Benzos Help! Going in for D&C Soon- Based off My Biopsy Pain, I’m TERRIFIED… What To Do?

[I'm-Still-Alive]

Hello… So, unfortunately, I have to have a D&C (Dilation and Curettage) and they are likely not going to send me home with any pain medications. I was in excruciating pain following my uterine biopsy. All I am prescribed presently is Klonopin, 0.5 mg 2x/day for panic attacks. I can stop taking them and save them up until the D&C if this will possibly help with post-procedure pain. What do you all think? I’m SO SCARED. The Mayo Clinic recommends fucking Tylenol and Ibuprofen following a D&C, so I’m sure that’s what my doctor is going to recommend. But I’m in pain now, and Tylenol isn’t touching it. And that’s without them shoving instruments into my uterus and scraping my insides out. I’m just glad they put me out for this one. At least I get the cocktail beforehand.

 

[rentedbythehour]

As someone who used to work in the operating room, I feel for you I really do. They might take out whatever is causing the pain so I hope they do. If not, hopefully they'll find out what is causing the pain. I know they will use opiates during the case. They use something called toradol, which is like the equivalent to 800 mg ibuprofen. Only iv. If you are having severe pain, you can always request a script for something heavier. Good luck with the procedure.

 

[I'm-Still-Alive]

As someone who used to work in the operating room, I feel for you I really do. They might take out whatever is causing the pain so I hope they do. If not, hopefully they'll find out what is causing the pain. I know they will use opiates during the case. They use something called toradol, which is like the equivalent to 800 mg ibuprofen. Only iv. If you are having severe pain, you can always request a script for something heavier. Good luck with the procedure.

I've been taking 1,000 mg of Tylenol and 800 mg of Ibuprofen 2-3x a day for weeks... It's not doing anything. It did nothing for me post-biopsy, I actually had to call out of work and miss work due to that. Which is why I'm so, so scared that they're just going to recommend Ibuprofen and nothing else and send me on my way. If I ask for a heavier prescription, I'm scared of being labeled a drug-seeker. It's so hard anymore when you're in genuine pain. I had my gallbladder taken out and they just sent me home with a script for Ibuprofen. Which makes me think that a D&C will be genuinely just "take some ibuprofen you'll be fine."

 

[rentedbythehour]

I've been taking 1,000 mg of Tylenol and 800 mg of Ibuprofen 2-3x a day for weeks... It's not doing anything. It did nothing for me post-biopsy, I actually had to call out of work and miss work due to that. Which is why I'm so, so scared that they're just going to recommend Ibuprofen and nothing else and send me on my way. If I ask for a heavier prescription, I'm scared of being labeled a drug-seeker. It's so hard anymore when you're in genuine pain. I had my gallbladder taken out and they just sent me home with a script for Ibuprofen. Which makes me think that a D&C will be genuinely just "take some ibuprofen you'll be fine."

I think a conversation with your DR might be in order. There's absolutely no reason for you to be suffering so much because you're afraid of being labeled a drug seeker. If you have genuine pain, speak up about it. Your DR will never know if you don't tell them the extent of it. Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance. A short dose of pain meds to help you thru the worst of it will not be the end of the world. Can I ask what part of the country you live in? I came from New England and I'm now in FL. The differences between the two are astounding to me. Like in FL you can only get pain meds from your PCP or pain management. The ER wouldn't even give a script to take home. I hate to say that maybe midol would be a better bet. Especially if you're cramping. I'm not sure what you're issue is, do you know or is that why you're getting the dnc? If the pain continues maybe consider an ablation.

 

[Skorpio]

As someone who used to work in the operating room, I feel for you I really do. They might take out whatever is causing the pain so I hope they do. If not, hopefully they'll find out what is causing the pain. I know they will use opiates during the case. They use something called toradol, which is like the equivalent to 800 mg ibuprofen. Only iv. If you are having severe pain, you can always request a script for something heavier. Good luck with the procedure.

This is good advice. I'd ask your doctor for a short term cycle of one of the heavier NSAIDs. These can have more severe gastric side effects, but can treat pain as well as a weak opioid.

 

[I'm-Still-Alive]

I think a conversation with your DR might be in order. There's absolutely no reason for you to be suffering so much because you're afraid of being labeled a drug seeker. If you have genuine pain, speak up about it. Your DR will never know if you don't tell them the extent of it. Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance. A short dose of pain meds to help you thru the worst of it will not be the end of the world. Can I ask what part of the country you live in? I came from New England and I'm now in FL. The differences between the two are astounding to me. Like in FL you can only get pain meds from your PCP or pain management. The ER wouldn't even give a script to take home. I hate to say that maybe midol would be a better bet. Especially if you're cramping. I'm not sure what you're issue is, do you know or is that why you're getting the dnc? If the pain continues maybe consider an ablation.

No idea what the issue is, that’s why I’m having the D&C.. I’m in Upstate NY. The opioid epidemic hit my area really hard and getting any prescriptions outside of pain management is impossible. I have medical issues outside of this that would qualify me, but I don’t want to live on opioids either. No PCP in this area will even prescribe Gabapentin to people anymore. You have to go to pain management for that. It’s unreal.

 

[rentedbythehour]

No idea what the issue is, that’s why I’m having the D&C.. I’m in Upstate NY. The opioid epidemic hit my area really hard and getting any prescriptions outside of pain management is impossible. I have medical issues outside of this that would qualify me, but I don’t want to live on opioids either. No PCP in this area will even prescribe Gabapentin to people anymore. You have to go to pain management for that. It’s unreal.

