Medication/painkillers

[KWJ2]

Hi all I just wanted to ask what painkillers people are on. I've been given mefanamic acid which doesn't help but now been told to take over the counter codeine based tabs along with the mefanamic acid. My GP won't prescribe anything stronger until I've tried this combo but just wondering what over the counter tabs you guys have taken?

[angelyn]

Hi there

I started out trying mefemenic but it didn't work. As time progressed my symptoms worsened and my lap found endo.

My symptoms started a year ago..i think i started on pain meds prob 8 months ago. Anyway..I went from mefemenic plus things like paracetamol and ibuprofen to low codeine phosphate..

then high codeine phosphate ....

Then tramadol

Then tramadol plus amytryptaline

Then more tramadol plus more amytryptaline plus ibuprofen and paracetamol. At 1 stage I was taking 23 pills a day! I'm only 28!

I'm now on tramadol,naproxin and amytryptaline. I plan to go back to my GP as I'm still in pain. They gave me morphine during my lap(December) and I was still in pain in the recovery ward. Anyway At first I would try pills for a month or 2. However as my pain has got progressively worse I'm unable to do that now. At the moment I will try them for a few days/week at most before going back to gp to get them altered.

Things that gps look out for:

If your quality of life has gone down

If you aren't able to do things you used to (eg work /exercise etc)

If your pain either stops you from sleeping or wakes you up from sleeping

If your pain is starting to affect your emotional wellbeing negatively.

I also find it helps if you can compare yo other painful experiences. I tell them that the pain I have now is worse than the 2 broken bones I had.

In addition, I try to take along a person who has seen me in pain,so that they can describe objectively how severe the pain looks.( I think gps think we exaggerate.)

Not sure what's next on gp list for me to try..but I hope this helps.

Xx

[KWJ2 in reply to angelyn]

Thanks for this info. My Dr has asked me to try over the counter for one more week then he will prescribe me something stronger if no better.

[KWJ2 in reply to angelyn]

Thank you for all this information, it's so useful! If I'm seeing a gynae do u know if I can still be referred to an endo specialist? Is it the doc or my gynae who would refer me? x

[KWJ2]

I'm awaiting a diagnosis to be honest. Been put on the combined pill to see if it will help with my symptoms and reduce the cyst in my ovary and then i have a recheck with my gynae at the end of April where i will be pushing for a laparoscopy to get a definitive diagnosis.

My symptoms are extremely painful and heavy periods also bleeding after intercourse. I also have a tilted womb (not sure if relevant), I haven't stopped bleeding for the passed 23 days and the gynae told me there was 'evidence' of adenomyosis and endometriosis in my ultrasound. Also have an ulcerated cervix which will need cauterising.

[KWJ2]

Just to update you... my doctor has now prescribed me Codeine Phosphate (30mg ) tabs, 2 tabs four times a day. Let's hope these help but don't knock me out so I can't work!