Medication advice

[Bennett1943]

I have chronic FM and am taking Co-Codamol and Amitryptiline but often they don't give me much relief especially in cold, wet weather. I keep coming up against a brick wall because he will not refer me to a pain clinic because he doesn't think There is is anything more effective than what I already take. That maybe so but I keep being told from other FM sufferers that there are other options open to me. It's really getting me down and I don't know what to do next. Can anyone offer any suggestions please. Thank you

[BlueMermaid3]

Hello Bennett1943

You are right in that there are other medications that you could try.

However, I am not a medical professional and do not feel in a position to be recommending medication to you.

Is it possible for you to see a different GP at your Surgery?

It may be an idea to start keeping a Pain Diary. Just bullet point each day where your pain is, how bad it is, and how long you have it for, and if anything helped.

Doctors like facts and figures that they can work with.

If you can't see a different GP for some reason, then I would seriously think about changing your Surgery.

I believe that you do have a right to a referral to a Pain Clinic, but I am not 100 per cent sure. Unfortunately so much is down to cost and budgets now.

Your GP may actually be correct. I have severe Fibromyalgia and I am in pain all the time. Non stop day in, day out. I am never not in pain.

I am taking a fair amount of strong medication but it only just takes the edge off my pain.

Try seeing a different GP and take a friend or family member with you for moral support.

Please let us know how you get on.

Wishing you much peace

Lu x

Administrator

[Bennett1943 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

Thank you for your reply. I've thought about changing to another practice and its probably my next move. I saw my local pharmacist for advice and it seems that after Co-Codamol the next step up would be morphine based medication which I would seriously have to think about. I'm 73 and have to be ultra careful. Thank you again for your kind reply and hope all goes well with you.

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to Bennett1943]

Hello again

There are other medications that are not morphine based that you could try.

You could discuss Gabapentin or Pregabalin with your GP.

They are sister drugs and are primarily for epilepsy, but many of us on the forum take either one or the other of these.

It does make quite a difference taking someone else with you to your appointments.

Many thanks for your kind wishes.

Lu xx

[Bennett1943 in reply to BlueMermaid3]

Thank you for your kind and very full reply. All the. Best to you.

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to Bennett1943]

Thank you 😊 xx

[Bennett1943]

The problem there is that my GP won't refer me to a rheumatologist for the same reason that they couldn't prescribe anything he couldn't. The situation is ridiculous and makes me so angry!

[TheAuthor]

Hi Bennett1943

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? As BlueMermaid3 says there are other medications that are much stronger and most likely more suitable for you. However, I am not a medical professional either. I would strongly consider a different doctor or surgery my friend.

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken