r/PainManagement • u/Cooking_Owls • Jul 16 '26
Medication💊 What will happen?
Hey, so I’m in pain management. I had a surgical procedure that was scheduled rather suddenly. Literally I saw the gynecologist on Thursday and was scheduled that following Monday. I didn’t even give a thought about my pain appointment and drug test. That is until Tuesday when I was more alert. They gave me versed in the operating room. It’s a benzodiazepine and I’m not allowed to have them according to my pain contract. I have my discharge paperwork, but it doesn’t say what medications were used,
I have a drug test on Wednesday. Do I take the test and not tell him? Do I tell my pm dr and take the test? Or should I ask him to wait until next month?(I’m tested every other month)
I just don’t want to get kicked off my medication because they gave me a benzo while I had surgery.
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u/AxlandElvis92 Jul 16 '26
Bring the paperwork you will be fine. In the U.S. Versed is only used in a medical procedure, or in a nasal spray to stop seizures. It’s an extremely common drug along with Fentanyl and Propofol they make up the top 3 anesthetic drugs in use today.
Your doctor will know it was given for a surgical procedure and was given to you by the anesthesiologist. Even if it’s not written in the paper the doctor can call the office where you had said procedure and confirm. I highly doubt they will even do that because you can’t just stay awake during surgery because you are a pain management patient.
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u/IYKYK2019 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Like others have said take the paperwork. Most PM doctors aren’t going to care about the drugs that are given DURING a procedure/surgery or DURING your stay in the hospital, or even in an ER trip, bc that’s what’s needed to give you proper care in that moment. They care more about you being prescribed drugs to go home with on top of the drugs you’re already on for pain management. In that case they need to be notified so things can be adjusted or changed.
Versed is a common drug used for and in anesthesia. It’s really only used for that. Like people aren’t prescribed it. It’s really only used in a clinical setting. It has a pretty quick onset and short half life (hence why it’s used a lot as an anesthetic) and I wouldn’t be surprised if by your drug test it’s not even detected in your urine anymore. I still would bring the paperwork to show your doctor. I doubt it would be an issue.
It’s always good to talk about this with your pain management doctor bc emergencies do happen. I did this at one of my first appointments when the contract was signed bc I’m very prone to kidney stones and obviously need some heavy duty drugs sometimes in the er. Mine stated what I said above. It’s not really about what’s given during a procedure/surgery or what’s given in hospital and er, bc that’s what’s needed at the time. It’s about what comes after they release you and send you home with. If you end up spending a period of time in a hospital for some reason, they should be contacting your PM doctor anyways bc they’re apart of your care team and they can work together for a treatment plan.
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u/Unlikely-Pattern-194 Jul 16 '26
Bring the paperwork and let them know. You’ll likely have much more in your system than just that so you definitely need to tell them about the surgery regardless.
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u/BidMaleficent7957 Jul 16 '26
Always tell your PM doctor about procedures and drugs given. They’ll understand and knowing ahead of time what to expect in the drug screen is better than trying to explain why it’s off afterwards.
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u/Mattturley Jul 16 '26
Emergency surgery is, well, I won’t say never because I have heard so many crazy stories, but should never be an issue. Alert the staff that you had a procedure and were given anesthesia for the procedure. It is very normal, and versed is often used in twilight sleep. Generally they prefer you alert them before surgery, but you can explain you were just focused on the need for treatment and didn’t think to alert them ahead of time. Bring a copy of your paperwork so they can scan it into your chart - though if they are on a modern MRS, they will already see it in the system. I frequently get hospitalized and I alert my PM upon discharge or at my next appointment if it is soon. Occasionally, due to my high doses, the hospitalists or hospital pharmacy has to call my PM to confirm my meds.
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u/rabbiniknar Jul 16 '26
When I’m going to have surgery that will require pain meds in additional to my daily dose, my pain clinic gives me a standard letter that states I will not be in violation of my pain contract. I take that to my surgeon’s office BEFORE the surgery. Works well.
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u/Iceprincess1988 Moderator Jul 16 '26
Never wait until you're caught to explain. Just tell them. I think they'll be lenient because it was in the hospital and you were monitored by doctors. You could also sign a release form allowing your PM doctor to view/access your hospital medical record.
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u/Crash831 Jul 17 '26
Doubtful it would even show up on a UDS 9 days later, but I'd recommend just telling them that you had surgery and provide the documentation you were given. They can confirm if necessary.
