Amazed at how little GP seems to understand

[Smiller10]

I should have been prepared after reading threads on here.

I have a degenerative spinal condition and have been advised on a number of occasions by GPs and a MW (and good common sense!) that I should get back under Ortho consultant care asap when/before TTC. I went to the GP (not my usual one luckily) and she just said 'why? The antenatal clinic will decide whether you need that' at about 3 months. It takes up to 3 months to get the appointment and I'll need uptodate scans to see what condition my spine is in (5 years since last MRI).

I explained that I needed to have a pain management plan in advance as some of my tablets are opiod and others are anti-inflammatory. She said 'oh you won't need a pain plan until after 3 months as the foetus is so tiny it won't cause pain'. Again, I had to explain that my back ends up in debilitating pain on a regular basis anyway so I'm anticipating this will be the case when I'm pregnant and I need to know what is ok to take.

Finally she said it all should be fine to take as all the results on anti-inflammatory drugs being bad for babies are just on infant mice so no-one really knows about human babies .

I said thank you, went back to reception and have made an appointment with a more sensible GP for the New Year.

(Sorry for the missive - I'm just rather bewildered)

Sounds bonkers - so sorry you had a rubbish experience. I think you did the right thing in getting a new appointment! If you are in no rush to conceive then you should get the consultation you need. Is there any helplines that you can use while you wait for your next appointment? Someone who understands your back condition and can give you advice about conception as well? Can't think of any organisations off-hand but perhaps you could at least talk to someone sensible in the interim?! Good luck.

How awful! I'm glad you are able to see a different gp, yours sounds clueless! And I'm that she said it's okay to carry on with the drugs you're on without giving you better advice - whilst some are ok to take during pregnancy some really aren't - ibuprofen for example is risky, paracetamol isn't (but I'm assuming that paracetamol won't be enough for you if you're in that much pain . Can you ask to be referred to a pain specialist?

Glad it's not just me!

beangrower we're not in a rush per se other than really wanting to start trying. It's amazing how we've both gone from 0 to 60 on this over the last few months; just 12 months ago we were still talking in the distant future tense but we've gone from next summer (when I turn 30 and we'd gone travelling again) to as soon as we've exchanged on the house we're trying to buy which should (fingers crossed) be in the next few weeks. Perhaps it's having the extra rooms to fill

Oh smiller me and DH were just like that - it was like a switch flicked in my womb one day! :o

Good luck with the second GP, I hope you have a better time of it. If not, could you perhaps phone the specialist department for some advice? Pharmacists may be able to advise on the safety of the drugs, also?

smiller as someone said avoid NSAID (non steroidal antinflammatories) not good whilst ttc or in early pregnancy especially. In our area people on strong opiods are referred to pain clinic and also drug addiction clinic do not take offence. So think you do need referral to a few specialists to help with your and lo needs. Good luck and stick to your guns

Thanks bugsylugs - no offence taken. I wouldn't have thought a drug addiction clinic would be necessary - the only problem I have is an expensive, champagne habit

I refer to my opiod ones as my 'nuclear option' and my regular GP told me that I didn't need to be a martyr and should take them if I need them; I've never taken more than half the amount allowed. I want to get all the right advice preferably before we conceive; I really want to be under ortho care and speak to a pain management specialist so we can figure out what I can take with minimum impact on the foetus.

I'm worried about the ttc period as my first port of call pain killers are ibuprofen, volterol gel, then naproxin or diclofenec. On the paracetamol side, I'm prescribed strong-ish co-codemol and tramadol (opiod). If my back really goes I'll be left with little choice but to take something but what??

op I have a condition with a similar painkiller treatment regime. If part of your regime is to relax spasms, I suspect you'll be placed on Valium or similar for its central nervous system action. And then an opioid for pain management, if you need that once the Valium has kicked in (often Valium/similar is enough tbh).

If it's just straight pain mgt, then it'll likely be an opioid. They're scary, but the fact is they're generally the safest choice for the baby.

Which reminds me... I too need to get to the GP again and start harassing him mercilessly for a referral back to my rheumatologist for the exact reasons you've outlined. No more diclofenac and cyclobenzaprine for moi as of end of this cycle...

I had co codamol and codeine phosphate while pg. I think they are ok if really necessary in 1st and 2nd trimesters. But cause respiratory depression in the newborn so best avoided in 3rd trimester. Definitely agree that you need a second GPs opinion. Can you self refer to your old ortho consultant?