowsy.

[JEBar]

good to hear your surgery went well .... hope you recovery will be a speedy one

[CT_Shooter]

Glad you're doing well, Dave. Take good care of yourself.

[BigAl52]

Hoping for a speedy recovery Dave. Take care of yourself.

[RanchRoper]

Heal up and get back in the saddle soon.

[markiver54]

Hope you heal quickly so you don't need many more meds. Best wishes Dave!

[Sir Henry]

Hope you get better fast.

[fortyshooter]

I may have missed it but what was that procedure for? Hope you feel better very soon and take care!

[dave77]

I may have missed it but what was that procedure for? Hope you feel better very soon and take care!

They put some stents in the femoral artery to increase blood flow to my legs. They don't like to put stents near joints so in one narrowed spot near my hip they cut me open to expose the artery and then slice the artery open and clean it out. That's what causing my pain, the stents are a pretty pain free procedure.

I can already feel some improvement, was just out moving some sprinklers and although I was out of breath my legs weren't hurting (other than the pain at the incision).

[RanchRoper]

They put sprinklers in?? That is very cool.

[dave77]

Sprinklers are on my yard. Wish they were buried, never have got around to it, have around 7 sprinklers and at least 500 feet of hose.

[PatientWolf]

I hope you heal quickly!

I am normally on the other end of the medication spectrum and avoid any Rx pain meds I can, preferring to have a little more pain than feel disconnected and have vivid dreams that seem to go with the Rx stuff.

[RanchRoper]

All kidding aside, speedy recovery buddy.

[The Wiz]

Take care and take it slow.

[dave77]

I hope you heal quickly!

I am normally on the other end of the medication spectrum and avoid any Rx pain meds I can, preferring to have a little more pain than feel disconnected and have vivid dreams that seem to go with the Rx stuff.

Maybe that's why I don't really worry about opioid addiction for me, I can take a fairly large dose and other than pain relief it doesn't really do much for me. I had one surgery where the Doctor had me taking 3 Percocets (don't remember the size) every 4 hours. He told me to set an alarm to take the dose, said you don't want to sleep through and have the pain wake you up.

I asked the anesthesiologist about it on Monday and he said it's not common but does happen. Maybe that's why over the counter pain meds mostly do nothing for me.

[dave77]

Off the pain meds for a day and a half so drove the Ranger (will be a few more days to get into the Miata) last night to the grocery store for a few items. Used one of their motorized carts and had all my groceries and was about a half an aisle from the checkout stand and the battery went dead, had to find a employee to push it the rest of the way.

Got up this morning and the pain I had when walking was much better, still hurts but I can walk a fair distance without my cane, also see a very noticeable improvement in the leg pain I was having before so I guess the surgery and stents were worth doing.

[RanchRoper]

Great to hear, steady as she goes...