To think I should have received more help?

[korinuya]

This is a half AIBU and half asking for advice!

DD8 had surgery at the beginning of the week. It's been a difficult week with recovery from the general anaesthetic, pain and sleepless nights. We're now at a point where we're no longer having tears about the pain but that's been replaced with tears about how itchy the stitches are.

I've rung Tesco/asda/boots pharmacies to ask for advice on whether I can give her piriton for the itchiness alongside the specific antibiotics she is on. No one is answering their phone (I've tried since they've all opened).

I called 111 to ask advice that way as I really don't want to leave it another day until regular pharmacies/GPS are open as she's quite distressed today. I answered the questions 111 asked and the result was that I must ring a local pharmacy to check. I explained that no one was answering and they told me to keep trying, and that they couldn't help.

AIBU to think I should have been passed through to a GP to answer my question? Or is this not what NHS 111 is for?

Does anyone have any ideas where I can get this question answered or are we really going to have to wait until tomorrow? I can't physically go to one of those pharmacies to ask as I have no one that can come and sit with DD whilst I pop out. Thank you!

Ice pack on the stitches!

@NeverWheesht Thanks but we can't actually see the stitches - they're under a huge amount of bandages!

Ah that sounds stressful.

Call the hospital that she had the surgery at. I don't think piriton is appropriate for this as they are for allergic reactions. The risk you have at the moment is if it's infected.

If your child has no medical problems you can give her Piriton.

Why haven’t you just given her the antihistamine? The itching is part of the healing process; it does mean the skin is healing but the inflammation and everything causes itching. Antihistamine can help with this. Why do you need to ask advise to give her it? Is she on a whole pile of medication and you’re worried about drug interactions?

Just giver her some Benadryl or something.

An antihistamine is entirely appropriate for the itching caused by wounds healing.

@Badassnameforadojo Because I wanted to check that piriton won't react with the antibiotics she is on, plus the ibuprofen and calpol.

@Badassnameforadojo oh sorry, thanks for the correction.
I still think OP should call the hospital that her DD had the op. When I've had operations they have always said call us if there's any issues.

Perfectly safe

The BNF is online so you can look it up yourself.

You can phone the ward your child was discharged from to ask if unsure.
As unthread BNF is online , just Google drug name interactions and bnf will bring it up.
Anti histamines are generally safe , depending on the painkillers you have you might find that piriton might increase drowsiness.
cetirizine is less drowsy , only 4 interactions
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/interactions/cetirizine/

@FelicityBennett Thank you that's really helpful! I wasn't aware you could do that.

Definitely phone the ward.

I had really itchy painful stitches in my arm and the GP wasn’t any help at all. Thought I was being a drama queen.

Turns out I was allergic to the material they use to stitch you up and now have tiny stripey scars on my arm from under the stitches.

Unfortunately, they’ll only find out if it’s an allergy when the stitches come out. It makes you aware for next time though.

I really don't think asking about itchy stitches is a GP issue. As mentioned before itching is a common thing as wounds heal.

Asking the nursing staff on the ward you were discharged from would be my first line.

Otherwise pharmacists would be good as the question you are asking is about medicine compatibility.

Equally the information is available online if you look for it.

As for waiting for a while - it really isn't an urgent situation - you are saying that other people's urgent medical needs should be left to wait whilst you have this question answered first.

Ring the ward you are on, but honestly as a nurse they are completely different drugs so I don’t see why it would be an issue.

Ring the ward she was treated on.