Wow. On one hand I can understand why it's that way. On the other it's absolutely crazy that legitimate patients that have no history have to jump thru so many hoops just to get meds. I was prescribed oxy for a long time. Well before the epidemic began. Once I started having side effects from them I told my DR I wanted to stop. I would take them 2 weeks out of the month, go thru withdrawal every month, and then do it all again the next month. I was taking them probably 10 years before I started feeling any negative side effects. I realized it really messed with my brain chemistry. When I ran out, I was at my absolute lowest. I didn't care if I lived or died. And I'm the only parent my kids have left. They're adults now but still. I would not have done anything to hurt myself but I really didn't see the point in living anymore. It wasn't until I stopped taking them that I started to feel better about everything. Not dealing with withdrawals and the super low depression every month just solidified that decision. I applaud your choice not to live on opioids. But I will say that if you have times that you need them, don't be afraid to get them. Especially after a surgery or any procedure that will hurt you. A short dose of meds can be very helpful for getting back to normal. Getting up and moving around as much as possible will also help. Meds can help with that. Like I said before, have a talk with your Dr before your surgery. Make sure it's before they give you the good stuff too. And I'm talking versed. You won't remember anything once that hits you. When are you having this done? One piece of advice I can give you is to think positive thoughts. I know it sounds weird but the people who came in for surgery with positive attitudes always seemed to have better outcomes. So just know this is one step in your journey. It will be helpful in the long run to figure things out.

 

[I'm-Still-Alive]

Wow. On one hand I can understand why it's that way. On the other it's absolutely crazy that legitimate patients that have no history have to jump thru so many hoops just to get meds. I was prescribed oxy for a long time. Well before the epidemic began. Once I started having side effects from them I told my DR I wanted to stop. I would take them 2 weeks out of the month, go thru withdrawal every month, and then do it all again the next month. I was taking them probably 10 years before I started feeling any negative side effects. I realized it really messed with my brain chemistry. When I ran out, I was at my absolute lowest. I didn't care if I lived or died. And I'm the only parent my kids have left. They're adults now but still. I would not have done anything to hurt myself but I really didn't see the point in living anymore. It wasn't until I stopped taking them that I started to feel better about everything. Not dealing with withdrawals and the super low depression every month just solidified that decision. I applaud your choice not to live on opioids. But I will say that if you have times that you need them, don't be afraid to get them. Especially after a surgery or any procedure that will hurt you. A short dose of meds can be very helpful for getting back to normal. Getting up and moving around as much as possible will also help. Meds can help with that. Like I said before, have a talk with your Dr before your surgery. Make sure it's before they give you the good stuff too. And I'm talking versed. You won't remember anything once that hits you. When are you having this done? One piece of advice I can give you is to think positive thoughts. I know it sounds weird but the people who came in for surgery with positive attitudes always seemed to have better outcomes. So just know this is one step in your journey. It will be helpful in the long run to figure things out.

So, the D&C hasn't been scheduled yet. It's dependent on if my internal ultrasound, which is this upcoming Tuesday, is clear. Which I've had numerous over the last 6 months that have been clear. So I don't expect this one to show anything different. I've had four internal (transvaginal) ultrasounds over the last 6 months and all four have been clear, but the surgeon is requesting another "just in case" before scheduling me. So, I had to do that. I was on opioids for 7 years straight as a child, due to spinal injuries. I went from Codeine to Vicodin to Percocet to OxyContin, back before they were so regulated. Now, it's fucking impossible to get anything. I was really scared going into my gallbladder removal surgery, as I've never had any surgery before (not even wisdom teeth removal) and couldn't have family there with me due to other constraints, and it went well, so I'm no longer scared about anesthesia complications or things like that. I'm just scared of the pain afterwards not being taken into consideration, because of the area I live in and how regulated pain killers are anymore.

 

[rentedbythehour]

So, the D&C hasn't been scheduled yet. It's dependent on if my internal ultrasound, which is this upcoming Tuesday, is clear. Which I've had numerous over the last 6 months that have been clear. So I don't expect this one to show anything different. I've had four internal (transvaginal) ultrasounds over the last 6 months and all four have been clear, but the surgeon is requesting another "just in case" before scheduling me. So, I had to do that. I was on opioids for 7 years straight as a child, due to spinal injuries. I went from Codeine to Vicodin to Percocet to OxyContin, back before they were so regulated. Now, it's fucking impossible to get anything. I was really scared going into my gallbladder removal surgery, as I've never had any surgery before (not even wisdom teeth removal) and couldn't have family there with me due to other constraints, and it went well, so I'm no longer scared about anesthesia complications or things like that. I'm just scared of the pain afterwards not being taken into consideration, because of the area I live in and how regulated pain killers are anymore.

They are completely different surgeries. I had my gallbladder out as well in 2007. I had to stay in the hospital overnight because my surgery took 3 hours. I remember feeling like I did about a thousand crunches. My abs hurt so bad. Plus they insufflate the abdomen so they have room to work. That creates pain as well, usually up in the shoulder area. I've never had a dnc done. I would imagine it would be cramping more than anything. I don't want to put your business out in the open here but you could message me what your symptoms are. I really think your best bet is to talk to your Dr before the surgery. If your are seeing her/him after the ultrasound, that would be the perfect time. Tell them how you felt after the biopsy. Tell them you've missed work because of pain. Just be honest. Most Drs are pretty reasonable people. And I actually think the latest recommendations from the CDC are a little more lax than they were a few years ago. I think they realized they messed up.