I think my GP thinks I'ma druggie!

[susanmt]

I'm sure most of you know that I have suffered from kidney stones in the past, and now I am pregnant again I have started to get them again. I know the reason is I am getting kidney infections, I think the reason for this (am on prophylatic antibiotics) is bad morning sickness so impossible to keep down my 10 pints of water a day. SO I am getting an occasional stone.
Outwith pregnancy the standard treatment is Voltarol injections - an anti inflammatory drug, which you cant take in pregnancy, The only alternative for the pain, (which is intense) is pethedine. I've passed a few stones recently and so have used quite a lot of it - I do try to keep it to a minimum and I dont take it when the kids a re around as it leaves me a bit 'out of it' - as does the pain mind you.
Yesterday it might have been my imagination but my GP seemed reluctant to prescribe me any more. She really didnt have any choice as I need it - but she kept saying 'you're getting through an awful lot of it .....' I spoke to dh last night and he says I'm using it sensibly (he's a GP too) and am obviously not addicted, but I'm worried that its going to be hard to get the pain releif I need to function, and terrified they will put me in hospital.
I'm going to talk it over with the obstetrican at my next appointment.
I dont actually know why I'm telling you all this - just to get it of my chest I think. I'm not a druggie, I suffer from a lot of SERIOUS pain and am doing my best to manage it well and am being as sensible as I can. I just hate the feeling that someone doesnt trust me, or thinks badly of me, because I am doing what I have to do.
Of course, maybe you all think I AM a druggie!

[windmill]

Poor you, I'm sorry you feel your GP thinks you're a druggie. Kidney stomes cause excruciating pain, do what you need to to relieve the pain

[Cha]

I've just had what they suspected as a kidney stone - they couldn't be sure because they didn't want to do an Xray as I am 26weeks pregnant. The pain is as you describe - excruciating - and I sympathise with you entirely. When I was admitted - by ambulance at 1am - I was in such a state that I couldn't think straight. The midwives on the labour ward kept telling me I needed pethadine but I just had it in my mind that it was bad for the baby and refused and refused and refused. What a horrific night. When the pain eventually passed (with the stone?), an anaesthetist came to tell me that pethadine was the treatment of choice for renal colic and that everyone, pregnant or not, was given it. If they reoccur, I shall not put myself through that kind of agony again, so I can completely understand how worried you feel that your GP may restrict your access to it. Someone at the hospital said it was worse than labour pain. I wouldn't go that far - contractions hurt more, but the horrible thing about renal colic is that you don't get a rest from it, which you do (even for a short while) with labour pains. It is just non stop, without relief, and it goes on for hours and hours. Well, it did for me. Did you tell your GP that your husband is one too and he thinks you are being sensible? Maybe that would allay her fears somewhat?

[susanmt]

Cha -poor you! Kidney stones occur in 1 in 2000 pregnancies but you dont hear much about them. I only know 2 other people who have had them. Its a shame noone told you that pethedine is safe until after the event, because it makes a huge difference! Take care of yourself, drink LOADS of water (the only real way of stopping it happening again) and watch out for infections. Once you have had it once in pregnancy it is likely to happen again, but fingers crossed you dont suffer again. All the best!

[Cha]

Thanks susanmt - just downed a pint of water on your advice. Slightly alarmed that it might come back... am still on antibiotics which will run out in a few days. Was always prone to urine infections before having kids, and every time that I had a urine test with 1st pg there was protein in it. GP treated it with a couple of courses of antibiotics but they never seemed to fix it. Hate taking them anyway, give me thrush as well as being generally bad for your overall health. So I took to cranberry drops, tablets etc and they seemed to do the trick. Do you think this is all related to the kidney stones?