Methadone And Surgery (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I'm having surgery for knee replacement and this is the first time I've had surgery and general anaesthetic while on methadone. Can anyone advise me about the safety of this and how they will treat post-operative pain?

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Hello
I have tried looking for that doctors letter you are talking about on the website you mentioned (methadone.org) but cannot find it anywhere on there. That letter would be very helpful (especially here in Canada, you don't really have a choice in the surgeon or even the doctor you get to see. You get whoever your family doctor sends you to see).

Can you please send a link to the actual letter? That would be so helpful.
If you can send that to my e-mail that works too. My e-mail is: {edited for privacy}.

Thanks so much,
Nadine

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Please don't worry. I am on 135 MG of juice for 8 yrs and just had spinal stenosis surgery. Let them know also so they can have your doses ready for you if they dont let you use your take homes. Believe me, they knew just what to give me I was given Percocet for post op pain and it actually helped. But I know Dilaudid really works good
for breakthrough pain but it all worked out. Just be honest and be choosy and bring as much paperwork about your dose as possible. I got a handwritten note from the doctor at my clinic, that said my dose may not be used for pain, please prescribe a shorter acting narcotic for post op-pain

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It's definitely safe but you must make sure that your surgeon and anesthesiologist know that you're taking methadone. They will have to adjust the dosages of the medications they give for general anesthesia and for pain control. Make sure that they don't try to tell you that you can use your daily dose for pain management after the surgery. I've found that many doctors are not educated about this subject so it's your job to educate yourself so that you can pass it on to them. I'll see if I can find it but someone has done a printout for patients to give to their doctors regarding pain management for people on methadone. If I find it I'll post the link. Good luck!

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In the UK they often give Midazolam before the op to sedate you, this is when i had a endoscopy, so for anything like that benzo's are great. I've had other bad experiences with pain relief and the UK's NHS, i went in for an op and was concerned about pain relief, they spent 20mins talking to me writing down everything about my meth use and dosage explaining that this was to ensure they gave me the correct pain relief after the op so i thought GREAT! nothing to worry about! i came out of the op woke up and was sent home with a box of pills 2 types, i only realized when i got home they had given me Paracetamol! and Tramadol, for those who know, it's obvious that tramadol would do nothing to someone who has a methadone habit not unelss they where to give you a very high doe and they gave me the standard dose that they would give a normal person so i have no pain relief whatsoever apart from paracetamol which to be honest worked very well when i was in agony, it was the only thing i could take but i was very angry at this mess up! for anyone in the UK going for an op please discuss it in detail before you go and ensure that they give you some proper pain releif, they should ideally work out the correct opiate equivalent and use a different opiate eg. morphine, diamorphine, or similar although we know how likely that it due to the huge stigma we all get these days! if you have probs pls complain about them....

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How did your surgery go? I'm having a surgery in 7 days.. I'm on methadone 90mgs daily. I haven't told them for personal reasons also.. Please let me know... I'm scared to death! !

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There's a huge risk to not telling them. Read my posts on this thread, starting with number 25, then 27 and 29. If you have any additional questions, let me know.

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Thanks Jennifer..if they don't want to do my bbl because I'm on methadone will they give meet money back?..where can I find the letter that's online to Give to the doc for ppl who are on methadone?

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Hi,
I'm going into a minor outpatient surgery next Friday where I am going to be under a moderate twilight sedation so I'll be partially awake. I am in a methadone maintenance program and take 110mg a day. I was told by the nurse that some people on methadone aren't sedated at all or aren't as sedated as someone not on methadone and that I could be awake and feel the whole thing. That terrifies me. I was wondering has anyone had something similar? How did the methadone effect your ability to be put under and to feel the pain?

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Hi my name is Chris I'm about to go in hospital for open stomach surgery I'm on 40 mg of methadone I wanted to know if they will give me IV painkiller drugs I no longer use opiates but the pain I'm told from this operation is going to be serious please give me an answer ASAP my operation is in two days thank you very much

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I'm getting my lazy eye surgery done today they told me I'll only have my head under I didn't tell them about me on methadone I'm on 120mg should I worry, cause I'm getting it done in china over here they treat u worse than usa.

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I cannot believe these Dr's & methadone. To me it is complete incompetence & neglect to refuse to treat a patient because they are on methadone ! It actually proves the Dr is ignorant regarding methadone. ( ignorance = lack of knowledge). I would be calling your governing body over surgeons in the USA As I do not think it is even legal however I would be asking them also for the name of a competent Dr to treat you.

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I can't believe it I'm going through the same thing I am having knee replacement surgery to now I have had surgery before while on methadone but it was just minor and I had no problems they dealt with the pain with a few Norcos but I am myself from wondering what they're going to do about the pain from knee replacement I can't believe somebody else is going through the same thing that I am thank you maybe we can get an answer

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Hello. I too had 2 major surgeries after a car wreck last Sept. 11th, 2016. I was currently taking 160 mgs of methadone. I was getting 600 10 mg. methadone pills prescribed by my pain doctor and he said he could in NO way write for more...which I completely understand why. That's a lot of methadone even if I'm 6'4" & 245 lbs.
I had to take 22-24 pills a day after the first surgery and then drop down to make sure I had enough to cover the entire month.
***My question is how much methadone were you on right before the surgery because you said that Percents helped alleviate most of your pain after YOUR surgery? Did you take methadone the day of your surgery?
I am down to 60 a day NOW and am going to see my neurosurgeon TOMORROW to tell him that I do want to have the 3 disc fusion surgery at lower back (L4, L5 & S1). I want to try to get to 35 mgs BEFORE the surgery and I hope then I will be able to be switched to Percs, Roxi's or something for the pain other than continuing with methadone. Do you think I will get relief? I have been on methadone (this time) for over 4 years now. I have come off 150 mgs before on my own. But nothing works for ALL DAY pain like methadone... for me.

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Re: twnki (# 6)

This is not safe, to not tell your doctor what medications you are on. They might give you a medication that could have a severe reaction with methadone. Please, nobody do this.

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Re: Jay (# 72)

For the safety of your own life you better tell the anesthesiologist when he comes in right before surgery!

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Re: Jay (# 72)

Yes!!! U may never wake up from surgery if you don’t tell them.

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You MAKE SURE THE SURGEON AND THE Anesthesiologist knows. So they know what they can and can’t give you. Methadone is a very very strong drug. You could end up dying if these specific people don’t know! Put it all over your chart.

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i'm having breast implants and i am on 35mg of methadone is that safe? Thanks
Has anyone had them done ? Im a A now want to go 400cc Im 5 3 an 125pounds . Not sure if that's to small or like to hear from someone That went throught it Thanks lady's

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Thank you scoop much.

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You're more than welcome. Let me know if you need anything else and keep me updated.

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