How long on drugs please?

Morning buddies
I'm a week on and in my mind still on as much pain relief as at the start
3 doses of paracetamol and maybe one sometimes two doeset of brufen
Should I be starting to reduce down? I did have one day when I had far less and though I might be turning a corner but then the next day I was back to the above.
Also while I'm here, I've been wedged upright for sleeping but last night did just try three pillows which made me sleep far better and morning boob was fine this morning... So am I ok to sleep lower down now or should I stay more upright? 
Thanks all x

Hi Bexx. You dont need to be sleeping bolt upright, just as long as your head and shoulders are above your heart to help drain the swelling.

Drugs - I was on Coedine and Paracetamol for 3days, d4 down to just paracetamol, and then probably around w2 just as as when I needed it. I was advised to stay away from Ibruprofen as its a blood thinner. If you're feeling fine, or like you're taking too much, just start weaning yourself off a dose at a time, but if you're still in that much pain, keep taking them.

Ah ok thanks
They did prescribe the brufen for me which I was surprised about but I guess if they prescribed it is fine.. I will aim to reduce down a bit I think 
I think I do get a bit addicted to para so keen to avoid that
Thanks xx

Hi bexx, I took coedine until day 3 but it was making me sick and very lightheaded. then I just took paracetamol when I needed it.  Didnt have any pain meds at all yesterday or so far today. U might be better to try to gradually come of it but obviously dont suffer if ur in pain! 
Im also wondering the same question about sleeping as its so uncomfortable and hard to sleep that way plus its killing my back! 
Hope your doing ok x

Hey pixie yes I think I will try and have a bit less para today 
It's so uncomfy isn't it?? They didn't really say much about being propped up at the hospital but its definitely helped the morning boob situation.. I might just try with three normal pillows tonight, slept loads better last night when I removed my big V pillow in sheer frustration
Doing well I think, have had loads of help getting the kids to school, sure know who my mates are
Hope you're good too xxx

Yeah its really uncomfy, I would never normally sleep on my back, think im a bit paranoid that if I dont sleep upright then my boobs will never drop lol
Glad your doing ok and have plenty of help, im lucky in that my kids school is only 10min walk away so been able to do that ok. x

Yes you're ok to sleep slightly lower down now, usually a week all painkillers are stopped at, so try reducing the paracetomol x

Thank you 
I will try and wean off them xx

Don't put pressure on yourself to stop the pain killers if you still feel you need them Bex. We all heal at different rates and will all stop the pain killers when we each feel we no longer need them. So listen to your body lovely, if you're not coping with the discomfort, then take the painkillers and if you feel you can manage without, then they're not necessary at all and you can just stop taking them, no need to wean yourself off hun.

I found I needed painkillers in the morning and last thing at night after the initial first few days. I was fine during the day because I could be up and moving around which does relieve the swelling, but last thing at night when you're not moving and the swelling kicked in that's when I needed pain killers most as well as in the morning when all the swelling had settled over night.

It took me two weeks to stop all pain killers lovely, so take if you 'need' them, and don't take if you feel OK.

There's no need at all to be sat upright Bex. Your back must be in agony sleeping like that hun! Just having your head and shoulders raised above your chest is all that's needed hun.

Hope you get a better rest tonight babe,  

Thank you Cookie 
Can't wait to go to bed now hahaha x

Just a little question to you all post op ladies..... The nurse at my pre op told me to finish the course of painkillers I've been given... I don't know how many there will be but do you think this sounds normal even if I feel ok after a couple of days? Xx

Absolutely not! Infact I've never heard of any medical professional especially in this day and age, when its well known how addictive pain killers can be encouraging someone to take painkillers they may not necessarily need!

The anti-bs if you're given those to take home need to have the entire course finished, but the painkillers.... Not at all. If you don't need them Jen then don't take them hun. Xx

Ok perfect thank you :) maybe I got it wrong and she said anti-bs but if not I'm glad I don't need to take the painkillers if I don't need to :) xx

I've been sleeping bolt upright too as thought I had to! It's a killer on the coccyx!! I woke in the night on my side though and my boobs hurt today! My 2 year old was up and down all night so I must have just been so tired and not realised I'd moved!

