Every bariatric patient thinks about pain management during their pre-operative journey. We worry about what the pain will feel like after surgery and how we will manage it. It can be something we are nervous about even talking with our surgeon about because we don’t want to seem pushy or rude, or we could be afraid to bring it up because we don’t want to seem desperate for relief. And with millions of Americans and their families impacted by the opioid epidemic, it can be a scary topic.

Pain management is something we need to consider and discuss with our surgical care team. Ensuring that we can recover at home with minimal pain and have a management plan that we can follow is critical to our short- and long-term success. 

We sat down with Dr. Lucian Panait, a bariatric surgeon who strives to ensure his patients are empowered to onboard a pain management plan that is right for them. In this episode, he explains why having a solid pain management plan before surgery is so necessary and gives us questions we can ask our surgeon and care team in our pre-operative appointments. He also teaches us about non-opioid pain management products that we can ask for and request to maximize our recovery time after surgery. 

We know you will leave this episode feeling empowered to create a pain management plan with your care team that is right for you! 

We are so thankful that Pacira BioSciences, Inc., the maker of EXPAREL, has sponsored this episode. Their sponsorship allows us to ensure that this important educational content can reach you and positively impact your bariatric and surgical journey. Visit YourXFactor.com to learn more about EXPAREL, the pain medication Jason received during this recent bariatric revision surgery. 

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode with Dr. Panait will dive deeper into creating a pain management plan that works for you.  

About our Guest: Dr. Lucian Panait is a general surgery specialist and bariatric weight loss surgeon at the North Memorial Health Hospital and Minnesota Hernia Center in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Panait is also the president of the Minnesota Bariatric Center and has 24 years of experience specializing in general surgery, bariatric surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. Since specializing in laparoscopic gastric bypass or sleeve surgeries, as well as revisions, Dr. Panait is well-versed in bariatric procedures.

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie were all bariatric patients inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you!