To wonder how to get prescribed painkillers

[Jellyjumpers]

I have been in pain for months with what the gp thinks is ibs and I think is a return of endometriosis. While a&e gave me cocodamol when I was previously sent by the ooh I have not been able to get painkillers from my gp. The gp is arguing I should take antispasmodics and herbal tea. However, I am struggling to sleep with pain can not get an emergency gp appointment and have fainted and been sick with pain.

Wondering how people have managed to get pain reliefc and if this is acceptable.

Amitryptiline is a good idea, my husband has been given this for ibs/diverticulitis and he uses a tens machine for pain flair ups.

I take pregablin which is for muscle spasms in my back along with tramadol

It could be worth requesting buscopan to see if that has any effects. I was given this during pregnancy to help with stomach cramps

I've never had a problem getting amitriptyline, in fact I was prescribed it for IBS at one point. I now take it for nerve pain.

Last time I needed different pain killers on prescription I cried (genuinely) and told the doctor I wanted to saw my arm off. You need to get across somehow just how bad the pain is

My dh takes amitripaline as well for ibs/diverticulitis and it helps,him sleep.

Have you ever tried CBD?

Thisnamechanger
Sorry to hear you had problems with opiates I think in some cases they can he helpful for ibs. While I appreciate that I was later diagnosed with endometriosis on the bowel, a gastro suggested this in place of imodium. It was an absolute life changer for me as a couple of tablets a month meant that the terrible days of diarrhea 12 plus times a day became manageable with codeine but inodium left me in really bad pain. I agree hospitals are bad places for getting constipation. At points drs have thought constipation was my problem when I am convinced it was the lack of fruit and vegetables in hospital combined with opiates not sure if it is true but my gp said long term use of antispasmodics can lead to constipation.

Is changing GP an option?

There are loads of online pharmacists... you fill in a form, a doctor somewhere reviews it and if approved you get sent the medication direct to your door.

I did this when in immense pain recently following a trapped nerve ran out of codeine and managed to get a prescription for more.

It was surprisingly easy, I can see how it would be open to abuse but it seems if you have the money and don't give any answers that would be cause for concern, the meds are yours.

Most strong painkillers are opiate-based and, like other posters have said, aren't ideal for IBS and stomach problems in general because they slow digestion and cause constipation and bloating, which can make your symptoms worse. They're also addictive and you build a tolerance to them which means you end up needing higher and higher doses to get the same effect, plus they're often abused or sold on which makes doctors hesitant to prescribe them until you've tried other options without success.

That said, if you're fainting from pain then you need help to manage it and what you're currently taking obviously isn't sufficient. You need to be persistent and make it really clear to the doctor how much pain you're in and how it's affecting your life, i.e. your ability to carry out everyday tasks, your mental state, your work, your relationships and your parenting. Give them enough to write in your notes to justify prescribing what you need. See a different doctor if you feel your usual one isn't sympathetic. You don't necessarily need to be very dramatic, crying etc if it doesn't come naturally - although it can help if its genuine.

I hope you feel better soon

Soontobe60
Sorry to drip feed but the phsieo who has seen me more than the gp thinks I should see a consultant as he does not think ibs is an explanation and feels something could be happening with endometriosis or adhetions.

I have not just ignored the gps advice I have tried for three weeks but can't carry on with no improvement. I am exausted all the time and not able to give my best with my family, or work and have given up on socialising.

I agree that pain has a psychological component. I find both yoga and medditation helpful. However, being this tired tired is not helping he put things in perspective. I would love to have a morning off work on a Wednesday to catch up on some sleep and build up strength to cope with the week.

Yes it's good to know anitriptiline has helped others. I do think Dr at least some of the pain is nerve related. I would love to be able to have the nice sleepy feeling rather than 3 am anxiety about if I should be seeking help for an appendicitis.

Unfortunately I am a cryer and I think this has led me down as in hospital recently I cried when nothing was found on a scan as I did not want to be discharged in pain with no explanation. I think someone has taken this to mean that I am not balanced and can not have stronger painkillers. However, I think it was just the stress of leaving work for a booked gp appointment and them being concerned about an eptopic, cyst bursting or appendicitis and ending up admitted to hospital for a couple of days.

Amber0685 I may need to change gp if I can't get support. However, for the moment I would prefer to stick with the practice as most of the drs are fantastic, and before this I always felt I could get a prompt telephone appointnent.

I have not been able to work out how to get effective pain relief from a tens. Would the private physieo he able to help me with how to set it up. It is both stomach and sciatica pain keeping me awake and I do not know how to best put the pads on.

Has anyone tried cbd oil? I am scared to try something not prescribed but am constantly in pain.

When pain clinic gave me a TENS machine the nurse practitioner showed me where to put the pads for them to be most effective (& drew me a wee set of pad-placement diagrams for the various joints I was allowed to use TENS with). If you see a physio who works with TENS machines I'd expect they'd be able to do similar for you. Is there someone with you to make sure that if you fall asleep wearing the TENS machine you won't be there with it on for however long you sleep, btw?

It sounds as if you really REALLY need to see a different GP to get a referral back to gynae. Actually, are you not able to contact the gynae team who did your previous surger[y/ies] directly at all? Do you not have a review appointment booked? From what you've said you sound like someone who needs ongoing hospital care - if you're currently under a gynae team, get in touch & explain what's going on; hopefully you'll get an urgent review.

