Coming Off Medication For Surgery

[Nicolette]

As you would know from Chit Chat I am having surgery shortly. I am on a medication which cannot be ceased immediately despite an anesthetist telling me just to stop it 48 hours prior to surgery. She said the medication should be out of my body within 48 hours from what she had read. I showed her the box which said "do not suddenly cease taking this medication" or something to that effect. Anyway she rang my doctor to check as I told her I had a clear understanding I was never just to suddenly cease taking the medication due to side effects of doing such.

I received an email from my doctor with instructions how to wean myself off the medication in a relatively short amount of time so that I would end up having had none 60 hours prior to surgery.

Big lesson - don't let an expert in something else tell you how to deal with medication prescribed by others and "just read up on it on the internet"... hello - bit like the self diagnosis which occurs a lot now from the internet. :rolleyes:

Good news is today, since taking the medication at the highest level I had been at (which was still not a normal full dosage as I could not tolerate it), to now at a 1/3 of that dosage, is that I got my sex drive back. :inlove::whistling: It is the first time I actually felt really good and had any urge. I hadn't stopped having sex but compared to how I was prior to medication there was a huge difference.

Thinking I might trying staying off this medication based on how I go with none in my system... I was instructed to go back on it after surgery but am interested in just having help with the anxiety and will just stay on medication for that if I don't slip backwards as I don't see myself as depressed. Fingers and toes crossed. :cautious:

 

[Froggie]

With my emergency operation, they had taken me off my Abilify quickly. But with that, I had such a bad nightmare to flashback to need to dissociate. Scared the nurse in ICU, no one had told her that I would /could have a PTSD reaction. Even if I was morphined out of my mind, I insisted to get my Abilify back ... I got what I wanted and especially needed.

Hope you won't have to go through that. And who knows, maybe this will be something interesting and show that you only need the meds at a lesser dosage. Hope that is the case for you Nicolette, you deserve the best. Glad you had that idea to contact your Dr on this. You are right, we should never led another professional override our primary professional's decisions. Especially when things are going well with our primary professional.

 

[Srain]

Oh for sure, I usually do a LOT of research myself! I check mostly with other people who have been on the med themselves because they tend to be the best resource. I know drs truly mean well but until you've actually walked the walk it is difficult to appreciate the effects. I've come off several meds the past years and had some drs tell it's ok when other clients have given me the best ideas and little hints of what might work in accordance to how my body might react. I'm so glad you have a dr that is on the mark!!

I do know what you mean about rediscovering your sex drive, it's like the heaven's opening up and the Angels singing :)I forget how great the full on drive is (I don't take ADs but one of mine inhibits my drive or it's my ptsd) and when it lifts I feel free to be all woman. It's truly great!

I hope the next step down goes as well. Thoughts and peace your way.

Rain

 

[AngelaMarie]

Yep, Nicolette, I agree with you about not listening to so-called experts that didn't put you on medication. Thank goodness you are so intelligent or you could have had some serious problems. I do not even understand how they can make that mistake actually. If they do their homework it should be easy to find out! Oh well!

I am glad about the urge coming back!!;):p Who knows maybe you will find out you don't need so much medication and that part of your life will be more enjoyable for you!!:) Enjoy!!!!

Warm thoughts, Nicolette!

 

[James B.]

Glad you're feeling better.

 

[Nicolette]

So far the only side effect is that I am sleeping more and having more vivid dreams. Not feeling bad during the day. My last tablet will be in 1/2 and hour so I hope I continue this way and can stay off AD's.

 

[AngelaMarie]

Gosh! I wish I would have a side effect like sleeping TOO much! My side effects are always sleeping less!;)

I hope it keeps going well!

 

[Srain]

HA! Love your picture AngelaMarie :) :) :)
Me too!!

Thinking of you Nicolette, sweet dreams, hope they are the good kind of vivid dreams ;)

peace,
Rain

 

[Nicolette]

HA! Love your picture AngelaMarie :) :) :)

It is a gorgeous photo - the innocent and happy, wishful girl we all wish was alive inside of us. ;)

 

[intothelight]

Nicolette,

Thank you for bringing this point to everyone's attention, as we are our own best advocates. Sometimes it is hard to question the "experts", but we need to trust our instincts more and it never hurts to ask or get a second opinion.

Glad to here that weaning off the meds is going well and very happy that you discovered the side effect.

Take care.
Debbie

 

[Gamereign555]

That is good on your part. Way to take the initiative on your part, only you know what is going on with you.

 

[The Albatross]

What a nice by product of this process (a libido)!!! So very happy for you, and of course, I'm still hoping for a sound procedure and rapid recovery for you!