Sleep Apnea Surgery: Afraid of Pain Killers?

When I had my sleep apnea surgery, my adenoids, tonsils, and uvula were taken out. Needless to say, my throat felt pretty torn up for a while.

The doctor prescribed me some pain medication. I know a lot of people are afraid to take pain medicine because they are afraid they will become addicted, so let's talk about it.

Did I get addicted to pain killers?

Quite the opposite. I did take the medicine, but I don't think I even finished the bottle. My grandmother was there to help me make sure I didn't take too much (I was about 16 years old). Since then, I've had multiple surgeries with stronger pain medicine and I've always been fine. But let's look at some alternatives that might help post-surgery.

CBD and over-the-counter pain drugs

As with anything, check with your doctor; I am not a doctor, and for your safety, I cannot give you medical advice. But I can tell you what I've found that has helped me. There are a lot of CBD products on the market that can help with pain. I take CBD oil for other medical problems. It also comes in the form of a topical cream! You can even get it infused with cannabis if your state allows that (kind of like Tiger Balm).

Edibles are also in that same vein. CBD has even been added to some bath bombs! So not only can you get the benefits of the bomb but also a nice warm relaxing bath! Ahhhh!

Ibuprofen is also a big help, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. That one is easy to get anywhere. I like the liquid gels since they go to work faster.

Embracing distraction

If you're still feeling wary, you may want to try different ways of distracting yourself! Virtual reality has become very popular. You can even buy it for your phone now! It's so immersive that it makes it easy to forget what's going on in the here and now. It's a wonderful form of escapism – just don't hit your TV.

Of course, there's also reading books, puzzles, other video games, etc. In some cases, exercise can help with pain relief or distraction. Even just going outside for a walk may help alleviate some of what you are feeling.

Learning a new skill is a wonderful way to engage the brain. YouTube has a lot of "how-to" videos. Gordon Ramsay even has some up on his channel (He makes a mean scrambled egg and shows you how!). Depending on your pain, swimming is also wonderful since it helps take pressure off of your body so you can just float around for a while.

Pain relief is not one-size fits all

Everyone is different, not all of my suggestions will work for you, and that's OK! Exploring new things can be fun and sometimes helpful!

What do you think? Are you afraid of pain medications? Have you found other methods that work for you that might work for others? Let us know in the comments!