Are there any other painkillers I can take?

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I'm awaiting an urgent hysterectomy but that will take "6 months or so." I have multiple large fibroids in and around my uterus and it's made for a large, bulky uterus which presses on all of my internal organs.

While I've been in pain for what feels like forever, it's been managed with mefenamic acid and paracetamol and the main problem has been heavy, daily bleeding. That's been reduced to bleeding 3/7 with continuous norethisterone. My problem now is the pain is getting more unmanageable. Last night I was up for hours unable to get on top of it. It felt like labour and I genuinely considered going to A&E.

I can only take mefenamic acid 3 times a day and I'm trying to hold off on taking it right now as I had some at 3am and I need to save a dose for tonight to try and sleep. Paracetamol I'm taking 4 hourly.

Is there ANYTHING I can buy over the counter? The consultant just keeps repeating that the mefenamic acid and paracetamol should be used alongside heat pads and exercise. That was all very well months ago, but the fibroids have grown and I'm in such pain I can't function. I swear they think I'm making up how bad it is.

Is ibuprofen or rather than paracetamol co-codamol (short term) not an option?

I'd be presenting myself to A&E if the pain is not manageable with over the counter meds.

You might need to take codeine. You'd have to get this on prescription though as it can't be purchased OTC. Well, it can, but only 3 days worth and only in a very small dosage. You'd soon be looking for more.

Paracetamol and codeine which is available over the counter. Other options would be ibuprofen if you can take it or naproxen which is also available over the counter but ideally you would need a stomach protector with naproxen which you would need a prescription for.

I'd try the Paracetamol and codeine over the weekend and try to speak to a GP on Monday to get better pain relief.

You can get codeine over the counter, mixed with paracetamol, so you don't take the paracetamol separately.

You can have ibuprofen if you tolerate it and the trick is to cycle it with the para-codeine - so take them leapfrogging each other. One at 8am, the other at 10am, then the first again at 12pm, then the second again at 2pm - so each is still spread by four hours but you have continual pain relief.

You can also get Naproxen online. You do have to go through one of those mini consultations, but it's only a form. I got it for my tennis elbow without seeing my GP.

The ultimate is oramorph, but that is definitely prescribed only.

See your GP about pain management.

When it's really bad, call 111.

Over the counter you can get co-codamol which is paracetamol with codeine. It’s very effective.

anything more you will need prescribing and this is very difficult at the moment.

they are very reluctant to prescribe opiates like codeine or similar due to the possibility of addiction.

recent guidelines have come out saying that the drugs in the ibuprofen family are also likely to cause stomach problems so not to prescribe those unless really needed.

it’s really bad at the moment.

in some places you can buy aspirin which is also a good painkiller. Much less available but still in some shops.

the official line seems to be just put up with pain.

I used to have similar problems before hysterectomy. I took at various times - cocodamol, naproxen, and diclofenac suppositories (they were excellent!)

My dd was given Tranxemic acid with Mefanamic acid for pain and to stop the bleeding

I had diclofenac suppositories after my csection and they were unbelievably good.

I can't take ibuprofen if I'm taking mefenamic acid as they're the same family.

I might try codeine temporarily but worry. One because I reacted very badly to morphine after an emcs and two, I'm also really struggling with sluggish bowels and constipation due to the fibroids and I suspect codeine might exacerbate this.

I did see the GP a week ago and asked and she just repeated that the consultant's advice should be followed.

DH has soluble aspirin for migraines which I could try.

I have tranexamic acid for when the bleeding is very bad but it isn't particularly effective.

I completely sympathise with you as I am in the same situation. I was admitted to hospital with uncontrollable bleeding with large clots. The pain was not relieved by paracetamol or ibuprofen. The nurse gave me dihydrocodeine alongside paracetamol and was confident this combination would work but sadly it was ineffective.

I had a UTI unknown to me and once I had finished the antibiotics I realised the increase in pain was due to this.

Hoping you don't need to wait much longer for your op, the consultant said to me the op is not life threatening but it is completely life changing

I was given Diclofenac post emcs as well. I don't think they do that any more but I'd completely forgotten about it. That might be one to ask about.

Lots of people don’t get on with morphine but are fine with codeine. If you do try codeine ask your go for some stool softeners.

You can buy fibre pills (or use flax seed or similar) to help with constipation due to painkillers.

I find them useful.

I'm eating flax seeds every morning already. I have a pretty good diet tbh.

Embarrassingly, the pain is at its very worst when the constipation is bad.

diclofenac is an NSAID just like ibuprofen so generally not recommended with the mefenamic acid.
Depending on the type of pain you're getting it's sometimes worth thinking a little outside the box... TENS/antispasmodics/acupuncture... Some hormone treatments may help for fibroids - may be worth asking about if your gynae team haven't mentioned it (although they'd probably have already mentioned it if it was an option). If you have cash to splash then perhaps a private pain consultant appointment may give you some ideas until the wait for surgery is up (only suggesting private because the wait for NHS is often long so you'd probably get the surgery before the pain appt!).

I can't afford to go private but I hadn't thought about something like a TENS. The new and unmanageable pain comes in waves and is very much like a cramping pain, similar to period pain but much more like labour. It feels a bit like my body is trying to expel something but it obviously can't.

I've tried a mirena (it fell out within days) and the POP but it did nothing. My consultant wants me to have Zoladex injections to induce a temporary menopause in the hope it will shrink things so I can have a laparoscopic hysterectomy rather than the open surgery which is my only current option. However, he made this decision and then went on holiday for 3 weeks. His secretary says he will send the instructions to my GP on his return which is fine but I seem to do nothing but wait. I started to bleed heavily and uncontrollably 9 months ago and although they relatively quickly established the root cause, I've had ultrasounds, MRIs, hysteroscopies, biopsies, repeat smears and all necessitating months of waiting until they finally agreed they need to remove my uterus (plus its hitchhikers and other parts of my reproductive system.)

I am continually aghast that it's okay to just leave women like this. And I'm considered an "urgent" case. Had they said it was routine, I'd be waiting at least 3yrs. In fact, I wouldn't even have seen a gynaecologist yet.

Have you tried a hot water bottle? Sometimes heat can help the cramp ease off for a bit.

I had asked the consultant about fibroid degeneration but she said I would know all about it if it was that as the pain would be relentless. Funnily enough that's exactly how I do feel however because this is my new normal I maybe don't present as being in extreme pain, who knows.

I am 3 months into 6 month ish wait. Consultant told me on Wed that she hopes to have me done by May, she would have loved to have given me a date for next week but she needs to prioritise cancer patients first, which is totally understandable.

Sadly I can't afford to go private either

I take two heat bags with me everywhere I go. I teach whilst using them, sleep with them etc.

It's just so miserable. On top of the debilitating anaemia, being in so much pain is exhausting.