To not understand why I have to suffer instead of being given painkillers

[Anon8604]

Background: I'm on a waiting list to have two teeth removed as I've been told by my dentist that it's complicated and not something they can deal with at their practice. It's another three weeks until my assessment with the dentist I've been referred to and then it'll be another wait to have the treatment.

So this week I've been in lots of pain with my teeth, to the point where I'm getting almost no sleep because of it. I made an emergency dental appointment yesterday and explained the situation. Dentist looked at my teeth and confirmed I need two removing and that I'll have to continue waiting for my referral appointment.

I said I understand that but I'm in so much pain I cannot sleep at night, paracetamol isn't helping at all so what can I do in the meantime. I can't take NSAIDs (ibuprofen, disclofenac etc) as I have asthma and they trigger wheezing and I can't take co-codamol as I'm breastfeeding and codeine is not recommended when breastfeeding.

Dentist says there's nothing they can do about it, I'll just have to wait for my appointment and try to cope with the pain until then. I asked if there's a reason they couldn't prescribe me painkillers that are safe when breastfeeding (which I know exist as I was prescribed them after having a c section) and the dentist said they don't prescribe painkillers as ibuprofen is the most effective for toothache. I say I understand that but I can't take ibuprofen as last time I did I ended up in A&E. Dentist says in that case just continue taking paracetamol. I said paracetamol wasn't helping and I've barely slept for days. Dentist said just keep taking the paracetamol and hopefully I won't have to wait too long for the referral. I left almost in tears because I just can't cope with this for weeks longer.

So, I'm now awake at night again, crying and trying to distract myself from pain by moaning on mumsnet wondering how I'm going to get through tomorrow (and the day after, etc) on two hours sleep and with horrible toothache.

So....AIBU to:

1. Not understand why my dentist won't give me any painkillers, despite agreeing that my teeth are causing me pain and need treatment.
2. Ask if anyone has miracle cures for toothache that I can try to get through the next few weeks.

I know I probably sound pathetic but it hurts so much and I literally don't know how I can manage weeks more of this before my appointment. I don't get why they would not prescribe painkillers when I'm in so much pain and there are safe and effective painkillers that I could be prescribed.

Pingu- thankyou for posting those links, I tried and failed. As a prescriber I can absolutely confirm they are accurate and used by people like me!!

Mumsnetters, you're amazing - thanks so much for all the advice. It probably sounds stupid but I honestly wouldn't have even tried speaking to a GP without people suggesting it.

So, quick update... The GP from 111 called me back. He said I should get some co-codamol from a pharmacy but I said I'd been told by the pharmacist, and by hospital staff after my c section that codeine wasn't safe. He said that actually it's fine in low doses so I should try that first. I did try to explain why I was concerned and he was pretty dismissive and just said I should stick to paracetamol only if I was worried.

I got off the phone and pretty much burst into tears while talking to DH as I thought the pharmacist would almost certainly not sell me co-codamol after I'd been in yesterday and he'd told me I couldn't take it when breastfeeding. And even if he had sold it me I was scared to take it after being warned about it being possibly unsafe (and having read the info from Breastfeeding Network that hopelesslydevotedtoGu and PinguforPresident kindly linked to in this thread).

I'd just about resigned myself to putting up with the toothache when the phone rang again and the doctor said he'd now double checked and decided tramadol would be safer than codeine as I'm breastfeeding. So I've now got a prescription for that to see me through the next few days and I can see my own GP next week if the pain doesn't improve. I'm really hoping it will help, and I might get a bit of relief and be able to sleep tonight.

I'm going to try the Orajel and clove oil that lots of people recommended too as obviously I know it's best to take as few painkillers as I can while breastfeeding. Ice packs seem to help a little bit too, though only while I'm actually holding it to my face, it wears off as soon as I stop.

endofthelinefinally, thanks for the suggestion about calling for an earlier appointment. I'll ring on Tuesday and see if they can offer me anything earlier if there's a cancellation.

chickenBhuna, I have tried ibuprofen in the past and I ended up in A&E with a bad asthma attack. It was years ago so I've no idea if it's possible to become less sensitive to it over time, but I'm a bit wary of trying as my asthma is pretty well controlled at the moment and I'm scared of anything that might cause it to get worse again.

scottishdiem, I didn't demand drugs from the dentist! I asked if there was anything other than paracetamol I could try and he said no. I accepted that and went away. Looking back I wish he'd said he couldn't prescribe anything and suggested I see my GP, but I didn't demand he prescribe anything!

Lots of sympathy to anyone who's suffering with something similar, it really is horrible.

I was sent home post c-section with codeine this April. DS was premature, and they were still perfectly happy for me to take it.

A lot of the "don't take while breastfeeding" advice is super-conservative - I tried to buy some athlete's foot powder the other day, and the leaflet said both that it was not absorbed systemically, but also not to use while pregnant or breastfeeding because... it might somehow jump from my skin into my breast milk without entering my bloodstream? Ridiculous.

When I had tooth ache I found that bonjela really helped also try a hot water bottle on your face the heat helps with the pain. I hope you get sorted soon.

