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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Advice re prescription

200 replies

poemontheocean · 20/02/2016 10:52

In here for traffic (sorry.)

I had a prescription for pain relief faxed through to a pharmacy 2 days ago and I've realised I'm not going to have enough to last after tomorrow.

Due in work first thing Monday - won't have a chance to see the doctor.

What do you think the best thing to do is? Should I call OOH today or tomorrow?

Appreciate advice :) thanks.

OP posts:

SmokingGun · 20/02/2016 12:00

Good point secret

ilovesooty · 20/02/2016 12:01

If you're not fit for work - and it sounds as though you're not - you can't go in unfortunately.
I'd be surprised if the doctor prescribed again without seeing you.

Ameliablue · 20/02/2016 12:02

But ooh is for emergency treatment and if you are only using it so you don't miss work, it seems a bit of an abuse, if you are as bad as you say it doesn't sound as if you are fit for work.

TheRealBarenziah · 20/02/2016 12:02

poem If you're that bad, you really shouldn't be going into work. GP OOH exists to manage urgent problems, not routine problems for people who are too busy to see their own GP. If you have enough co-dydramol to last today and tomorrow, then if you really can't go to the GP, you should phone the surgery on Monday and ask for a telephone consultation with a GP. They may well be happy to prescribe another short course on the basis of a telephone consultation.

I'm a doctor. I do OOH GP shifts. If somebody rang up and said they had enough opiate-based analgesia to last Saturday and Sunday, and they wanted me to issue more, I would politely decline and advise them to contact their own GP on Monday. You may find that OOH will issue you a short script, but that doesn't make it right, or an appropriate use of NHS resources.

I'm sorry if this sounds mean - it isn't meant to. But I really don't understand why you can't have a telephone consult with your own GP on Monday.

originalusernamefail · 20/02/2016 12:11

Op I presume the doctor prescribes a short course of painkillers because if they weren't enough to sort the problem then you need to go back to be seen. Be that by OOH or your own GP. Not to be rude but if you can't sit / travel how can you work? Unless your firm will fold or the world will end you can be sick ( if you haven't been to the GP since 2012 your sickness record hoy lent be horrendous) how productive could you be in that much pain?

Original poster

poemontheocean · 20/02/2016 12:17

I could have a short course of painkillers prescribed to me over the phone Monday - it's just that I will run out completely Sunday night.

Without pain relief I won't be able to get to work or the doctor unfortunately.

If I don't go to work I don't get paid: cue posts about that's not the point - well it IS for me, I'm afraid! Believe me if I could take time off I would, I'm not enjoying this

OP posts:

Original poster

poemontheocean · 20/02/2016 12:19

And while I recognise the points about OOH being for emergencies I'm not actually insisting the GP sees me.

It's just unfortunate the pain relief will run out on a Sunday!

OP posts:

frikadela01 · 20/02/2016 12:22

When can you get to the GP?

I'd be tempted to get the strongest otc I could and alternate it with the codydramol so you had some for monday. Presumably since you're at home there's certain things you can do to make yourself comfier just for today and tomorrow.

Alexa444 · 20/02/2016 12:24

I don't think they will give you another without seeing you. There are strict rules. Ibuprofen should ease spasms long enough for you to get to see them if you take enough. You can safely take 800mg every 6 hours but only with food. I suffer tmd and do this when I can't stop the spasms. Take two paracetamol with it as well for an extra boost.

kali110 · 20/02/2016 12:25

UndramaticPause mine will give me emergency meds from my repeat list if i've run out before my order has come in ( except for onr of my painkillers as it's controlled drug).

Op there is no muscle relaxant in the pain relief you have been given.
You need another app ( i know what its like to not be able to miss work) but it's not going to get better.
If you go to the gp hopefully they'll give you stronger codeine than what they first prescribed( and what you can get otc). I'm actually surprised they gave youthat lower dose considering how bad you sound.

Becca19962014 · 20/02/2016 12:27

They've given you just under four days worth, that's the maximum recommended for these. It's actually really hard to get these prescribed (in my experience) longer term.

You need to be seen and diagnosed properly. OOH gave them probably thinking you'd go see your gp the following day.

