I’ve beem taking cocodamol for severe period pain since age 16 or so , started off as 8mg soluble then increasing to 30mg x 2 4 times a day every day .
I have endometriosis, ovarian cyst, interstitial cystitis and bowel adhesions , I’ve also got pelvic floor dysfunction disorder .
Have been admitted to hospital numerous times in last ten years for surgery, scans, morphine etc . I’ve had the mini pill, combined pill, mirena, implant and HRT, and injections to shut my ovaries off .
Periods are usually severely painful with D&V for 3 or 4 days , cramping , fainting etc . Bleed through 2/3 packs of pads a month . Periods are also very irregular so can get 2 weeks of bleeding then 6 of nothing , then 3 days then two weeks of nothing , then another week etc .
I am also using codeine partly to fall asleep - I’m not sore every day I take it - and accept I struggle with withdrawal if I stop .
GP has said to wean me off to zero tablets and then see what happens - if periods are severely painful they will give me naproxen , with an increase only if I’m flat out on the floor . She said codeine is now known for making menstrual pain worse , causes contractions or something . In meantime they suggested I research early labour management techniques ...
I’ve seen a pain team before and they said I needed specialist physio and probably a change to amitryptiline etc but it could take a year or so before anyone on NHS will see me . Not much other options meantime .
I’m terrified what happens in the future . Eg I’m needing 3 wisdom teeth out - two that are impacted in my jaw . Would the NHS say no pain relief in that scenario ? Or if I broke a leg for example - would same be the case ? I don’t want to ask GP .