Don't take the tramadol whilst on your own with small children though, take it at night with your partner there as I know a lot of people who have reacted badly to it. I'd use it only when totally necessary as well as it can be addictive since some people het a euphoric feeling from it.

Thanks Penny, I didn't know that. DH is at home all weekend so if I do react badly to it then he can look after our DC until I'm feeling better. Fingers crossed I won't, but definitely best to be prepared. I'll definitely use it as little as possible as I'm breastfeeding and also because I hate feeling spaced out or woozy (I haven't even drunk alcohol for years as I'm a total lightweight and I dislike feeling drunk).

I can't give medical advice, but I was given painkillers containing codeine and paracetamol in hospital while bf ing. In 2008.

I actually had to say "I'm not in pain any more" a few days after the birth as the things kept coming!

Why do your teeth need extracting? Normally when there is tooth pain it's because of an infection. Most dentists will drill a hole to ease pressure and prescribe antibiotics before eventually doing whatever work needs doing. Getting them extracted seems very drastic. I would just go see a different dentist.

OP , be very cautious with the tramadol. I'd far rather prescribe a low dose codeine in a co-codamol preparation . You will have 50mg capsules and be prescribed anything from 50mg to 200mg. As another poster mentioned take them when someone else around particularly if you have not had any other opiates before. Avoid alcohol and co-sleeping.

Op please give the bf network a ring prior to taking , tramadol is a drug I'd feel quite uneasy about a bf mother taking as there is no research available.

I was prescribed Tramadol in hospital by the consultant following my c section which resulted in complications.

Sorry posted too soon. I wouldn't take it if you can avoid it. I understood from them that it's highly addictive. Didn't take it myself as a result.

co-codamol is fine when breastfeeding and the over the counter co-codamol has tiny amount of codeine in it compared to the dihydrocodine you had post c-section

i am sorry you are in pain OP but you are sounding a bit of a nightmare patient, whatever the doctor or dentist suggests you have a reason you cannot have it....the co-codamol as suggested by the gp is fine and you could have sent you DH to get some for you by now .
tramadol and dihydrocodeine much much stronger opioid based drugs

Those cool and sooth things are rubbish your better off with ice in a pouch/sock.

Thanks betty, I'm very cautious about taking it after what people here have said and after reading the info in the box. The doctor prescribed 50mg 4 x a day. As you say, it's capsules so I couldn't even break a tablet in half and see if a smaller dose would be effective. I'll try the BF Network as you suggest.

Jellybean, no co-codamol is not always fine whilst breast feeding. It has been related to infant deaths which is why Recomendations in its use have changed . OTC amounts are very small and unlikely to cause a problem . prescribed doses also rarely cause a problem, but as we know there is a risk it's something that the prescriber or pharmacist can weigh up with the mother.

Tramadol can make u sleepy.especiallyvfiret time.and sometimes a. Bit nauseous.but it outweighed by pain free night.don't worry.mostly its fine fr people.try taking with biscuit,yoghurt anything to line ur tummy.its the best fr tootyeache

theredjellybean, I don't mean to be rude but how on earth am I a nightmare patient? My dentist agreed I couldn't take either ibuprofen or co-codamol, so it's hardly like I've invented some frivolous reason not to take them! Trust me, I would definitely have preferred to just pick up some ibuprofen and co-codamol from the pharmacy yesterday, rather than spending most of the night lying awake in pain (again!) and then spending ages this morning speaking to a doctor and trying to work out how they could get a prescription to me!

(Obviously I'm very grateful that the out of hours GP could help and I'm only mentioning that it took a while to sort out to illustrate that I'd rather have taken the easier option of just buying painkillers from a pharmacy.)

Oh and be cateful hun.its an addictive painkiller so tale only prescribed dose and come off soon as possible.and just be weary of that wen u do come to stopping.

Cold compress might help a wee bit

OP , I've had plenty of nightmare patients and trust me you certainly aren't one of them!! Jellybean is being over dramatic in addition to giving you incorrect pharmaceutical advice (we have to cautious in all opioids, codienes metabolism is slightly different to tramadol and dihydrocodiene ). You've been extremely sensible and obviously rarely take meds!

well your title was 'why do i have to suffer instead of being given painkillers'....implying they are being withheld from you when you have been advised co-codamol otc would be safe but you dont seem to want to try it.
I appreciated from your post why suggesting a nsaid was inappropriate
and the poster who says dihydrocodeine is safer is wrong, the BNF states to avoid it in breastfeeding full stop unless benefits significantly out weigh the risk
howewver for co-codamol it says avoid - although amount of codiene usually too small to be harmful.

in otc co-codamol you get 8 mg of codeine in each tablet , so you are having 16 mg of codeine per dose, very different to say 30 mg of codeine in strong prescription co-codamol and 80 mg of dihydrocodeine

if you have stored breast milk you could express while you are taking the co-codamol if you really wanted to and then dispose of that milk

Hopefully the tramadol will help you sleep.

Pain that keeps you awake at night is awful.