I appreciate what you're saying about work BUT you are ill and need to get this sorted out. I worked in the nhs and they were a nightmare about things like this (for example time off after a holiday would automatically generate a referral to OH ) but you are ill and that cannot be helped. I too didn't see my gp for years prior to my pain conditions (which were due to a deteriorating condition) getting to the point I could barely function - in the end I was forced to leave, my manager was lovely but I'd done myself no favours at all keeping going. I was cover for my department which put a lot of pressure on me (the pressure was from me not my manager).

I loved my job and my manager was lovely, but honestly I don't have much to show for keeping going apart from conditions that have deterioated more rapidly as a result (totally my fault).

This could be something that can be easily sorted out, now, please, don't put off going (and I say that as someone who is scared of seeing medical professionals!).

UndramaticPause · 20/02/2016 12:28

kali I think my pharmacist is an arse then. :-(

LIZS · 20/02/2016 12:29

Surely the short course was to tie your over until you could see your own gp or it might have resolved it on its own, but was never a long term solution. Aren't opiates addictive, hence why they need to be issued and taken with caution. You may not be paid if you go in late on Monday but if you don't sort the underlying problem out you could become too immobile to work at all and presumably you wouldn't get ssp either.

ihearttc · 20/02/2016 12:32

The only way co-dydramol is a muscle relaxant is that the opiate part of it makes you feel quite dopey and sleepy which is perhaps what he meant?

Ive taken them as prescribed by hospital when I had an operation on both my big toes. It was like I was floating on a fluffy cloud. They have no more painkilling properties that the ones mentioned you can buy OTC.

Becca19962014 · 20/02/2016 12:35

Paramol is 7.5/500mg so not far off what you are taking now and over the counter.

Sorry my previous post was a bit long and lecture like. I do understand what you are saying.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 20/02/2016 12:35

That's not how it works, though. It is unfortunate that they run out on Sunday but it's still not an OOH issue.

How about getting paramol or Soldapeine Max and alternating with your painkillers? The formulations are very similar so you will find that they help, unlike other OTC drugs.

If you're dead against doing that, you'll need to visit OOH once the pain is bad enough to go in, and hope that they prescribe the same drug. As your GP prescribed much less than the usual dose, they may not - it suggests your GP was concerned about opiate issues or underlying problems.

Even if you run out of vital drugs, OOH is not the place. I do have sympathy with your problem, but misusing the NHS won't help. Your GP will be fined if you go to A&E for a GP issue, and OOH may well refuse to help anyway, they are supposed to.

BoomBoomsCousin · 20/02/2016 12:35

Out of hours is a good choice. One of the benefits to the economy of the NHS is to keep people working. If by accessing out of hours you can keep working, that's a pretty good use of it.

I would call them now, tell them you've just realized your prescription isn't going to last you through the weekend and ask for them to prescribe more now. Then Monday, make an appointment with your GP to try and get something more long term sorted out.

Ameliablue · 20/02/2016 12:39

Whilst I sympathise with you if you don't get paid I don't think you are doing yourself any favours in the long run. If it is as bad as you say, going to work is likely to make it worse even with meds so you could end up needing more time off ultimately.

Original poster

poemontheocean · 20/02/2016 12:41

Well yes, but the advice for back pain is to try to keep moving so I think it's sensible to try to work apart from the fact j just can't afford not to.

OP posts:

headexplodesbodyfreezes · 20/02/2016 12:48

Trying to get second prescription of dihydrocodeine over the phone by claiming that you are in too much pain to see a GP but not too much pain to go to work, will look like drug seeking behaviour to OOH. They field a LOT of such calls.

Original poster

poemontheocean · 20/02/2016 12:48

I don't think that's what I'm claiming and besides, they seem hell bound on keeping me away from GP

OP posts:

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 20/02/2016 13:00

God - you poor sod. That sounds awful.

Make it a priority to get to the doc's next week to get to the bottom of what's wrong.

Hope you get sorted with meds

pudcat · 20/02/2016 13:02

it's something in my back though, which they seem unable to do anything about so what can you do? If you haven't seen a doctor how do you know this?

hollinhurst84 · 20/02/2016 13:10

I would get some paramol and ibruprofen and alternate with the meds you have
Also a physio may help if it's muscular, i had severe sciatica (gas and air at one point) and the NHS physio spotted what was causing it and solved it for me

Original poster

poemontheocean · 20/02/2016 13:12

That's what the walk in centre said and when I spoke to OOH on the phone I explained I was unable to drive. I could have got the train then a taxi but the (lovely) receptionist offered to have the GP ring me and he faxed the prescription through to a pharmacy.

OP posts:

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