Getting GP to take tiredness seriously

[Jellyjumpers]

I have had a range of symptoms over the last two months from pain in my stomach on the left, a hip pain diagnosed as sciatica, random constipation and a general feeling of not being well. While I appreciate that symptoms healing keeping me awake at night will lead to tiredness I do not think the way I feel is normal. I can sleep on my train journey to work, again in the toilet at work he bearly able to keep eyed open in meetings etc

This weekend I have slept well at night for at least nine hours, then had a five six hour sleep yesterday and two hours today. In my last appointment I mentioned this and was told tiredness is normal with pain. Does this sound right particularly as I feel a bit unwell all the time as if I am about to get a cold, with the same sort of tiredness

Yep watch you tube. I inject in my upper arms. Not hard at all although I've got better, realising the needle needs to go in at 45 degree and deeper.

Oops I think I mean 90 degree!

I've been deficient in vit d (which was treated with a loading dose initially) and my b12 was 200 and something. Iron was on the low side so I'm now taking that. I don't feel particularly tired though - only normal busy life tired! I have had some hair loss though which was what prompted the test. Personally I don't want to inject anything especially not on gp advice but I've got an oral spray to take. Would that be worth a try? It's the 'better for you' one via Amazon. Hope you start to feel better.

Can you get your VITAMIN D checked.

This is a separate blood test and you have to ask for it.

I would like to know what my levels of vitamins are before supplementing. However, I do not feel I have got worse Since the gp said I should wait to see if things improve over the next three months. I do not really know how to push this.

I saw the physieo yesterday. He thinks the stomach is not muscular and feels I should be seen by the gynae. However, as not muscular he can not do a referral.

In terms of pain killers I have30/500 cocodamol, naproxcin declofonac supositories 15 mg codeine and the mebeverine which i have been told to take two of. I am not regularly taking anything as have been told mot to take the antiinflanitories and i do not know how much pain relief i get from codeine. I have tried cocodamol at bed time but an still waking in pain. Dhehydrocodeine 20 mg was previously much more effective and when given this in hospital was the only time i have felt truely comfortable. I feel i have a mix of pain types a nerve pain and muscle spasom the two that keep me awake or wake me up. Regular paracetamol seems about as effective as codeine.

I sometimes feel forgettful but not really any worse at the end of the day.

This is quite a high dose of painkillers which are known to be very addictive. I'm surprise your gp is not keen to get to the bottom of the pain yet happy to prescribe this.

You do need to get to the bottom of it because the longer you remain on this level of painkillers the harder it will be to stop them as your body will crave them and trigger pain just to get thrm.

I'd be bringing that aspect of it to your gp to get him to take you seriously.

The endo diet is a little extreme but basically cuts out gluten dairy caffeine and alcohol . I never had the will power to do it until I had a definite diagnosis and knew endo was my issue. I think cutting out gluten really helped with exhaustion / brain fog. I don’t find painkillers help much with endo pain, the best thing seems to be lying on an extremely hot water bottle for me.

To he honest I am not concerned about deppendancy on painkillers, as I do not feel I take them regularly enough for this to he a concern. I have stopped taking the antiinflamitories regularly, following the GP's advice. I have a couple of days a week where I need to take paracetamol regularly and the or two May take something codeine based. The GP wants he to try the antispasmodics for a couple of days at a time to see if this helps

The gp does acknowledge that the pain can be severe. It therefore works better for everyone if I have medication I can use at home rather than needing to be admitted to hospital for pain management. I think gaming this means I take less medication as if hospital have needed norphine to get things under control. However, I do want to find a cause and solution which means I am comfortable without high fixed doses of medditation. The only one ☝️ has a great

17birds how long did it take before you saw an improvement with the endo diet? I think this would be manageable for me but wondered if I need to try it for a while before knowing if it is helpful.

The best painkillers I have had for endo have been ones that bipas are not taken by mouth. IV paracetanol was incredible. I went from being in agony thinking the dr was mad to only offer paracetamol, to pain free in less than a minute. Econac supositories have meant I have gone from vomitting with pain to being able to get up and go about a normal working day.

I am in so much pain tonight!

On the positive side I am now not in as much pain with sciatica and think the exercises are finally kicking in. However, my stomach is so sore and I can't get comfortable in bed. Would it be unreasonable to try to get a gp appointnent before the three month review the dr suggested?

I wouldn't worry about the painkillers
I was on 60mg dihydrocodeine 4 times a day, naproxen, paracetamol, diazepam, and then morphine on top
Came off them all after my spinal op with no issues and I now just take 60mg dihydrocodeine at night

Thanks its good to hear you were able to come off the painkillers after surgery. The biggest problem is I have nights where the pain is not under control and I can't sleep and I do not know what I can do to get medical help. Antispasmodics, cocodamol and a heat pad are not helping enough for me to sleep.

I am not sure codeine works for me and I am not sure if it makes me more awake.

I hope your pain is better mannaged now.

I started the diet just after surgical treatment, improvement was very quick/immediate but I can’t say for sure which helped most - the surgery or the diet!

I tried to follow the advice here on diet www.endo-resolved.com/diet.html
It’s impossible to stick to completely imo, but I aimed for about80% if the time.
It’s hard to ever know what’s really helped, but I do feel cutting gluten made a big difference to my digestion and energy levels. I now have lactofree dairy which probably isn’t great but I seem to be ok with that.

Thanks its good to know. I did get a lot of improvement after surgery it's just this did not seem to stay. I am on a period today and have had to work from home due to the pain. I an convinced this is not ibs

You can also get really high dose liquid b12 in a health food shop and take it three times a day and it starts to get absorbed straight away