Quick! Please, I need some help re gynae!

[QueenArseClangers]

My elderly DM is having a removal/refit of her bladder pessary this afternoon.

She’s absolutely riddled with arthritis, scoliosis, and a SA survivor.

The last few times she’s had it done it’s been agony for her. She’s been distressed and in pain which has affected her (limited) mobility.

I’ve rang the ward to request she be offered Nitrous Oxide. She has no contraindications and has used it before after a fall.

I’ve been fobbed off, told ‘we can’t give that cos we’ll have to look at all her medications/history’.

I’ve emailed PALS (no one to answer the calls) but REALLY worried.

Can anyone advise please?

It would need to be prescribed. Does a doctor run the clinic?

It’s not a long acting pain reliever. If it’s affecting her already limited mobility, would that be after she’s had the procedure or during the procedure? Clinics don’t tend to have Nitrous oxide at all, it’s a maternity/A&E thing?

And yes - they would have to look at all her prescription and medical history to prescribe it.

@PinkSnowAndStars

It would need to be prescribed. Does a doctor run the clinic?

It’s not a long acting pain reliever. If it’s affecting her already limited mobility, would that be after she’s had the procedure or during the procedure? Clinics don’t tend to have Nitrous oxide at all, it’s a maternity/A&E thing?

I had gas and air for (my only) pain relief during an endometrial ablation, done in a gynae outpatients clinic (I will take all your accolades and bravery awards now, thank you). So a gynae outpatients clinic doing the procedure the OP describes may well have access to it, readily.

You’re right about the needing to be prescribed, though.

Yeah, it’s doctor led.
It would, ideally, be used whilst she’s positioning (can’t lie on her back well) and during removal and insertion.
It’s a fairly big gynae department and for them to give analgesia would help her immensely.
Last time I heard her cry out in pain and distress, she’s nearly 90

Ideally something like that would need to be bought up well in advance. It’s not impossible, but on the day I’m not sure you’d get that.

Would it be worth asking what can be done for next time? Perhaps get the GP to prescribe Diazapam or something before she has it done so she’s relaxed? Or asking the clinic how you’d get it arranged for future?

I’m not a doctor, but things like this need to be arranged in advance and not on the day.

I hope she’s ok and it helps x

I’m going to try and contact the consultant’s secretary.
My poor lovely mum just rang then to ask ‘how on Earth am I going to bend my legs? I’m really scared’

She doesn't need to through with it today if she feels she's not being listened to and needs pain relief to help her through the procedure. It isn't an unreasonable request. Good luck, I hope she's OK

Good news!!!
Rang to rearrange her appointment and the nurse said she’s spoken to the sister and it’s sorted!
DM will have to answer some questions about whether she’s been deep sea diving recently but other than that it’s all systems go!

Massive thanks to all of you who’ve replied

I'd be very impressed at any 90+ year old contemplating scuba diving

Glad you got it sorted for her though

I'm so glad to see it's been sorted. My friend went in to have her coil fitted and she was in so much pain they offered her gas and air there and then.so some out patient clinics do have it to hand.