AIBU to listen to 111 over specialist?

[RhubarbRocks]

So I guess the AIBU is AIBU not to take the painkillers prescribed to me even though not taking them will ruin my Christmas...

I have a likely diagnosis of interstitial cystitis - to be confirmed with a cystoscopy post Christmas.

In the meantime I’ve been prescribed diclofenac 50mg x 3 a day.

I had a long conversation with the consultant about our attempts to conceive - multiple rounds IVF, miscarriages including one this October, and our desire to keep trying. He is a gynaecologist and even mentioned that I am ready to ovulate this weekend and we discussed trying this weekend.

The tablets came from Superdrug pharmacy without a leaflet. I have taken three over the last day and they have been amazing - for the first time in weeks I have some relief from terrible pain. But today I thought I’d look up side effects as was feeling a bit dizzy. I was shocked to see that the patient information leaflet says they should not be used if trying to conceive - and studies show that only 6% of women ovulate when taking this drug - there are even articles that suggest it is a safe alternative to the Morning After Pill/could be used as a contraceptive.

I phoned 111 and the pharmacist called me back and said I should absolutely not take it, or ibuprofen for the same reason, and to take paracetamol until Monday when I should speak to the consultant or the GP.

At the same time I emailed the consultant to ask his advice. He says he has never heard of any connection between diclofenac/any other NSAIDs and troubles with conceiving.

Who do I believe? On one hand the pain is terrible and I want it to go away (paracetamol won’t cut it as ibuprofen doesn’t). On the other, we desperately want a baby.

I don’t know what to do. How can he say he has never heard of a connection when a quick google suggests one (whether or not it is true I’d have thought he would be aware of multiple articles about it)?

AIBU to have a terrible, painful Christmas using paracetamol til I can see a new specialist after Christmas (we have to leave this weekend to see my partner’s mother who is very unwell and needs us there so I can’t stay and see my GP Monday and I doubt they would override a specialist anyway), or AIBU to risk our chances of conceiving by taking the tablets?

There was a thread a couple of days ago asking the same question regards naproxen

Might be worth a search

Firstly I'm very very sorry you are in this situation.

It's really hard, I know what it's like to be desperately trying to conceive and I know you want to give yourself every chance. However, I know this might get shouted down but I think it's extremely unlikely that if you are in terrible pain your body will be in a position where it's going to want to get pregnant and therefore it's unlikely you will conceive this month. Could you treat it as a break this month, give your body a rest and then come back refreshed to it in the new year when you have new pain meds? Obviously you can still have sex etc but if you are tracking just throw it out the window this month and just tell yourself
that this month is a holiday from it I know lots of people, including myself, who have conceived after months of trying once they'd given themselves a break from it all so it could be just what you need.

There was a thread similar to this recently about naproxen (same family of drugs as diclofenac).
Lots of doctors (including me) didn't know about the connection.

I agree with everything Kariana wrote. Write off this month for TTC, and get yourself better and pain free x

I was advised to leave three months after mc before trying again. If you are in pain and awaiting an op then surely for the few weeks you should be your priority? Once you are feeling better you won't need them and you can start again. I am no doctor or pharmacist, was never told of this but fell pregnant when on these. Stopped as soon as it was confirmed..

Agree with the above, I know it's hard as I've been there myself in ttc for a long time but you need to take the tablets this month and make yourself feel a bit better.

Take the damn tablets and don’t be a martyr.

Infertility is horrific, and I REALLY feel for you. but I’d seriously question the wisdom of attempting to get pregnant until AFTER you’ve had the tests.

Take the tablets and have a peaceful pain free Christmas. X

I think it must be a fairly new discovery, because a lot of people, both medically qualified and otherwise, aren't aware of this.

FWIW, I would take the diclofenac and have a comfortable pain-free Christmas. Get the cystoscopy out of the way, get whatever treatment is necessary sorted out and then you can begin TTC.

NSAID drugs don't interfere with ovulation but they do affect implantation and that is why they shouldn't be taken when trying to conceive. It's hard though. I take naproxen for my periods (it's likely I have endometriosis) and it's the only thing that gets me through, but I only take them for a few days, despite them being a fantastic painkiller. I get terrible ovulation pain but darent take them or ibuprofen. We've been trying for nearly four years so really I should cut my losses, take the pills, and accept I am highly unlikely to fall pregnant anyway.

Thank you all. I had a dreadful night so we have discussed and decided to take them through Christmas til I see the specialist again.

I hadn't heard anything however NHS website suggests that long term, high doses can affect it. I would take them this month and try again in the new year. Realistically you don't want to be getting pregnant when you are in a lot of pain, waiting for an op. It's one month.

You can still try, you never know.

It is mentioned on the nhs website but quite vaguely, perhaps there is emerging evidence?

Sorry you are having difficulties conceiving OP

I understand your concerns- but ultimately, in this much pain, hoe much attempting to conceive will you be trying? And trying to conceive with a partner who is crying for to pain would most likely be problematic for most average people. You need a cystoscope and possibly further treatment. How would that affect a pregnancy, or how would a pregnancy affect the treatment. To be in this amount of pain, and yet continue to try conceive, whilst is understandable, logically is t the best idea. I'm glad you've decided to stay with the meds. Get this sorted first and then concentrate on conceiving.