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After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

nytimes.com

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Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#31

Post by dominostars »

wickawic wrote: post #13
maxxxxx wrote: post #11

"I took two ibuprofens that first day. In hindsight, I didn’t need them, but I felt like I should take something" I have noticed the need to "take something" with a lot of American friends when they have problem. It's almost like a reflex.

I assure you there are just as many of us with a complete aversion to taking anything at all.

I'm very reluctant to take drugs, even over the counter pain meds or allergy pills, but this is an American trend that a lot of people I've interacted with have noticed and I wouldn't discount it outright.

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#32

Post by syshum »

fatjokes wrote: post #23
syshum wrote: post #8

I always get in a arguments with my EU acquaintances over pain management topics. The idea that is a "good" to suffer with pain instead of taking pain killers is abhorrent to me.

It's one thing to suffer with pain needlessly, it's another if the treatment of pain could have long term harmful effects, e.g., addition to opioids. I had impacted wisdom teeth and needed dental surgery. The dentist gave me a couple of codeines to take home but I never took them. The day after the local anesthesia wore off was miserable, but it became easily manageable after that. I found a lot of times the fear of…

This is why my individualism, and Self Ownership come it to play as I feel that should be my choice if I want to take the risk, it should be up to me if the pain is server enough to warrant opioids or not as I am the one experiencing the pain.

Every person reacts differently to procedures and to pain, some people having their wisdom teeth removed may not be painful, others it might be terrible pain. It should be up to the individual as a adult to make those choices for themselves

I am sure that will be an unpopular opinion given the state of society is that no one should be treated as adults and that governments or "others" should tell people have to live ...

At multiple times in my life I have been given hydrocodone, I have almost never used the entire prescription, but when I needed them I would glad to have them. The idea that a 3rd party can tell me "ohh your pain is not that bad just live with it" when there is a easy solution to allow me not to live it it, well I find that morally reprehensible

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#33

Post by eropple »

wickawic wrote: post #13
maxxxxx wrote: post #11

"I took two ibuprofens that first day. In hindsight, I didn’t need them, but I felt like I should take something" I have noticed the need to "take something" with a lot of American friends when they have problem. It's almost like a reflex.

I assure you there are just as many of us with a complete aversion to taking anything at all.

Folks not reaching for a pill bottle are pretty rare, IME. I think the author of this article is touching on something pretty valuable with the willingness to be uncomfortable or even to endure pain. When I broke my leg in college, they gave me morphine while I was in the hospital (which just made me annoyed and mad) and I never touched the take-home codeine. Was walking in an air boot "early", too, as I was assured I couldn't hurt myself thanks to the metal rod through my shin and it just...didn't hurt that much.

I might take a naproxen if I have a bad headache or I tweak my neck and I can't stop working to take care of myself, but that's maybe two or three times a year (and I am being well-compensated for it). I know people, healthy people, who pop an ibuprofen in the morning just out of habit.

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#34

Post by raverbashing »

maxxxxx wrote: post #11

"I took two ibuprofens that first day. In hindsight, I didn’t need them, but I felt like I should take something" I have noticed the need to "take something" with a lot of American friends when they have problem. It's almost like a reflex.

For migraine sufferers, not taking something as it starts to unfold will result in a very unpleasant experience that will take longer to resolve

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#35

Post by foepys »

Thomaschaaf wrote: post #16
Quzani-Berlin wrote: post #2

Hi, I read your article and many of your experiences are - sadly - the normal behaviour with pain and pain killers in Germany. In the south of Germany even more than up in the north (from my experiences). But there is hope... I would recommand that you search for a new doctor - in the best case a young doctor fresh out of the university. The reason is simple. Pain management have only recently become a major topic in…

The whole point of the article was that she did not need the painkillers and actually prefers it in hindsight. With the american "sick day" system drugging yourself to work is a necessity. The german take as many sick days as you need lets you choose the healthier route.

Not only is it healthier but also better for the employer long term. A drugged employee makes more mistakes and might suffer injuries from lack of attention.

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#36

Post by eshyong »

throwaway2016a wrote: post #12
izacus wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you completely failed to read between the lines - the article is a criticism of rapidly increasing number of people addicted to pain pills in US and their excessive consumption across the country.

I don't think you even have to read between the lines. The article is pretty clear about it. Not just pain killers but also things like cold medicine. But he did say his English was poor so i can see how that might get lost in translation.

I'm pretty sure the author is a woman... the article says she got a hysterectomy, which is surgery to remove a uterus. (She also mentions her husband in the opening paragraph)

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#37

Post by this_user »

syshum wrote: post #8

I always get in a arguments with my EU acquaintances over pain management topics. The idea that is a "good" to suffer with pain instead of taking pain killers is abhorrent to me.

Some temporary pain won't kill you, but opioids might.

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#38

Post by fastball »

maxxxxx wrote: post #11

"I took two ibuprofens that first day. In hindsight, I didn’t need them, but I felt like I should take something" I have noticed the need to "take something" with a lot of American friends when they have problem. It's almost like a reflex.

Anecdotally, it's fairly prevalent in Europe as well. Living in Europe, I know just as many Europeans who pop ibuprofen like candy compared to Americans.

Re: After Surgery in Germany, I Wanted Vicodin, Not Herbal Tea

#39

Post by ggregoire »

chrisper wrote: post #29
zython wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This make me think: Could this behaviour be influenced by US-american pharma corporations being allowed to run (TV-)ads on prescription medications ?

I think it has more to do with how readily available medication is in the US (Supermarket).

I'm not sure it's a valid point since I can just enter in one of the 3 pharmacies near me and buy a box of aspirins for 2€. We don't have medications in supermarket but we have a LOT of pharmacies here (France).
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