Time to stop Narcotics

Marco & Tarma are snuggling

Two weeks post op and I'm getting real tired of not having a functional knee. I finally had the energy to find a good place to have physical therapy. It would have very nice to have had it set it up prior to surgery but I was waiting to get my new insurance information.  Emotionally I need to start physical therapy which begins on January 3.  I'm starting to go stir crazy and I'm beginning to get way to introspective for my own good.

It's time to cut back significantly on the narcotics. After two weeks of use they begin to make me feel foggy and a general feeling of unwellness. When I don't take them regularly I have nausea, mild gastrointestinal discomfort, irritability, anxiety and my nose starts running. I know these are the unpleasant feelings of narcotic withdraw.  It's time to take a break from narcotics and only consume tylenol because if I don't do this and I need pain relief when I start PT the narcotics aren't going to work.

I dropped my husband off at work this morning which is only 3 miles away and I should have realized I wasn't up for the drive to my doctors appointment when every foul word spewed out of my mouth on the way home. I was supposed to have my two week follow up with the surgeon today which didn't happen. My heart was willing but my body refused to make the hour long drive. I got in my car with an attitude that I can do this. It's mind or matter, but 15 minutes down the road tears were blurring my vision. It's one of those moments when you have to get real with yourself and just say this isn't wise and retreat. Thankfully my surgeon is part of a large organization that has multiple locations and I'm being rescheduled for a follow-up appointment at a facility much closer.