Help with cocodamol for pgp

[scaredofthecity]

After fighting it for weeks I've had to go on to painkillers as my pain has become unbearable.
I've been prescribed 30/500 cocodamol by the hospital but im struggling to get the dosage right.
2 tablets makes me feel completely out of it and 1 is just not enough.
For those of you with experience of cocodamol does the 'stoned' feeling get better as you get more used to it? I have a 3 yo and I'm really struggling to look after him.

You could try the cocodamol 8/500 tablets you can get over the counter. Less cocodamol in them but then could try 2 and see if that is less drowsy...

I fwlt rhe same and was switxhed to codine phosphate 15mg. I take 3 of them at a time and find they wprk much better xx

The 8/500 are not strong enough.

Thanks Rosie, i was thinking of trying 1 1/2 tabs, so that would be the same as 3x 15mg. The spaced out feeling is horrible.

Just to clarify the bad spelling is down to exhaustion not codine. Lol. X

Ask for codeine separate to the paracetamol. Then if 15mg isn't enough you can add more codeine without overdosing on paracetamol.

Also get as much help as you can with the 3yo, eg nursery, stay and play, family, etc. I got nursery workers to take ds to nursery, for example.

Try 1 30/500 and 1 8/500 but beware the chemist may not sell it if you're obviously pregnant.

I find paracetamol makes me sleepy so prefer codeine phosphate on its own which is something else that may be worth exploring. Or speaking to your GP about getting the script in 15mg tablets (or lower but I don't know if smaller ones are still available).

Some people are just sensitive to codeine and will always suffer like that, others will just grow used to it there isn't really anyway to tell. :(

Hugs honey hope you get sorted soon.

Have you tried one 30/500 co-codomol with one 500mg paracetamol tablet?

I was also put on 30/500 cocodamol and at the start had that stoned feeling too. It does go away the longer you take them, but depending on what I had to do, I might only take 1 at times.

So the 30 is 30mg of codeine
The 500 is 500mg of paracetamol.

An adult dose of paracetamol is 1g (1000mg) no side effects.

An adult dose of codeine is 30-60mg and one side effect is drowsy/ dizzy.

So you could take one cocodamol 30/500 with a 500mg normal paracetamol that way your getting full dose paracetamol but half dose codeine. But you cannot then add another 30/500 as then you will have overdosed the paracetamol. (You can 6-8hrs later though).

Hope that makes sense

If you need codeine for more that a voile days you should get it prescribed by the GP or consultant - not least because it'll save you money and also you'll be known to them if it gets to the point of 60mg codeine 4x daily and hang the side effects.

Thanks, I've tried a few different combinations and I just don't think I can tolerate it in the strengths needed to make any impact on my pain
I've been in tears today on the phone to the hospital and they've said there's nothing else I can take. It's horrible, it hurts so much, but I'm just not safe to look after my DS whilst taking them, I'm like a zombie.
I'm going to try accupuncture and see if that can work any miracles.

Are you having Physio??
Could you afford an osteopath??

I'm 31 weeks and crippled with pgp
I really feel for you x

I'm past the point of physio, and I've been seeing an osteopath, I only saw on her Tues. She says my alignment is not too bad and the pain is all muscular and connective tissue... so she's limited in what she can do. I'm really hoping acupuncture can help, my lovely mum is paying.
Thanks for you. It sucks and the health professionals don't seem to get it.

No they really do not get it. It is HORRIBLE. You have my sympathy.

I think I had co-dydramol. Is that the same? Similar? Worth a try?

And how many weeks preg? If in 2nd trimester could you ask about ibuprofen?

Ah ok google tells me dihydrocodeine is stronger than codeine so unlikely to make you less drowsy.

I'm 35 weeks, I was coping but the last week my pain has just gone through the roof.
I've had problems with codeine before so it's not really surprising I can't seem to tolerate it. From what I've read there is literally nothing else I can take.
I went to 40+16 last time so I'm going to beg for an early induction this time. I can't take much more of this, it's breaking me.
I have cried this much since I was an anguished teen!
At least it's a 4 day weekend and my DH can look after me. Just dreading the Easter hols, my DS gets his free hours after so we've just got to get through the next 2 weeks.

Oh :( definitely not ibuprofen then.
Is it just moving around? Or is it painful being still?

If just moving then I think your DH is going to have to take leave or you will have to get some other help in. Dont suffer.

Are you on Facebook?
There are Two support groups on there
Type in spd and they Should come up
So many women who have been and are exactly where you are now!
Lots of support and advice etc

I'm on there and it's been a great support to me x

It's pretty constant but worse from moving, I think I really need a wheelchair but that's not really practical.
I've called in all the help I can, I've only got one day each week where I'm completely on my own. The days are just really long, even with help. It was so much easier 1st time round.
I really hope they will induce me, they already said no once but things have really deteriorated since. I think i can get through 3 weeks, I'm not so sure about 7 weeks.

I'm on baby no5, with each baby my SPD and sciatica have gotten worse. I'm also at the point of literally being unable to function. I TOTALLY feel for you.

I think the reason why you can tolerate the level of codeine needed to make a difference is because you don't like what codeine does. It's not really a pain killer, it's more to make you NOT care that you're in pain lol. It's an opiate at the end of the day.

The paracetamol is meant to be a pain reliever and the codeine makes you not care about the left over pain. The spaced out feeling is it working lol.

I use it to space me out and help me sleep through the pain. I've yet to find anything that makes the pain go away, except giving birth and hormones settling!

It just sounds like opiates aren't for you (codeine morphine etc). I hope the next few weeks go by quickly for you, I know how hard it is to look after small children when you can barely move. But it'll be over soon, and you'll have your tiny human!

Chin up xx

Thank you. I'm trying so hard to stay positive... IT IS WORTH IT!!!!!

That's interesting about opiates, I didn't know that, it makes sense though.

You are amazing for doing this 5 times. I really don't think I can do this again. My DH would love 3, but 2 is enough for us now!

Hi OP totally sympathise. It's awful.

If get prescription of codeine and use it separately to paracetamol If you can. In the meantime you can buy SOLPADOL Maz over the counter I. 13mg.

Perhaps one 30mg and one 13mg?

Good luck

SPD is bloody awful.

Go and see an osteopath. One who specialises in women’s health (pelvic pain partnership has a lost on the website.) my SPD didn’t resolve by itself and over a year after birth o was still in considerable pain. Two sessions with an osteo sorted it.

It IS treatable - it’s not going to go away 100% at this point but it’s very possible a good osteo can relieve the pain to the point you can at least function, then after birth hey can work to make sure everything heals in the right way.

Honestly - osteo. I do t believe in woo or alternative shit but by god that woman fixed my pelvis up!

I have been seeing an osteo, my alignment isn't too bad.
My pgp isn't typical, I'm hypermobile and it presents itself differently from most. It's almost completely bilateral hip joints and lower back pain. Very little between my legs and no problem opening them iyswim.
I think it makes it harder as I don't present typically they don't really know what to do with me.