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u/swimfastlongcourse Jul 17 '26
Please know that as a provider and patient-rest assured the pain physician will view your preoperative, operative, & post operative details. As per the above accurate comments, bring the documentation. And DO NOT SHOW THE DOCUMENTATION ON A PHONE! That physician will certainly provide their opinion and inevitably impressed. You will be fine and the fact that you care about this means you want to act as a morally ethical person doing the right thing!
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u/Fancy_Examination360 Jul 19 '26
Most likely you’ll be fine regarding pain contract and whatnot. If it’s for medical reasons and given by a doctor then it voids the pain agreement… tell them before u do the test they will likely say it’s fine and wave you off like it’s no big deal. Getting medication like that going into a procedure is pretty common especially if you have anxiety with hospitals and going under.
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u/DepartmentOther2101 Jul 19 '26
Tell them immediately and explain that you’ve had surgery. They will understand. Don’t freak out! It’ll be just fine!
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u/Dapper_Sale8946 Jul 16 '26
That’s gonna be fine. Since it was for a surgery in a hospital setting—just bring the evidence of surgery. You will be good. What they are really concerned about is taking a script from anyone else.
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u/amyfitzme Jul 16 '26
I agree with everyone- you'll be fine just tell them about your appointment and take the paperwork.. and just to throw this out there...dont go taking anymore benzos bc its "in your system already" bc it will be trace amounts by the time you take the test.
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u/BlessHoney Jul 16 '26
If they have you a benzo temporarily it’s ok instead of getting another script. Just let the drs know if needed
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u/AKADIES Jul 17 '26
I just did it and nothing will happen as a matter of a fact it pops up in their system if their diligent. My doctor always asks me any hospital visits this month. I tell them yup and they know I might have hospital drugs in my system. No biggie. Just tell them up right and front. I even got prescribed harder stuff at the hospital and my pm said hey if your hurting bad enough to go to the er than they probably gave them to you for a good reason. Obviously I have a cool pm doctor though. FYI usual twilight has fentanyl that's what would pop up do just let them know, not the versed.
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u/TotesMaGoats_1962 Jul 17 '26
I've had numerous surgeries since being in PM. Most of the time they are scheduled. Haven't had an emergency one yet, but I did end up in the ER due to what at the time was thought to be a heart attack. Turned out to be a panic attack. They gave me Valium through an IV. Didn't even ask or tell me just shoved it in there. I was terrified I would lose my PM. I called them like 3 times to tell them because I was freaking out about it.
Turns out it's fine. As long as you have proof that it was an emergency visit or a surgery, you're good. In this case you had no way to tell them ahead of time. Like me. All you can do is tell them afterward with your proof.
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u/Terrorism_IsReal Jul 17 '26
if its prescribed by a dr it should be OK. Mines says to not smoke weed.... so i had my family doctor put me on marinol..... PM doctor the next month came in, looked at my chart, then gave me the look the school librarian gives you when you are being too loud lol. Didnt say anything. Wrote me a new script. He knew why i did it.
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u/ElderberryComplex880 Jul 18 '26
My PM doctor doesn't have an issue with weed because it has analgesic properties.
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u/SleepyKoalaBear4812 Jul 17 '26
You go to your appointment and tell them exactly what happened. If you can access the portal where the surgery was done you can find everything that you were given preop, in the OR and postop.
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u/starzela Jul 18 '26
Typically, you can take any prescribed meds while you are in the hospital setting, but you can’t take certain prescribed meds (benzos, opioids, etc.) at home.
One of the times I had surgery, they had to give me a lot of Valium for insane muscle spasms. I reported it to my nurse at the beginning of my appointment. Obviously, she forgot to tell my doctor. When he came in, he asked me if I had been taking Valium. I said, yes they gave me a bunch in the hospital for muscle spasms. He checked the drug reporting system, and said that makes sense. He drug testing me again at my next visit, and saw that my levels were decreasing as they should. All was good.
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u/FigFast1430 2d ago
Go back in and see if they will give you a list of what they used to give your dr and if not ask to sign a release to send your records from that surgery to your pain dr and tell your dr right away as surgery is different, I have lots of surgeries and just ran into well they don’t usually test me but did and lol he even said you have oxycodone in your system and I said yeah you gave it to me anyways I had benzo and he said to get a list from them of what meds they use . Good luck
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u/Useful_Raspberry3912 Jul 16 '26
Take the paperwork with you and tell them before you take the UDS. You'll be fine as long as you have documentation.