Painkillers !

[gingeroots]

Had major upper abdominal surgery in mid August . Left hospital pretty pain free but have had relentless pain for last 4 weeks .

Specialist nurse thinks it's just one of those things ,healing ,take the pain killers .

Soo - am taking Dihydrocodeine 30 mg and paracetamol . I try to take only 3 times in 24 hours but am now taking 4 times . Sometimes they seem to help more than other times . I wish they helped more .

Are they more effective with food ?

Is it better to just take 4 times a day rather than try to limit them ?
( my concern is constipation and dependence ,tho I take Laxido )

Is their effect cumulative over the 24 hours ??

Any advice ?

bump

Time to get this checked out right away and even at the a&e - scan & blood test to see how you are

Yes, it is best to take 4 in 24 hours, try not to miss a dose as this may cause 'pain spikes' which are harder to treat rather than keeping you going on an even keel.
(This is advice given to me by a pain clinic, for my son who has chronic pain)
However, I also think you should go back to get these problems checked out properly.

What are you doing activity wise? Would less activity and more rest improve things?

Sorry, it sounds miserable.

Thanks all , I don't think it's anything serious as it's not getting worse . Movement aggravates it and resting helps .I try and keep a balance .

Unfortunately stress /tension also make it worse and as my main ,only really ,activity is visiting my very elderly stress inducing mother ,I feel I'm on a looser [smile ]

I've had blood tests today ( pre chemo ) so I imagine these will show up any infection ,which is what worries me slightly .

But I'll go for for the 4 doses . Have large packet of dried apricots to counteract constipation .

Maybe there's a silver lining - fatigue and pain are at least preventing me strangling my very difficult mother .