My Love/Hate relationship with Big Pharma
For those of you who know me well, you know that I rarely take a medication - often to the frustration of my husband. Maybe an occasional Tylenol for a really bad headache (only after I have refused to take anything for hours), or an Advil for an injury. I don't think I've had a prescription since my knee surgery in 2001. And even then, I took one Percocet and almost fainted so stuck to Tylenol after that. I didn't even get epidurals for childbirth! I've been told I have a very high pain tolerance.
Fast forward to a double mastectomy - which is essentially an amputation - and the nerve pain that I was not prepared for! I figured I would have pain from the incisions which would heal in short order, maybe some swelling and muscle pain - but Lord have mercy the nerve pain almost did me in! And for whatever reason, they didn't send me home with any drugs for nerve pain. Maybe not all mastectomy patients experiences that type of pain, but the only way I can describe it is burning needles stabbing me at all times plus skin that feels like it's had a 4th degree burn (is there such a thing?) and hurts worse when anything touches it - including air! When they would ask me for my pain level (1-10 scale) at each appointment I would say 8 or 9 - and the only reason I didn't say 10 is because of my theory that "it could always be worse" (see post from 6/19).
They did send me home from surgery with a few Oxycodone for "breakthrough" pain when Tylenol wasn't working. As much as I have lambasted Big Pharma and the opioid epidemic over the years, Oxy became my new best friend as it was the only thing that would help at all, even if only for a couple of hours. But they do NOT give refills of Oxy easily! At one point someone suggested I try Pregabalin, but no instructions on how to take it. I took it once and it did nothing so I gave up and went back to Oxy. At the two week post-op point, I was getting desperate and sent a message to my surgeon with the subject "I am struggling and need help!" She connected me to a cancer rehab doctor (never heard of such a thing!) and the pain management team. I was able to see them week 4. Between the two of them and the miracle of modern medicine (said with a slight smirk 😏), my pain is thankfully now under control. I am now officially a daily prescription medication taker (arrrgh!) Hopefully it will be temporary as nerves do heal eventually.
I have not given up on all my supplements and herbs and "witchdoctor" stuff (as Stephen calls it) because I still believe in non-pharmaceutical ways to help the body heal itself, but when it comes to pain management, I am currently all about Big Pharma! When your body is in "fight or flight mode" from relentless extreme pain, it can't function or heal. Do not offer me an herbal tea when I am lying in my recliner with tears streaming down my face! It's a bit embarrassing, but I thought I would share a picture of the current state of our kitchen countertop as I navigate a new routine of daily drugs, vitamins, supplements, smoothies, etc. It is a full time job!
I would also like to give a shout0ut to the husband of the year (that would be Stephen) as he has taken such good care of me and has helped navigate this new world we live in (with a little help from his AI bots!) I am now almost six weeks post surgery and this man is still sleeping on the sofa next to my recliner just in case I need something in the night. We're both going to need a 5 star all-inclusive vacation when this is all over! Fortunately we should have enough points for such a thing after paying for this adventure.
