Vicodin Addiction And Heart Surgery… Beware!
I’m just getting back from dinner at my mother-in-law’s house. Bonnie really is such a great cook! She made this cheese, blintz souflee that was yummm-eeeeee. 
Anyways… During dinner, I started speaking with Robert, a retired pharmacist. We started talking about heart valve surgery and the problems I had during my recovery from double heart valve surgery (specifically cardiac depression). I mentioned my post-operative issue with Vicodin and Robert became very intrigued by the discussion.
Robert used to work as an I.C.U. pharmacist. He went on to tell some really interesting statistics about Vicodin and heart surgery patients.
Specifically, Robert told me that Vicodin is the preferred pain medication administered following cardiac surgery. Are you ready for the statistic that blew my mind?
For every ten patients who use Vicodin regularly following heart surgery, one of those ten patients become addicted. One in ten! Or, 10% of heart patients have an addiction to Vicodin!
I guess I was part of that ten percent group. Looking back on it, there was nothing fun about my Vicodin issue.
Keep on tickin!
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
- Previous: Open Heart Surgery Video
- Next: Ross Procedure Complications?
Email Friend
Leave Comment
Print
Subscribe
March 9th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I became addicted to Vicodin after my second and third open-heart surgeries. (I’m age 34) The Vicodin addiction was kind of a pain in the ass, but was nothing compared to the Fentanyl addiction that consumed me and almost killed me a number of times/ways. Both addictions have been kicked by now, but what I agree that anyone with an even slight predisposition for addiction or anyone with an addictive personality better be careful…I guess after going through three open-heart surgeries…I can confidentally say that I’m even addicted to heart surgery.
–Greg Giles