.
Fentanyl is something I only heard about when it became the crisis-du-jour, replacing oxycodone in the headlines.
Acquaintance with it was something I neither sought nor wished for.
.
So it came as more of a surprise than yesterday morning’s vista, or the fact that two inches of snow scared off the trash removal truck. (It appears they will use any excuse.)
One thing I could never have guessed I would encounter yesterday was a substance Wikipedia describes as:
“30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.”
.
Morphine prescribed after a spinal fusion had a very bad affect on me, such that when the fusion had to be repaired just weeks later, the hospital would not administer it.
So how did I encounter fentanyl?
.
A long period of constant nausea persuaded me reluctantly to visit a gastroenterologist and unsurprisingly this led to having an upper endoscopy.
This a simple procedure that I’ve had a number of times, but given that having a tube stuck down your throat is a little unsettling, they anesthetise you.
Or at least, they did.
.
Nowadays, they sedate you.
At the pain clinic you are offered sedation but I never take it as it really isn’t necessary, so although I wondered about the difference, I had no experience of it in that form.
Perhaps I should have mentioned that I have a very high gag reflex, but it seemed unnecessary.
.
In theory, sedation ought to have been quite as effective as anesthesia. Maybe they use it instead because it is less risky? Less expensive? Better tolerated?
It did certainly put my lights out.
But apparently, that does not suffice!
.
Most of yesterday afternoon is not even a blur, but I do remember being told that I would have to re-schedule the procedure because I had been combative.
Unconscious though I was, reportedly I struggled, making it impossible for the doctor to complete the examination.
.
Waking from anesthesia, I have never been more than a little groggy and I am always able to function.
After those few minutes of sedation, I have no memory even of what happened. Can’t recall getting dressed or being placed in a wheelchair and brought to the car where Grant waited.
.
Grant had to remind me that on the way home I was talking and taking photographs. He said he thought I looked a bit “peaky”.
By late afternoon I was compos mentis enough to be curious about what exactly I had been sedated with, so I went to find the paperwork I’d been given, though how I remembered it, I don’t know!
.
That is when I discovered I had been given 100 mcg of fentanyl.
Presumably not everyone reacts to it the way I did. At least I hope not. To administer a drug that so affects the brain would be highly irresponsible.
My opinion of the medical world not improved.
.
Wednesday was therefore rather a wash-out, but the journey to Albany was fine.
Albany is the state capital and not beautiful, not a place I would ever go if I didn’t have to.
Overnight snow and a bright morning made the trip mostly enjoyable. The outskirts of Albany are no better than the approach to any city.
.
Light snow in early Spring, when the trees are coming alive, has an entirely different look to the same amount in early Winter, when the trees are shutting down.
.
Is it just my perception?
.
It’s no secret I love snow, so I was delighted to see it! As it happens, we had snow on April 10th last year.
.
Overnight the temperature had dropped to 21F/-6C and we’ve had to turn the heating back up.
.
It will be hot soon enough.
.
In the meantime I will enjoy every fresh morning we get!
I am sorry, Carolyn, for the unpleasant experience, and I hope it is not going to happen again, as you should be told what you are being given and not agree to take it. It is good that you are recovering quickly and you could take excellent pictures. I love the beautiful landscapes, the trees, and the clouds in the blue sky.
Joanna
I’m shocked they administered it without your permission and glad you came out of it okay
Poor you! I hope you manage to get the procedure completed without further trouble.
-6C and snow! It’s very different over here, with +18C forecast for today. They should have asked you if you were okay with being given Fentanyl. For all they knew you could have been allergic to it. Shocking to have to go through all that and not even have the procedure completed.
Best wishes, Pete.
Never had fentanyl. But they gave me tramadol for post surgery back in 2015. I took it twice. Seriously hallucinogenic, at least to me. Halo effect lasted three weeks. I was told it’s used for migraines and other pain and there are people taking it and walking around, driving, participating in daily life. Scared the crap out of me.
Drugs affect us so differently. I occasionally use tramadol for pain, just a single pill takes the edge off and it has no other effect on me. Oxy used to help with pain but gave me headaches so I never understood the appeal of it, but long ago I had fioricet for headache and it did give me a lift though luckily I was never habituated to it. We are much better off staying away from all that stuff except short term when needed.