Those of you who had a CSection were you sent home with Painkillers??

[littlemiss26]

I am about to have my third c section on tuesday and I have just been told by the midwife that it is now the hospitals policy not to send women home with painkillers after a csection. For my last two i was sent home with 10 days worth of two different types of painkillers (codeine and something else) which i took for the ten days. I am pretty worried about coming out of hospitla with no pain relief - she advised me to stock up on paracetamol (which in my experience will no way cut it!). She also said that the last four women she saw post natally had to go to emergency out of hours gp to get painkillers on prescription once home. I just wanted to find out if this is normal policy for other hospitals, and if anyone has managed with just parcetamol after a section!

I must admit I am starting to worry now about the pain relief thing. After my 2nd section I had codeine and paracetomol in hospital. Even with that the afterpains were bad when feeding. I hear they are even worse 3rd time around. I also missed out on painkillers before discharge as paperwork at pharmacy.Although at least they gave me some codeine to go home with. Think I will be stocking up before my section.

I got massive amounts of max strength co-codamol and diclofenac. I got a repeat for the codeine because I had such bad SPD I couldn't walk a week after the birth. I would not be happy with a couple of paracetamol

panzee it's a maternity ward thing IME. After my hysterectomy the nurses were bloody wonderful, couldn't do enough to help, made me stay in bed for 48hrs and on top of the pain meds. As I'd had such a a brutal post EMCS experience my pain threshold was sky high and I didn't need morphine after day 1 (again, didn't hurt as I was resting so much!) and was off paracetamol at home resting by day 4. But I would not expect a new mother to have to put up with the pain or go to the chemists for more pain relief in the early days .

I had my first csection 17 weeks ago with twins!!!
I was sent home with paracetamol .. I was literally shaking with pain and vomiting!! Christmas night I called the maternity ward crying!!! They did nothing do called out of hours doctor and got done oral morph (god send)

I really don't know why i was in so much pain as everyone else told me the sailed through it!!! But I found it horrendous!!!

But tell them u want more ( I didn't have a clue what I needed and just wanted to get home to see other kids as it was Christmas eve)

And of they don't u can get something stronger from your doctor!!

I had an EMCS 6 months ago, and was sent home with diclofenac, which worked a treat....

I'd stamp my foot and demand to have some proper painkillers, as suggesting paracetamol is enough is frankly fucking insulting and dismissive. You'll need to be able to look after your newborn, FFS!

Kick up a stink - I would. Good luck x

I went home with diclofenac and codeine after both ELCS. Rubbish that you're not getting any but you can buy similar products over the counter at chemist.

lovemysleep don't stamp it too hard if you need painkillers though. :o

I was sent home with diclofenac, paracetamol and tramadol/dine (instead of codine). I cannot agree more with those of you who said keep taking painkillers on a regular basis in the early days. I did this diclofenac one end of day and tramadol the other with paracetamol top ups.

After about 5 days I cut it down and about 3 weeks later only had the odd paracetamol.

I would say that this is the reason I recovered well and see my 2 elcs as very positive experiences-don't try and do it without pain relief please!

I didn't need any painkillers post emcs either time though they tried to insist on codydramol and paracetamol. I just refused. I took home 10 days of blood thinners to inject though (tinzaparin iirc).

I had morphine and codeine in hospital . I don't know if I'm a wimp but I was in a lot of pain ( I'm not a wimp btw) . I had to go to gp to get more codeine . I was in a massive amount of pain and my baby wa in scbu ( early) so it was the last thing I wanted to do . They should let you decide if you need it . I guess it all comes down to costs .

Can t remember if I was sent home with them. But took my own codeine to hospital 'just in case' I wanted a little extra.

But in hospital they kept bringing pain relief and a peppermint drink to relieve wind. It was fine.

I took 'shit loads' of arnica the day before my op (elcs) and a week after .

I felt better a week later than my vaginal birth . I have never had arnica before or any kind of (alternative medicine don t even know what it is called ) But it must of worked a treat.

I loved my c section - enjoy

i had a emcs 4 weeks ago and was sent home with diclofenac (which worked well) and a shed load of paracetamol oh and some injection thing for preventing blood clots. i had 2 weeks worth of diclofenac and now just take the dd paracetamol. not sure if its related but i had a very easy recovery, never felt a hint of pain and totally back to normal activities now which i tink is down to having good pain relief!

I found ibuprofen better than paracetamol post cs so took that... might be worth stocking up on pain relief beforehand, at least you're being sensible and thinking about it in advance. Good luck!

