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Opioids & Bariatric surgery

Posted , 4 users are following.

Kitty.8
Kitty.8

I had my first ever app with the bariatric surgeon today after waiting a long time for the app. I am 44 & have a disease in my spine which has caused me to be in chronic pain for the past 3 years & I take opioids prescribed by the doctor to relieve some of the pain. I was told today by the bariatric surgeon that he wouldn’t consider me for the surgery while I was taking opioids. He said I would need to be off them and the strongest medication I could be on would be cocodomol and he would then consider me for the surgery. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this correct info? Do you think I’ve just been dismissed? I am new to this and don’t know what to think. My doctor and I were hoping I’d get the surgery to see if it would alleviate the weight/pressure on my spine which would in turn hopefully help me to be in less pain. I would appreciate any advice given. I have my doctors tomorrow and I don’t know how to begin to tell her how I feel about the bariatric app today. Thank you in advance x

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • danielle39345
    danielle39345 Kitty.8

    Posted

    Good morning Kitty.8. I am sorry about the suffering you are going through. I am in the same situation as you. Always in pain and to be fair cocodamol was not helping my pain. My doctor put me on patches which I am ok. But it make me drowsy.  Go back to your doctor tell him to give you some medication to hel you eat less.  For this program you can keep all your medication . Sometimes cocodamol is not helping with pain. Sorry again about your pain dearest. Hope you will be sort out soon👍

  • Guest
    Guest Kitty.8

    Posted

    Hi Kitty.8.....I have been given a medication today called Nefopam for pain, i too suffer with my spine and had a spinal fusion operation 4 years ago, although the fusion was a success i now have all other problems caused by the op, such as spinal osteoarthritis and hip joint problems called sacroiliac joint dysfunction as well as 3 slipped discs in my neck which cause me radiulopathy in my left shoulder and upper arm, i have a spinal cyst in my thoracic spine and both cervical and lumbar stenosis, i also have osteoarthritis in both my shoulders which i have had 2 surgeries on each to remove ostephytes and repaid the rotator cuff, so exercise is out of the question for me.  I am due to see the obesity weight loss team here in Liverpool call Aintree loss and i am going to ask about being put forward for the gastric surgery as i have tried in vain to lose the weight i have and keep putting it back on with more besides, my BMI has gone from 35 to 39.5 and i now have type 2 diabetes which i'm on Metformin for, so my general health is not great, but i can tolerate an anaesthetic no problem......I was just wondering as you have spinal problems was the only thing stopping you from having the surgery that fact that you were on opiod medication, i use a bu tec patch at the min as well as this new medication mentioned above, if so i will stop the morphine patch and just take the pills, as i am desperate like you to get the surgery as my spinal consultant (who i've been with for over several years now, due to my conditions and just keep getting worse) says that if can lose the weight and keep it off i should not be in as much pain.  I am also with the pain management unit at a different hospital to my spinal consultant....I am just wondering if you can give me a little hope that i may be put forward for the weight loss surgery.

    All the best and i wish you good health and a pain free future.

    Sue

  • mylighthouse
    mylighthouse Kitty.8

    Posted

    Hello, Kitty,

    I am sorry for the pain you are dealing with, I can relate, although my pain doesn't stem from spinal issues, but two major colon surgeries with complications that I had back in 2015 and that have left me with chronic pain. I have actually been taking a high daily dose of the ppiod tramadol, as well as gabapentin for nerve pain.

    I have been on tramadol since 2015, and gabapentin since last year.

    I wanted to tell you that I had bariatric surgery (gastric sleeve) in Nov 2016. I didn't have to quit taking the tramadol during that time, but you know how surgeons differ from each other.

    Lots of success with the gastric sleeve, starting weight was 334 lbs, current weight is 174 lbs. Do you mind me asking what kind of bariatric surgery you want to have? Unfortunately, I am one of the unlucky ones that has severe problems now with lots of swallowing problems, throat and chest pain, can't eat solids, and bad GERD. I will need to have a revision to gastric bypass soon.

    Also, in regards to opiods, I have been able to almost cut my daily dose of tramadol in half. My goal is to eliminate opiods altogether.

    I wish you the best. smile

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