Daughter 14 prescribed codeine

[Carol52]

My daughter has had on going stomach problems/pain for a year.
we have been directed to a children’s hospital now rather than the local hospital. We have had scans texts barium swallow test x rays, allergy tests
now her periods are becoming very painful as well. She has had lots of different medication which I feel slightly uncomfortable about because she is only 14.
they say it could be IBS but not sure checking for ulcers tried stomach migraines . I am so worried they stopped her playing sport.
we are waiting for a further scan as she has not had one for several months incase anything has changed also a endoscopy.
the paediatrician has prescribed codeine now . Only when the pain is extreme and only 1 tablet she said we don’t want her to have many. This worries me as well yet more medication . Any of your children taken codeine.
Any advice or just a chat I am so worried for her

Codeine is much gentler on intestines than things like ibuprofen

Codiene isn't as evil as people like to think. It is addictive so make sure you know when she's taking it. But it is a gentle painkiller for the stomach. Anything ibuprofen based can cause a lot of pain, I know if I take ibuprofen/diclofenic/gabapentin even use Voltarol, I end up with agonising stomach ache.

I took codiene at 14, and even during pregnancy I was on X2 tablets ever 4 hours for 20 weeks. My daughter has taken it at 14 before they moved her to naproxen (which as above, gave her "stomach* pain)

If she’s in pain let her take pain relief. It isn’t heroin

Do you need to take anything with codeine good for instance of have a full or empty stomach

Can you take paracetamol as well

Depends what she's be prescribed. Cocodamol has paracetamol in it already so definitely don't take extra.

Codeine is gentle on the stomach. You don’t need a full or empty stomach you can just take it.

yes you can take it with paracetamol - in fact there is a tablet you can buy at pharmacies called co-codamol which is paracetamol and codeine combined because they work well together.

Thank you . It’s such a worry not knowing what is causing the pain and to keep changing medication all the time

I was taking the maximum dose of codeine for over two years after slipping a disc in my back and I found thst it made me feel a bit sick if I had a completely empty stomach, particularly in the morning. It caused constipation at first until my body got used to it. My consultant at the pain clinic told me that, whilst it can be quite addictive, people metabolise codeine differently and it may not be addictive to some people . I am clearly one of the people who does metabolise it in a different way because I’ve had no problems at all in almost stopping it. It’s a drug that has really helped and suited me - nothing else was really helping with my back pain and I don’t know what I would have done without it.

Just to be aware that codeine can be quite constipating so make sure she has plenty of fibre and water, ask for something to help her bowels depending on the IBS side of things.

As someone who has had endometriosis since the age of 13 please let her take the codeine when needed. I wish my pain levels had been taken seriously by medical practitioners.

Have they considered endometriosis?
I have always struggled with IBS type symptoms and horrific periods.

Hot water bottles can also be a game changer!

Yes, agree with this; what dose has she been prescribed and is it already combined with paracetamol, ie, Co-codamol ?

You can get some Movicol ( or equivalent) over the counter, best to have it in and be alert to constipation.

Codeine is much better on the gut than anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen.

You can buy codeine over the counter. Just bear in mind it doesn't work for everyone and can cause constipation.

It just makes me bunged up and grumpy, I certainly wouldn't take it for IBS. Has she had ultrasounds/CT/MRI for ovarian cysts and endometriosis? I thought I had IBS and it was endometriosis and PCOS. DD2 had issues with cysts just before her periods started, and had IBS symptoms. Fortunately it settled down for her on its own.

She needs something in her stomach to take it.

if it’s co-codamol then do not take paracetamol with it.

If they have just prescribed codeine then you can take up to two paracetamol with it.

The codeine on its own is a tiny white tablet. Please feel free to send me photo as I used to be a pharmacy assistant.

I definitely agree that she will need something to keep the bowels moving.

Thank you I think either her periods starting to be really painful that is why they are planning another scan. Do you mind me asking Did you have lots of investigations like my daughter. Yes she has a hot water bottle and packs for school

My daughter throws up every single time she takes Codeine.

Endometriosis doesn't tend to show up on a scan. It's diagnosed by laparoscopy. Please do discuss this with her consultant, as it's a horrible, painful condition to have. Would recommend doing some reading up on this. The occasional codiene is fine. It's only when taking them regularly for prolonged periods that addiction is a risk.

If someone has strong pain then codeine is very effective. Obviously if you took loads more than prescribed it could make you feel high and you could get sick or even OD. But taken according to instructions it's very useful and it isn't harsh on the stomach like paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I had severe IBD as a child and took more codeine than she has been prescribed, daily, at a younger age than her. It won't harm her.

Thank you her periods gave only started to really hurt but her stomach pain has been gif ably tv a year. Ig is debilitating for her. I suffered with horrendous period pain as well. Can endometriosis start with stomach pain and then keeled to period pain.

She will. I’ve been on quite a high dose for 7 years now, so don’t get backed up too much. When I do, a glass or two of pure prune juice sorts it.

I found Laxido and Movicol didn’t work.

She is already on lactose

I started having issues at 13 both period pain and bowel issues. This was the 90s and I was just put on the pill as the periods were so heavy and I would faint monthly.

I got to my 20s and I went back and forth a few times but no investigations.

In my early 30s the company I worked for sent me to a private GP to see about the IBS. I would be fine one minute and then I would lose control of my stomach without warning. I was also on several warnings in work for stomach pain.

I had investigations for infertility the following year and they still didn’t work it out.

It took 3 years to conceive. And we left it at one child.

At the grand old age of 40 I was hanging something in the classroom and I felt stomach pain and collapsed. In hospital they investigated me and could see a huge fibroid on MRI. They then did a laparoscopy under anaesthetic and said I had stage 4 endo everywhere!

Make sure to advocate for her as they tend to not listen to younger women.

I actually used to have stomach pain as a child but the pain really ramped up when periods started.