Feel for you on the sleeping position x it was bliss when I was able to start sleeping on my side.

I wouldn't worry about taking the odd paracetamol, try leaving longer between taking them and see how you feel - my surgeon only wanted me to take painkillers when it was absolutely necessary to prevent me from doing too much. I was also allowed ibuprofen.

Morning

Been uncomfortable since about 1am but as I had some sleeping tables I zonked instead of buzzing and asking. Just woke up at about 4.10 and nurse has come along and given me some  co-codamol. I've said they won't be string enough and I need maybe tramadol or a higher level of codine and something else. He said that they've wrote that down for me leaving...well they can change it right? I also said I need some intergestant relief alongside my antibiopics as if not i get heart burn and he said its not wrote down. Surely a doctor can change this before I leave???!!!

J-z

I was also prescribed paracetamol and ibuprofen. I took them both for about 3 days and then stopped the ibu. I just took paracetamol for the next 2 days and then stopped those too. We all heal differently tho Hun and if you're not ready to stop the para then don't. With regard to sleeping. I slept upright for a few days ( I know you don't need to but I felt more comfy like that ) I had pillows supporting me everywhere! Then I gradually lowered myself day by day mainly due to advice given on here x Hope your recovery goes smoothly x

We all heal differently, I've not had painkillers for the last 3 days, and just took a couple of paracetamol last night before bed because I felt I needed it after spending the day at hospital with my oldest girl (why do hospital days feel like they are at least 3 normal days all squeezed together into one?!) I'm generally good at handling pain (no not like nipple clamp extent, just general pain) and I'm known to suffer a headache all day long rather than take a couple of painkillers just to let my body deal with it, but that's a personal thing (my mam has to take 27painkillers a day including diclofenac, morphine, and lots of other class A, alongside anti depressants, and this is a 'long term solution' the doctors have devised for her, she's been on them over 10years now which is ridiculous, and when she is late in taking her meds, her mouth goes all dry and she slurs her words, gets confused, says random things, looses her balance--in short, she scares the sh** outta me! So I think that's why I like to try and avoid pain meds unless I absolutely can't cope.) 

Anyway, just take them when you feel you need to after the first few days, obviously don't go OVER the prescribed dose, but listen to what your body tells you (unless it's like mine  and tells you you like Phil Taylor, the darts player, in a romantic way, which is WRONG, so don't listen to that kinda shiz!) 

Happy healing!! 

Xx

Thanks ladies...I just want to be comfortable. So am going to ask for tramadol. Just enough to get me through till Tuesday. X

They will give them to u I asked for sickness tablets and got them so any think u need just ask and the doctor should give you it. Hope your ok just seen u ad a 4th re op can't imagine doing that so rely hope this is the last 1 and you look fab this time 

Love Maisy x

Thanks hon. Had a chat with the doctor and he's sorting things out for me now. X

Pink princess I just snorted into my tea reading the phil Taylor comment!!

Jay 1983 I agree with the rest, only take them when your body is telling you that you need them. I was addicted to Tramadol for over a year and had to go cold turkey when I got pregnant which was horrible, it is very easy to get addicted. I still take them for a long term joint condition but my hubby locks them up and I'm only allowed them when I really need them to stop me getting addicted again!!

X

Im not feeling the need to take them during the day at all cus im not moving about or moving my left arm at all.just taking codine before bed and then paracetamol wen I wake.
My arms r so achy this time round though and im abit scared to move them if im honest :( 
Do u think that if I start to take my paracetamol more often I will feel better? Xxx

Yes. It'll feel much better Natty. Do make yourself comfortable hun. Its not worth sitting there in pain when the pain killers can help sweetheart  

my arms felt much better on day 4 and now on day 6 I can move them much easier just not overhead... I have also managed to stop taking the painkillers now (took one before bed yesterday) but didn't need to take another to get me through the night so hoping that will be it now... Your almost there I imagine natty with the arms feeling better so stay positive :) xx