How to Know When to Ask for Pain Medications After Bypass Surgery

Bypass surgery can be a painful experience, so it is important to know when to ask for pain medications afterward. This may be more confusing than you'd expect. Follow these steps for guidance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Surgeon

1. Talk to your surgeon about medication options before you undergo surgery. Be sure you alert him or her about medications you are allergic to or cannot tolerate. Ask your surgeon to submit a plan for pain management based on your limitations.
2. Talk to your nurses. Tap his or her experience with postoperative patients for guidance about pain medications. Nurses follow the surgeon's instructions about pain management and can explain the policy to you.
3. Talk to your regular physician about postsurgical pain management. He or she knows you better than the surgeon does and may have useful suggestions.
4. Talk to a pharmacist about pain management options. He or she can guide you in your pain medication decisions, especially after you are discharged from the hospital. A pharmacist can also give you pertinent information about medications you may eventually be taking.
5. Research your question on the Internet (see Resources below). You will find general information about pain management, and aftercare instructions as well.

Tips & Warnings

• When in doubt, ask for pain medication, especially when you are still in the hospital. The doctors and nurses seeing to your recovery can help you decide when pain medication is necessary.
• A certain amount of pain is to be expected with bypass surgery. Be prepared to endure some discomfort, but don’t keep yourself in pain. It is detrimental to your recovery to stay in pain. Be smart about taking pain medications when you need them -- and about not taking them when you don't.
• Do not become dependent on pain medication. Know your limits and be vigilant with your pain. During your recovery, attempt to find other ways to relieve discomfort and avoid depending on medication.