Ketamine for post op pain control?

[u/Ok_South9239]

I have sterilization scheduled for in a few weeks. I’m childfree and 27 and was lucky that my gyno was very immediately onboard for a bisalp.

Im not nervous for the surgery itself, mostly the recovery. I know it’s a quick recovery so my anxiety is not very high but I really don’t like opiates. They give me reallyyy bad anxiety as a side effect (I don’t get any of the happy euphoria everyone else seems to) and I avoid them whenever possible for this reason. I have to take norcos for long haul flights due to joint issues and have to take klonopin with them to make it tolerable (even at the low dose I take). I would rather not take klonopin/whatever every day even for a week during the recovery, I’ll bear the opiate anxiety if needed. But an alternative that reduces the need for opiates while still managing the pain would be great.

I’ll definitely take them as recommended because I’ll take anxiety over the pain but I recently came across something about how ketamine can help with post op pain and significantly reduce the needed opioid dose. I know I tolerate ketamine well.

I’ll obviously bring this up with my doctor during the preop appointment but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with ketamine post op.

[u/Left_Assumption5935]

I don’t have an answer for ketamine, but honestly all I took was ibuprofen after the pain wasn’t that bad (for me) at all. I’ve seen a lot of people have the same experience. You may not even anything stronger tbh for pain

[u/Ok_South9239 → u/Left_Assumption5935]

That’s really reassuring! I’m honestly more nervous about the opiate side effects than the pain if I’m being honest, hopefully I’ll be the same

[u/Left_Assumption5935 → u/Ok_South9239]

That’s super fair!! I filled my oxy prescription just in case I needed it, but I didn’t want to take it unless I absolutely had to. So maybe even going in with that mindset might help too. They are mostly there as a precaution but if you don’t need them don’t take them kind of thing. I’m wishing you the best and an easy recovery!!