odd pain managment question hope someone has an answer

Hello Everyone, I am glad I found your forum! I searched the web trying to find this answer but no such luck so I am trying here.

In 2003, I was in a small fender bender that started to cause a lot of back pain when I finally went to the doc they did an MRI and found a tumor; after doing many tests they found it was benign but inoperable because it is right smack in the middle of my spinal cord with all my nerves running right through the middle of, it causes a lot pain as the tumor compress on the nerves.

I am on a strict pain reginment and have been for years.  Five years ago I started taking care of my aging mother who was afflicted with Alzheimers.  It was not a good situation by any means I had no help what so ever for two and a half years and was completely exhausted.  My brother finally saw the error in his ways (amazing I think really he just got tired of hearing me *****) and decided he would pitch in to have a lady come in a couple times a week so I could go shopping, I know, I know big of him right?"  But, it was better than nothing

I found my hair began to fall out, I was gaining weight by huge amounts I could gain 15 pounds in a week.  Need less to say my mom finally passed two years ago but by then I had gained about 150 pounds.  I am sure it was a combo of no exercise and overeating but I am not sure where.  But that its beside the point it's done and now it's time to change.

My mom is in in a happier place now and would have hated her life, so to be honest I'm glad she went quick.  I miss her terribly but she iis free now and hell it's baseball season she's happy!

That brings us to now.  When I broached the subject of weight losss surgery my doc went pale and told me that the surgery is not safe, no one said any surgery is safe, but I was under the assumption that this surgery had come a loooong way from when it started. Now here is my question.

He told me that if a person is on a pain management regiment they will not be accepted not matter what because it is an automatic failure.  If you stop taking the morphine before the surgery that after you will become a fiend an addict. You will become one of those people that go out searching for the drug unlike the person that you are now that is completely compliant.

I have to be honest I was shocked when he said this and no I am not joking he did say this to me.  He is not a believer in the surgery he made that known when I started seeing him, but so far nothing has worked.  I have tried every diet on the planet, every pill he has given me and nothing.  My gut tells me I have hormone issues but hey who listens to me?

I live in a small town.  Who right now is in the grips of believing that anyone that is taking narcotics is a card carrying drug addict who takes them to get high and not someone who has taken the same dose for eight years, never asked for meds early, and has learned to live with the fact that unless I want to take high doses of narcotics I have to live with the pain and frankly every day I wake up with feeling in my legs is a good day.  Switching doctors is next to impossible since I am on medicare. 

So if anyone has the answer about me become a drooling drug fiend after surgery is true or not and whether I would even be accepted I would feel much better!

Thanks Vickie

I'm not an expert on this subject, but what he told you doesn't sound right to me.  I know some people will switch addictions and use drugs or alcohol but that's not everyone. And you're taking a pain reliever for a legitimate condition so it doesn't mean you'll do it. 

Given your situation, I don't know how you'll get around it unless you get to see another doctor somehow.  Wish I had more to offer but good luck.

I don't really know anything about this but there was a thread about it quite recently but I can't find it! Everyone was saying it is not a problem. 

If you have a malaborptive surgery like RNY getting the dose right might be tricky but I ams sure it could be done.

Sounds like your doc is just anti-wls. I would ask a bariatric specialist.

Your doc is full of it.  Many people have WLS and suffer from chronic pain.  One of the benefits of WLS is that it often reduces chronic pain by relieving stress on the joints.  Fortunately, it doesn't matter what your doc thinks.  Contact a surgeon who accepts medicare and cut your doc out entirely. 

I have chronic pain.  Tried several pain medications that didn't work and ended up on methadone.  My PCP and Weight Center have no issue with my medication.  I am cleared for surgery and my paperwork is being submitted this week.

If your current doctor won't support WLS, then you need to find another doctor.  If you can't, then tell your doctor you want a referral to a bariatric surgeon.  

For your information, I went to medicare . gov and found several doctors listed in your area, Roseburg OR -- check it out.  

Good luck. 

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your reply, as for the docs taking Medicare in my area granted most of them do.  I moved with my daughter and her family to (Can't leave my grandbabies stupid me!) If I had stayed where I was I would have had better doctors, but oh well.

Before ACA there were a lot of docs that took Medicare but fear runs rampant in this conseravite so many bailed and with the frenzy of narcotic addiction it's not three strikes your out it's pretty much two strikes your out.  When you this all happened I called every doctor in the book as soon as they heard I was on a pain management program and Medicare they can't get off the phone quick enough.

But, I am so glad all the posts think he nuts! 

Fire this guy and find yourself a WLS-friendly PCP. He's full of BS, and clearly biased. Probably also secretly hates fat people.

Also, research a form of WLS called the Duodenal Switch. The DS has the very best long-term, maintained weight-loss stats for patients of any size, but especially so for those of us with a BMI greater than 50.

Hi,

Thanks for replying and the info!  I found the one guy in Oregon and he is at the best hospital in Oregon!  It's six hours from where I live but it's worth the drive.  So I am going to go around him and if I can't I will go through my gyn she is great (of course she is from a different town 2 hours to the north!)