At the same time, though I know you'll have no inclination to, play the game & keep a food diary; everything you eat & drink (& the times at which you do so) plus any symptoms you experience. Being able to show your GP that symptoms aren't triggered by certain foods will help - or you might find that there is a more complex picture here & you need gastro input as well as gynae.

Whatever's happening, your pain at the moment is totally inadequately managed. Some people do have to just put up with being in pain, including episodes of pain that cause them to pass out/vomit/cry, because modern medicine can't fix everything & treating pain is complicated. But in your case there are still LOADS of potential options for getting your pain controlled, heaps of which your GP could prescribe, it's not a Red Drugs Red Tape situation, just... feck knows, frankly, other than possibly some raving [internalised] misogyny about periods not REALLY being any kind of an issue? The complete refusal to engage with the idea the pain might be due to endo is concerning as well as utterly baffling.

Ech. Am really sorry you're having such a grim time. Please advocate for yourself & request appropriate care.

(Oh & if you find heat helps with abdo pain, look out for the heat pads you stick to your clothes. No medication in them, they're [mostly] iron filings I think. I've only used the Cura-Heat ones but am sure there are loads out there. You can get "period pain" ones but I usually just use normal ones & sick them to a vest so I can cover exactly where I most need to.)

I have found CBD oil great for anxiety but not pain.

It sounds like you don't even have a definitive diagnosis OP. You need to really apply some pressure now to get diagnosed even if you have to start going to walk in clinics with the pain and change to another GP.
Don't rely on the GP. It's really easy to put yourself in their hands and trust them but I would never do this now. If we did this I would be a widow right now! I would trust my instincts and push to get whatever tests you need to find out what is actually going on with you.

Hi OP

1: Have you been tested for Coeliac?

2: Agree with everything PPs hve said vis actual IBS and opiates;

3: Before you take anything, please google and learn up about 'Narcotic Bowel Syndrome' (it's a risk and it's best to be aware of it)

4: Your GP should be referring you to specialists like Gyne & Gastro surely rather than DX'ing (complex) conditions themselves?

5: All of the above aside, if you are determined to get pain meds (and you do sound very determined) it's piss easy - as a PP said there are sites like Doctors4U where you do an online consultation and can get codeine phosphate etc, but it's SO open to abuse. You need to be clear in your own mind about how sure you are there are no addiction issues at play (I'm not suggesting there are, just saying be really bloody careful - ESP in the absence of a clear DX).

If you're trying the doctor's suggested plan an it isn't working, don't wait three months, go back sooner. Can you get a routine appointment sooner rather than playing emergency appointment roulette each day?

I have codeine prescribed so I can take it separately from paracetamol. I can't take anti inflammatories so opiates are my only option. I've had it for a bad back and most recently for migraines. Dr would never put it on repeat until fairly recently as he wanted to make sure I wasn't abusing it or accidentally getting addicted, and he would ask me each time often I was taking it etc. Now he's established this over quite a long time, I'm allowed it on repeat.

@Jellyjumpers I tried a low does one and it helped me with pain and it lessened my need for co-codamol. A higher dose might be helpful. I think Drs are trying to avoid opioids because of the risk of addiction.

I would say I want a referral to gynae or whoever deals with endo as you want to rule that out and also a referral to investigate the ibs theory as you want to be sure you are treating the right thing. Also with ibs he should be working through what is triggering it for you as just working on the symptoms - if it is ibs - is a crap approach.

I agree that the most important thing is to get a diagnosis. I have contacted my consultants secretary and I need a gp referral as have been discharged from follow-up. I will try calling her as I do not know if this was a requirement of the consultant or my private health insurance. If needed I would he prepared to pay for an appointment with the consultant. I feel it is worth making the sacrifices to he able to do this as I would feel confident in his judgement. I also see it as an investment in my job, as I would like to stop having so much time off or needing to work from home.

I have previously been extensively tested by a gastro and tried a low fodmap diet. I do think there are some food triggers eg beans sweet potatoes and beans in the same neal. I believe I manage this but it would be no bad thing do a food and symptom diary myself.

I will ask the physeo about tens in my next appointnent. Sometimes I am able to get people to stop me falling asleep with it on other times not

I am concerned about needing to be on potentially adictive drugs and would prefer it if a cause was found. I do not think I am adicted and only rarely took codeine when it was prescribed. I would actually prefer to have something like anitriptiline more suited to nerve pain rather than opiates.
The stick on heat pads are brilliant! I use them when things are bad and I need to go out.

Never heard a doctor recommended herbal tea before

Thanks the first routine appointnent is not for three weeks. I should probably hook this but don't psychologically know if I can cope with out more support by then. Hopefully symptoms will lesson after my period but I am absolutely not coping right now.

Try and get an appointment and explain that you are concerned about the cause as you have tried the treatment plan and it isn’t working. Phone up first thing and try to get a call back from a doctor or an appointment; if that fails then see when the soonest routine app is.

Nottheduchessofcambridge I know it felt odd to me. I can find warm water or peppermint ginger or cananile tea helpful, but I would not expect a Dr to suggest this as the only option for desert seveer pain.

To be fair m after the surgery I a nurse said to drink mint tea to get help disperse the gas and a gastro said to use it if colonoscopy prep lead to cramps.