What can I do?

[Cloudyrain]

I have taken my codeine, tranexamic acid, mefanamic acid, paracetomal and tried a wheat bag, but nothing is working. Can my GP prescribe me anything stronger than codeine?

I'm getting desperate it's so bad x

[catswhiskas]

i used to take tramadol for my pain, its very effective and a gp will be abke to give you a prescription for it. It will make you feel drowsy though, but its worth it to ease the pain.

[jojo777]

heat pads are also very good relief, I have the one you put in the microwave, and if you are on the go the heat patches. xx

[Amb43]

Hi, so sorry your pain is so bad. I have gradually built up a cocktail of meds, 30/500 Cocodamol (more codeine than 8/500 and 15/500 - the 8, 15 and 30 are the milligrams of Codeine), then Buscopan, then Voltorol (Diclofenac - I had suppositories which are fast acting and in the "right area"), then Tramadol Slow Release, (Amitryptylene didn't suit me), then Oramorph and now my Nurse at the Pain Management Clinic is try Gabapentin (horrible side effects for me) and changing to Pregablin.

Despite all this I am still in pain, today is really bad, (I am in pain daily and have been for 5 months) as I have my period, the first one in a few months because mine are erratic due to Endo on both ovaries. It's not particularly heavy but has exacerbated my daily lower back pain dreadfully. To be honest, I find the best thing to soothe it (and my tummy) is hot water bottles and my trusty heated cushion. Oh and surfing the internet to take my mind of things, finding my favourite things to read about/watch on Youtube (I am a massive Pink fan but have had to sell my tickets for April at the O2 as I am almost bedridden - I am so so gutted and I blame this awful, incessant, life changing disease). However, I must remember that I am lucky enough to have been diagnosed and will soon find out my options.

Oh my word, so sorry I have run on! One thing I would suggest is to speak to your GP about referring you to a Pain Management Team. My first appointment there was amazing, the Specialist Nurse spent an hour with me, going through everything (including my lumbar spine x-ray which was all normal - knew it would be but had it done at the Gynae's request, just to prove my point, that my period type, nagging, dragging, dull, heavy ache in my lower back is Gynae/Endo related). Amazingly she actually listened to everything I had to say, talked me through it, asked me how it was affecting me, how I was feeling generally (jarred off, sad, lonely and depressed and frustrated I can't get outside and tidy my garden like I always do this time of year). She explained my pain as opposed to other types of pain in a way I could understand and suggested a new medication, in order to get me off some of the others in the long run. I left feeling elated that someone was listening to me about my pain and was determined to help me.

Ask your GP to arrange this for you, we shouldn't have to put up with this pain, it's not fair, and many of these male "professionals" wouldn't last five minutes coping with it.

hope your pain isn't controlling your day, and please take good care. xxx

[Impatient]

your GP can certainly give you stronger meds on prescription, but save them for the really bad days. if you take them all the time, they are addictive. Best to vary what you take, and once pain relief has kicked in, keep on top of it, don't let the power of it run out before re-medicating again.

[Cloudyrain]

Thanks everyone!

Have had this for 17 years and think this is the worst it's been (except the post-op periods).

I have tramadol and difloenic which I tried yesterday (day before, losing track of time due to no sleep for 2 nights) and it didn't do anything so had to use my "only in emergencies" codeine (it's the strongest prescription codeine the Doc can give me). Oh and don't worry, I have 3 heat packs on at once, I don't think I go through a day without using a heat bag!

After nearly caving and calling an ambulance earlier have decided to plant myself at the door of the Doctor at 8am and ask for something stronger and some sleeping tablets - literally had no more than 3 hours sleep these past 3 days.

Grr - getting angry upset now, rather than feeling sorry for myself upset that I was earlier! X