I wasn't sent home with painkillers because I am already prescribed stronger ones than they would give me for existing condition. So there was no point as I already have a fantastic drug collection
When they send them home they are usually only co-codamol and an anti inflammatory both of which are available over the counter, if you are worried you could stock up on these in advance. Watch out codeine in co codamol gives most people constipation so be careful and either take senna or other preventative measure (Liquorice is my fav)

I was sent home with masses of prescribed painkillers: Paracetamol and Diclofenac. I went home a week after the CS armed with piles of them. TBH I only took the diclofena for less than a week, and the paracetamol for less than a fortnight. I'd had morphine in hospital for a couple of days (until the old BP started dropping like a stone). I would be very surprised if your hospital did not prescribe strong drugs post CS.

I think that it is outrageous not to be sent home with pain killers. After all a caesarian section is major abdominal surgery and this would not happen to someone who had an operation for any other reason.

Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and codeine are all safe with breast feeding. You can take then together.

Codeine bought over the counter comes in a low dose combined with Paracetamol. 8 mg (milligrams) of codeine with 500mg of Paracetamol in each tablet. you take two of these every 6 hours. DO NOT TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL PARACETAMOL IF YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE. It is safe to take this medicine in combination with Ibuprofen.

You can get a stronger version of this from your GP on prescription in a drug called co-codamol. 30mg codeine combined with 500mg Paracetamol in each tablet you can take 2 of these every 6 hours. Again. DO NOT TAKE ANY MORE PARACETAMOL IF YOU USE THIS MEDICINE. It is safe to take this medicine in combination with Ibuprofen.

The safe dose of Ibuprofen in 400mg every 6-8 hours.

Codeine can make you feel dizzy, nauseated and give you constipation. Some people love it, some people hate it but it is the next step up the pain killer ladder as it is stronger than, and works in a different way to Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. If you don't get on with the codeine instead take normal Paracetamol with the Ibuprofen.

Ideally you should be discharged from Hospital with the strong Co-codamol and Ibuprofen. Ask for this.

To keep on top of the pain it is best to take the pain killers regularly and in combination for a week or so rather than wait until the pain gets too bad as they work better that way.

Any problems see your GP as soon as possible.

I hope this helps.

I had a elcs 3 weeks ago. Was not given any drugs to take home (frankly was given precious little in hospital because they kept forgetting me )

They said stock up on para & ibu. I took both, ibu 3 doses in 24 hrs & para up to 4.

I needed to take them religiously for 2 weeks. I may even take some in a bit as I am still sore.

Just to clarify amateurmaters post co-codamol is codeine and paraceatamol in a single tablet. It comes in 2 strengths 8/500 (available over the counter) and 30/500 (prescription) first number refers to codeine strength, second paraceatamol. Codeine also comes separately on prescription if required.
Completely correct to say however that co-codamol must not be taken with additional paraceatamol as it already contains it. Ibroprofen or other NSAID such as naproxin, voltarol etc is fine. Painkillers work better if you take then steadily over a period building up the level in your body (not overdosing just taking normal dose regularly over time) rather than just taking them when it hurts. (unfortunately expert painkiller taker)

I had second section in May 2011, was sent home with voltrol and paracetamol.
It wasn't enough.
It's awful that you have to get these drugs for yourself, too much cost cutting.

Came out yesterday with 400mg of ibrupfofen to be taken 3 times a day - I have had to supplement at home.

Not had cs but was just interested in this thread and I know its to save money! Because when dh went to hospital to have his teeth out they sent him home with dicofenlac but told him to buy paracetmol as we can get it cheaper ie 16p a pack than the nhs can!!! Which is mad but true!!!

Thanks for the info re codeine! I have been the chemist and bought 2 packs of the 8/500 codeine and paracetamol combination. I just need to buy some ibruprofen now. I had my pre-op appointment today and it is a blanket ban that has been in place since january and they refuse point blank to prescribe painkillers for anyone - bastards! I intend to give PALS a call this week before i go in, but have a feeling i may get no where. Midwife at the hospital today said she didn't know the reason for the policy, but felt it was likely to be money related! Its getting ridiculous this cost cutting, when the small cost of prescribing suitable painkillers is required. Ironically when i was having blood taken today she said they were now using some flexible piping thing (sorry can't remember the name) to take multiple blood samples, and i commented that i hadn't seen it before and she said 'no, its alot more expensive than the needles we normally use, but they want us using these now'. I would rather have used the old blood thing and got painkillers

Can I just ask. Which hospital has this dreadful policy?

Can I just ask. Which hospital has this dreadful policy?

I don't know where you are but:

If you get home and the pain relief isn't working, phine NHS/24/Direct and get some better relief.

Don't wait until it's sore to take pain relief - nurse told me it's much easier to control pain when it just starts rather then when it's really bad.

And kick up a fuss at OOHs - this is a terrible policy. Do they discharge other patients who have had major surgery with no pain relief?