My mum has been in horrendous pain since mid-April, and it has now become clear - after months of false dawns and differing experiments - that she probably has myeloma (a form of leukaemia).
Her GP referred her to a haemotologist on Tuesday (18th). She chased the referral today and was told the 2-week wait for an appointment wouldn't even START until next Wednesday (26th) - eight days after the initial referral. She was advised that she would definitely have to wait 2 weeks from then and possibly longer.
In the meantime, she is in shocking pain and isn't getting more than 1-2 hours sleep a night because it keeps her awake at night. GP tried amitriptyline, which did nothing, and co-codamol - again, doesn't even touch the sides.
She is in absolute agony and I really doubt she can take another 3 weeks of it. When she pleaded, with tears (and this is a very stoic woman, believe me) to the GP, he said, 'Fine, fine, don't worry' and dismissed the subject.
What on earth can we do?
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General health
Mum probably has cancer - in chronic pain but no painkillers. What can we do?
LordTrash · 21/07/2017 18:59
Honey I also say a and e
From my dads cancer reoccurring to it getting he progressed and ended up in a and e , then ICI then he passed
I say that as when the pain is this bad it's very serious and she needs proper palliative pain killers
They will look after her and this is an emergency
I am so so sorry for you and her 
Sending strength
Thank you, everyone, they are sending somebody over right now - advised against A&E because from what she told them about her pain, it would be really difficult for her.
So the 111 guys are telling her she's too ill to even go to A&E, but the GP reckons she's fine to carry on without pain relief 
. I'm going to have a word with her about changing GPs (my surgery is fab) once she's feeling more human.
Thank you so much, all 
.
Fantastic news, well done for making that call. I hope they give her some strong pain relief and get a plan together for the weekend.
She said they were bringing oromorph and would sort out a plan for the weekend.
Well done, mumsnetters - you're the literal best (as dd1 would say) .
Brilliant - oromorph will definitely help. OP PLEASE teport the GP. Denying pain relief is about as shitty as it gets
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Thanks for asking - doctor turned up just before midnight, gave mum enough oromorph to last at least a week, another drug for specific bone-type pain (can't remember the name) and something for 'indigestion' (guess that's the Movicol but mum didn't want to go into detail on that one...)
Result was she had her first good night's sleep in nearly 3 months and blissful release from pain. Went round to see her earlier and she was in tears of relief, and looking so much brighter.
Great to see, but I'm still mad as hell at the GP. If she hadn't had anyone to fight for her, she could have been left to suffer for another 3 weeks 
.
That is such good news Tell her not to be afraid to call back if she finds that she gets used to the painkillers and the pain breaks through - they won't mind looking at things. Similarly, if she starts to feel sick (that might have been what the 'indigestion' drug was for). Either way, if she needs to make a fuss, make sure she does
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Oh
I am
Pleased to hear OP
When you are less traumatised You could write a very firm letter to the GP practice
My advice is to word it as feedback and 'for her medical notes ' and end with a request for information as to how they can support her in this initiative and be active should this happen again .
I find that approaching it more subtly will
Mean that they nicer people there will be helpful and the feedback will get back to him anyway
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