Oramorph.

[lumalew]

Hello Everyone,I'm new to HealthUnlocked and was just wondering if anybody else is having my problems I've been taking Oramorph for the last three years or so starting at a low dose going up to 1200ml per week over time for the last year I have been reducing this amount to 700ml per week my GP thinks we need to come down to a lower amount 300ml and put me on Morphgesic slow release tablets at a far higher dose of 260mg per week these have made me very ill but wants me to stick with them has anybody else taking these tablets or had similar problems I'm totally confused.

[Hidden]

The reason why your doctor is trying to cut down your oramorph is because it is very addictive. There is a move now towards getting patients either off it or on a much reduced dose.

If the new meds are making you feel this ill then go back to your doctor and ask for them to be tweaked or maybe try something else.

If you are in the UK you could also try asking your pharmacist about interactions between the 2 meds as they are the experts on drugs.

[lumalew in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much for your time and trouble to answer me,this seems good advice I will talk to my pharmacist regarding my problem.I am in the UK a very sunny Suffolk at the moment.Kindest Regards Lewis.

[Nikk-1]

Body gets use to opiates hence a different type I suppose. I am on patches and oralmorph plus many other meds. The slow release did not work for me and felt worse with the side effects. I just feel there's so little understanding with pain cronic pain and nerves damage that the medical profession haven't caught up with what we go through on a daily basis they are good but don't fully understand that each person can have a different experience.

[lumalew in reply to Nikk-1]

Thank you,you are so very right I'm sure my GP thinks I'm selling the stuff

on the high street.

[Hidden]

Yes I agree. My sister has oramorph but only takes it when she really needs to. She has very severe osteoarthritis and a year or so ago was in agony coz the big muscle in her back was separating. I called the doctor out a couple of times.

I was with her one day and she couldn't even sit up but was lying on the sofa in agony. She hadn't been able to get up to go to the toilet for 16 hours. I rang the doctor and told her but she kept insisting she needed to sit up and take her meds. I told the doctor she couldn't and either she gave her something stronger or took her into hospital. That's the only reason she got the oramorph. The doctor didn't seem to understand that level of pain. She is a big woman and I couldn't help her. Fortunately she has a male friend who was able to bodily lift her and help get her there.

[lumalew in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that I hope your sister is getting better.

[JeffMett]

On the subject of Oramorph four months ago I was told over the Telephone that there is a tablet that I could take instead of the morphine I was taking. When I met the same person last week I was told there was nothing they could do for me and I was discharged from the pain clinic. Since I have received a letter saying that the pain I was in was horrible but not armful. I have Osteoarthritis in my neck because I was told the opposite by the Doctors I suffered in my job ending up on 16 hours a week and on minimum pay. I have also gave up most of the housework now family are helping me there and my hobby I have almost come to a stop, my fitness level as gone down badly and my weight as gone and now I'm told that the pain is not armful and there is no tablet to replace morphine products so don't get your hopes up like I did. My mate said he would strangle the b-----d if he new who it was.

[lumalew in reply to JeffMett]

Thank you for that,I no its very frustrating there's three GPs at my surgery

and not one of them can agree on anything keep your chin up I no it's hard.

[Nikk-1 in reply to JeffMett]

I also have been dismissed by the painclinc about 2 years ago. The reason being I am maxed on on pain relief and not responding as they would like and there's no where left to go. I have chronic pain nerve damage fibromyalgia disc displament arthritis plus many more I felt very alone still do and feel like it's a consent fight with my doctors. The lastest suprise is they the doctors have taken my lidocaine plasters of me as they are to expensive they listen but don't hear that that's my back up when I have nowhere to go with the pain so any clues as I have even done a degree to give me greater understanding of how the body reacts to certain conditions like pain. I have also done the 14 week pain management course been a part of the pain management team in how to improve a patients understanding and outcome of there condition but within the NHS the pain team are under funded understanding staffed and seems at times they are as helpless as those they treat. The government needs to invest more in pain clinics allowing a greater support for those that work in the pain team and those disabled with pain.

[lumalew]

Thank you very much.

[coolpolitealex]

Trouble is getting people to believe that managing pain is full time and relentless and this drive against people using opiates can be seen as something else other than reasoned medical advice, but I accept that people for whatever reason have become addicted or over medicate themselves for other reasons rather than to just relieve pain, but that is not to say that emotional pain or Anxiety can be treated short term with an opiate based medicine, because antidepressants are overrated and over prescribed, but they don't have such a bad press this year, or maybe it's the cost; who knows what drives these campaigns, but I have noticed that across the pond they too are running an anti-opiates campaign, so I suspect there is something going on rather than a reasoned medical advice. I just wish they would chart out the cost of over-prescribing of this CBT that is sweeping the medical psychiatric world, one suspects that anyone that get's anything from these session's, would have gotten over it just as quickly in the same time that these CBT course of treatment last's ,I also suspect it's being abused by many, but hey' what the hell there is no campaign to out this little gravy train. Pain management is not just about drugs, there are many other things that patients use as ways of coping with constant relentless pain. So let's be a bit more understanding, because if I have learnt anything about medical advice, and that is' wait a minute there is another piece of conflicting research about to hit the shelves.

[Nikk-1]

Google the spoon theory made a huge amount of sense to me I feel very let down by the NHS my pain is real not in my head was due to an accident at work lost my career and lifestyle. It's only for my family and animals that I cope and to a point the meds. But I have never give up hope even in the dark days the days when it's a bed and tears day. I have educated myself 5 A level s in a year then on to Uni to understand why my body reacts to my conditions but not only that I wanted to ensure that when I spoke with those involved in my health needs I wanted to ensure that we spoke the same language which has helped. What's next I simply don't know it's been bed and tears week or two awaiting my degree results. It's not about getting the best mark I have brain fog and dyslexia it about this girl can ensuring I am someone that has disabilities not being defined. Trying to get get back to a new career is my aim would settle for 10 hours a week. Suppose what I'm saying is don't give up set yourself goals be the best you can be accomplished mini goals in the dark days reach out as your not alone. Sites like this are amazing and very helpful.