MEDICATIONS
There are multiple medications we use to help with pain. Whenever possible, try to take a non-narcotic pain medication. You don’t get the woozy, nausea feeling, they don’t constipate, and they don’t impair driving.
ACETAMINOPHEN (tylenol). Check the strength. You want to limit it to 3000mg/day. Do not drink any alcohol while on this medication, as both are processed by the liver. Notify the doctor if you have any liver issues.
- SURGERY DAY/DAY ZERO: 1000 mg prior to surgery. Remember to record Narcotic pill use as 325 mg/dose.
DAY 0/AMOUNT ___________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________
DAY 1/AMOUNT ___________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________
DAY 2/AMOUNT ___________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________
DAY 3/AMOUNT ___________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________
TIME/AMOUNT ____________________
CELEBREX/CELECOXIB. This is a NSAID (nonsteroidal) which does NOT increase bruising. It is an excellent way to decrease pain medication use. This is to be taken twice a day. It is not to be taken in response to “it hurts.” It gives background pain control, is nonsedating, and non constipating. Start the day of surgery and continue for two weeks. Nothify the doctor if you have any kidney issues.
DAY 0/AMOUNT ______________________TIME/AMOUNT ______________________
DAY 1/AMOUNT ______________________TIME/AMOUNT ______________________
DAY 3/AMOUNT ______________________TIME/AMOUNT ______________________
ANTIBIOTIC. This is preventative. I usually give Keflex, which is given 4x/day. It is most important to finish the course if you have a breast implant or a drainage tube. The first day you will have had IV antibiotics in surgery, so start that night.
DAY 0/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________
DAY 1/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________TIME/AMOUNT ________
DAY 3/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________TIME/AMOUNT ________
DAY 4/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________TIME/AMOUNT ________
DAY 5/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________TIME/AMOUNT ________
Etc. Take until gone.
NARCOTIC . This is Vicodin or Percocet. BOTH HAVE 325mg acetaminophen/pill. I expect you may need to take 1 pills every 6 hours for the first 2-3 days. Everyone is different. Start with one pill and see how that effects you. You should wean yourself off as quickly as possible. Space the time between pills. Take Tylenol instead of a pain pill. Reserve the few pills you have left for nighttime to help you sleep better. *If someone is not arousable, seems out of it/very sleepy, do NOT give them this. YOU SHOULD NEVER BE TAKING MORE THAN 7 PILLS/DAY. If there is ever a sign of overdose, it will present as respiratory depression (not breathing). Administer CPR and Narcan and call 911.
DAY 0/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________
DAY 1/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________TIME/AMOUNT ________
DAY 3/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT ________TIME/AMOUNT ________
DAY 4/AMOUNT _________TIME/AMOUNT _________
NAUSEA MEDICATION. If you get car sick easily or are a cheap date, the anesthetic or pain medication make make you nauseous. We have many different medications to help with nausea, so if what we prescribed (and we give you multiple different ones in surgery) isn’t working, please let us know! It takes 20 minutes for the nausea medication to be effective, so take it 20 minutes before trying to eat or take a pain medication.
DAY 0/AMOUNT ______________________TIME/AMOUNT ______________________
DAY 1/AMOUNT ______________________TIME/AMOUNT ______________________
DAY 3/AMOUNT ______________________TIME/AMOUNT ______________________
OTHER MEDICATIONS like a muscle relaxant (breast augmentation, tummy tuck) or singulair (breast augmentation) may be prescribed. If you have a higher risk of blood clots, Lovenox injections may be used following surgery. This blog is general guidelines. This is not medical advice. Discuss this with your doctor.
- PROBIOTICS. Important to repopulate your GI system with good bacteria
- VITAMINS: MVI, Vitamin A, Vitmain C, Zinc have all been shown to help with healing
- STOOL SOFTENERS. If no bowel movement by 4-5 days after surgery, use a suppository. See my blog on bowel advice HERE.
- ARNICA + BROMELAIN (found naturally in pineapple) may lower bruising and swelling