There have been a few times in the past when I had no choice but to ask for pain medication following surgical procedures. But this time I had a choice and I chose to try to avoid the post-operative narcotics that are always mixed blessings with whatever degree of pain relief they offer.

For two weeks prior to my recent surgery I listened to the pre-op tapes. I can still hear the silken voice instructing me to “go limp” as it talked me through various relaxation techniques. The memory alone promotes relaxation even now.

I had a wonderful anesthesiologist at Piedmont Hospital who was quite well informed regarding relaxation and music therapy for pre-, intra- and post-op patients. He personally saw to it that my headphones were in place and properly adjusted during surgery.

Now, there is no way this cynic, (yes, I am as cynical as they come in some areas of my life) would agree to listen to tapes instructing me regarding anything while I am unconscious, unless I had listened beforehand to be sure the suggestions I was being given were acceptable.

They were acceptable. A bit questionable maybe, but definitely worth a try.

Certainly they were soothing, but could they really diminish my need for pain medicine?

Guess what? My hospital records verify that I never once asked for anything stronger than Tylenol for pain.

I will admit that I would have accepted anything that I thought might relieve the gas pain I had for several days following surgery, but I knew traditional pain medication would only aggravate that problem so I asked for no Demerol and Phenergan or morphine or anything. To my delight I found I did not need those drugs.

Ever the doubting Thomasina I always will wonder if the relaxation/music tapes made the difference. Or was it the prayers of several faithful intercessors (many of whom have prayed for me in times past when pain ruled the day)? Since there is only one of me and it was not possible for two of me to opt for both the tapes and the drugs for the same surgical procedures, I am left with but one conclusion. Let the cynic in me think what she will, if I ever have surgery again you can be assured the tapes will be playing.

I am planning to interview my anesthesiologist for a Citizen article in the near future. I understand he has produced some tapes of his own and I may actually do the same. Assuredly I have no complaints about the set of tapes I obtained from the Monroe Institute, but given the opportunity I will record some that I think might be even more appropriate for me personally, just in case the need ever again arises.

I had been reading about the new research, which has found that relaxation and music, separately or together, significantly reduce patients' pain following major abdominal surgery. One such study, published in the May issue of “Pain,” found that these methods in combination with pain medication reduce pain more than pain medication alone.

The findings have important implications for the 23 million people who undergo surgery and experience post-operative pain annually in the United States. Pain can hamper recovery by heightening the body's response to the stress of surgery and increasing tissue breakdown, coagulation and fluid retention. Pain also interferes with appetite and sleep and can lead to complications that prolong hospitalization.

I've also been exploring a number of other creative healing concepts. Most of us already know that modern medicine does not heal. At best it only aids the body's own genius for healing itself. I suspect our creator endowed our bodies and minds with far more abilities than we, even in this late 20th century, have even begun to tap.

I am happy to be on the road to recovery and I thank you for your prayers in recent weeks. Know without a doubt that if I were forced to choose between any recorded tape and the prayers of a man or woman who walks with God, the prayers would assuredly be my first choice. This time around I was blessed to have the benefit of both and I strongly recommend the combination for anyone facing major surgery. Watch The Sunday Citizen in coming months for more information on creative pain control methods. I look forward to delving deeper into this new area of medicine, or the lack thereof.

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