My MVD is scheduled for Nov 5. The surgeon did not say anything about meds. I was wondering what doctors have told you about weaning off of meds pre-op. I take Tegretol and pain medicine. I wanted to wean off of the pain medicine before surgery. I know it will suck and hurt but I want to have my "true pain level" before surgery and then see how it is afterwards. Regarding the Tegretol: I was going to call him and see what he wants me to do but I want to make sure that that's not a stupid question. Have others been told to stop their Tegretol before surgery? (And no, I won't make medicine changes w/o talking to the Drs first. :) )
Hi I was still on all my meds when I had the MVD. Infact most of the time you are not weaned off your meds until several weeks after the surgery. My main med was tegretol. I would discuss this with your neurosurgeon. Good luck with your surgery.
Connie
Thanks Connie.
My MVD is Oct 18th and was told to continue Tegretol as normal. I am curantly on 1200mg a day. Is there a reason you want to find your true pain level? I just can’t imagine!
I have this thing in my head that I want to compare my non-meds pain level with the post op pain, or hopefully lack of pain, so that I can tell if the surgery has worked. (And I don't mean the surgical site pain.) I've been on pain medicine so long that I feel like I should compare it all. I can't really explain what I'm thinking. I don't want to be in pain, but it's almost like I will appreciate the pain going away so much more. Almost like a way of reassuring me that the pain I'll be going through with the surgery will be worth it.
I probably sound like a nut saying all this. LOL In a few days when my pain kicks in real bad again even though I'm taking something for the pain, I'm going to look at this and say "Yeah right!". hahaha
Thanks for the info on the Tegretol Mandie.