Surgeon never sent post-op meds... any advice? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago by Pheral@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Apologies for any weird formatting. I'm a lurker with no idea how to post. For context, I live in the USA, asscrack of the planet.

I had a surgical extraction of a broken tooth at an oral surgeon in a town about an hour away from me. It was a little bit brutal, so I was told to load up on the prescribed ibuprofen/acetominophen and start antibiotics that evening after surgery. After the hour drive home, I went to the pharmacy that I had listed in my paperwork. They had no scripts for me since last year. I called the surgeon's office. The woman on the phone said she saw them in her system, had an hour left in her shift, and would call me if she saw them sent out. I told her not to worry, that the pharmacy would contact me as soon as they received it. I assumed there was no way they'd leave a patient without post-op meds. Well, I was wrong.

They never sent my prescriptions before closing up for the weekend.

The office doesn't have an emergency number of any kind. Voicemails or text messages can be left for them to check on Monday. What in the world do I do or even say to these incompetent assholes?

I'm managing my pain with my own medication, but it's expensive, and they sure as hell aren't antibiotics. I'm broke, if that helps.

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[-] Pheral@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

This is what I mean when I say alternating (just for clarity), devised by oral surgeons, not my vibes:

800mg ibuprofen -> (wait 3 hours) -> 500mg acetominophen -> (wait 3 hours) -> Repeat

This could be all I need for one surgery, or completely useless trash for another... but imo, If you take them both together, you'll feel more pain overall when they wear off. Overlap reduces that with a leapfrog effect. Or not. Just listen to your professionals

[-] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Acetaminophen is supposed to be taken every 4-6 hours while ibuprofen is 6-8 hours. When I've really needed serious pain relief I've waited maybe 5 hours between acetaminophen doses and 7 hours for ibuprofen. Because they're staggered there isn't a period where one of them wasn't working unless the maximum daily dose is hit. I made sure didn't happen by waiting longer between doses when I could.

Just listen to your professionals.

I wish. I've talked to my doctors dozens of times about sometimes needing something stronger for pain relief and not one of them has mentioned combining these two drugs. Instead I had to find out about them by coming across an article on pain relief.

I hope you feel better fast.

[-] Pheral@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

The crazy part is that I'm just following what they wrote in the aftercare instructions. I guess it's considered fine to go ham for a few days in extenuating circumstances? Thank you for the kind wishes!

this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2026

71 points (93.8% liked)

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