c-sections

[Lilsquish]

Currently in hospital having underwent a section yesterday.

AIBU to expect/request stronger pain relief other than two paracetamol??

i mean, for christ sake, 16 hours after major surgery they are requesting that i get out of bed and shower with 2 paracetamol for pain relief???? why??

its not like you cant have anything stronger, they even have it stored on their little drug trolleys, so why not offer it? or better still, when i say im really struggling with the pain, offer the bloody morphine without insinuating that its a major deal!!!

Any midwives/doctors shed some light on this?

im getting a bit fucked off feeling like i need to beg/justify reasons for getting stronger pain relief every 4 hours.........

I have no idea what they gave me after my c section but in was in for 5 days and had injections twice a day, I don't remember any significant pain. When I got out I had 7 days worth of strong painkillers. After that I was on my own with paracetamol.

Paracetamol only on day 2 is ridiculous.

Fucking awful. Demand more. Yes to the pp’s who said women are ignored pre/post birth - I asked for painkillers during my induction when I was told I ‘couldn’t possibly’ be in labour. To ‘calm down’ and given a paracetamol in a pot.
Five minutes later when a lovely nurse did the rounds and asked if I wanted checking and I said yes, my (meconium) waters went over her from head to toe.
I was almost 10cm. Of course I couldn't have been in Labour for the last 8 hours of horrific pain though when they told me to ‘walk it off’ through a closed hospital. Just a ftm lots of love op, insist and if you can’t, get someone else to do it for you.

but since then, i need to keep requesting it everytime the midwives appear with their 'pain relief'

There may be a valid reason for this. Paracetamol is probably prescribed as a regular medication, so is given at every medication round. Oramorph will be prescribed as a 'PRN' medication, so can be given whenever (within safe limits) but usually needs to be asked for by the patient. If I know my pt is in a lot of pain though I tend to offer it at the same time as the regular med but everyone is different.

Yes. I was only offered paracetamol. Fucking pathetic offering, isn't it.

I recently had a section and was given morphine twice a day and paracetamol every four hours

After mine I had a painkilling suppository shoved up (morphine?) which lasted 4 hours. After that I was given morphine and something else. I was also up and showering less than 12 hours after the op. When I came out the next day I was told to take paracetamol. Fucking unbelievable!!!

I insisted on morphine...and I am the type of person that never bothers to take panadol or nurfin even when I need it. Insist on morphine. They rip your stomach muscles as its said that they knit back to better than a surgical cut.

Amanduh I hear that so often, HCP not believing women are in pain/ enough pain.

I was admitted the night before my c section in labour and they offered me 2 paracetamol. I had been in labour a long time and I’m afraid they got the full on feminist rant. Why the hell would I be admitted to a ward for paracetemol? I said I’ve got fucking 48 paracetemol IN MY BAG. I want morphine. She huffed but went and got it. Pah.

I was in the US and I was given morphine for 2 days post c-section. Then sent home with co-codamols. They really don't take this pain seriously in the UK.

First c section I had paracetamol and ibuprofen as routine afterwards. Was told I could request oramorph but didn’t need to.

Second c section again paracetamol and ibuprofen, and was sent home with this and dihydrocodeine. Didn’t need to ask for anything stronger.

Hope you get something sorted OP - alternating ibuprofen with paracetamol can really help keep a lid on any discomfort and help you to get up and around. Maybe an option before opting for oramorph?

I was given tramadol for at least 24 hours after the epidural/spinal block wore off after my c-section for DTs, then paracetamol, but this was 2007... can’t fathom only paracetamol — how barbaric! If men had babies, they’d never be treated this way. Never.

I’ve had 3 c sections and was just given paracetamol too and even that had to be chased as they were always late coming round. My third section recovery was so painful and I was so glad to go home so I could actually have my paracetamol on time instead of waiting.

I have the lowest pain threshold ever!
Had baby last year by elective and yeah they tried fobbing me off with the ibroprofen and paracetmol ana I just said no sorry but I need the oramorphine. Had to ask for it everytime though! Also insisted on being prescribed bottle to go home with, which in fairness they did with no problem.
They have you up after 6 hours to shower at my hospital.
Having another section in October and I will again be insisting on morphine again. Paracetamol don’t do anything for me.

Just be firm and ask for something stronger.
Congratulations on baby xx

I feel your pain, or at least, I felt it. I've had 2 sections, the first, seven years ago I had great pain relief and was sent home with so much diclofenac that I didn't use it all, but with my daughter, 2 years ago, I was the same as you.
It made the few weeks afterwards so much more painful. If you can get paracetamol with codeine then that helps.
I think it's awful that they expect you to have a baby, be completely shattered and to do it all in considerable pain.
I hope you get something stronger and congratulations on your new baby.

It's an out and out lie you can't be discharged with oramorph. Quite a few people I know were post c-section but annoyingly it's only something I found out after I'd been forced to cope on just paracetamol and ibuprofen. They might only give you 50mls (10 x 5 mls) but they do discharge people with it.

Just keep asking for morphine. My first experience I was really poorly so they just kept giving it to me and so second time round I knew what I could have. Breastfed both babies for 9 months.

You get treated badly after a section I think, the whole getting up out of bed thing is horrific and I felt like my stomach was falling out of me. The pain does get better but just get all the drugs you can.

I think I have a high pain threshold as the paracetamol was all I needed after both my sections and I believe the quicker you get up and moving the better! The first one my baby was taken to picu so I didn't really have a choice I had to get up and get moving if I wanted to see him but obviously everyone is deferent and if you need extra pain relief ask for it and stamp your feet until you get it! You definitely shouldn't be sitting in pain!

It depends though not all c sections are the same. They are done under different circumstances with different outcomes and side effects. Just because you were ok on paracetemol doesn’t mean others will be- maybe you just had an easy one

Congrats op. You should be trying to get mobile as soon as possible but proper pain relief is more likely to facilitate that!

For my first c-section I got the paracetamol/ibuprofen shite and nearly passed out from the pain. Second time (at a different hospital) I had some kind of suppository in theatre which was very effective and hideous when it wore off! Then oramorph on the ward but I kept puking it up

It is often fucking outrageous what women who have just given birth are supposed to just put up with. When DH had minor outpatient surgery he was given more pain relief and compassion that I probably got from both my c-sections combined.

I had 1 lot of morphine & then it was co codomol. The quicker you are up & moving the quicker your recovery

I don't know if that was aimed at me @Passthecherrycoke but I think you'll notice I wrote that everyone is different (albeit with bad spelling) and some people need more pain relief! I wasn't trying to put anyone down!

A friend has a non traumatic vaginal birth, I had an emcs. Same hospital a week apart. She came home with more meds than me 🙄 and without any significant pain!

I’m horrified that a decade later they are still doing this. Hope you get better meds soon.

Being up and about though is good for you but stil...,,;

Oh don't listen to them, I did for days. It wasn't until day 3 I broke down crying that I need something stronger, they suddenly called a doctor and got me some pain relief.

They just can't be arsed calling a doctor to get it signed off. When u get home they discharge you with it so I don't understand why they aren't allowed to give u it.

It was the one called diclo something that others have mentioned, it is very good!

Being up and about and passing out with pain won't help anyone's recovery! The OP needs sufficient pain relief to be up and about but not in pain..