Asked to provide own painkillers!

[Insertdeadcatsnamehere]

I've got an elective ceasarean booked in a couple of weeks. Have just had the consent form and info through and I've been asked to provide my own painkillers (for on the recovery ward afterwards, I'm still, possibly naively, assuming they'll provide the actual anaesthetic). Absolutely speechless! Just wondering whether anyone has had any comparable (but not female- specific) surgery and has been asked this? Apparently if I forget to bring my paracetamol and ibruprofen I can toddle down to the onsite pharmacy a couple of hours after my major abdominal surgery and purchase some. So that's helpful. No word on whether they'd sell me anything stronger...

Think this happens quite a lot now, presumably as a cost cutting issue. I don't really see what the problem is, or why it's a feminist issue?

What pain relief can you buy over the counter for major surgery?

Or following major surgery?

I thought they would at least provide you with pain relief when you are still in hospital!

That's awful! I had a lovely cocktail of all sorts of painkillers, no way would a couple of ibuprofen have been enough!

Can you at least get some co codamol or something on prescription in advance?

It pisses me off that only this is available to women post surgery. If it turns out that it happen to men too when they have abdominal surgery that will be also deeply annoying but less so than when it is just women who have to suck up the pain.

I had three sections, only one of them was paracetamol and ibruprofen enough.

" The NHS was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. At its launch by the then minister of health, Aneurin Bevan, on 5 July 1948, it had at its heart three core principles:

That it meet the needs of everyone
That it be free at the point of delivery
That it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay
These three principles have guided the development of the NHS over more than half a century and remain. However, in July 2000, a full-scale modernisation programme was launched and new principles added."

So the privatisation of the NHS by the back door is not a feminist issue? Really?

@feelingverylazytoday

Think this happens quite a lot now, presumably as a cost cutting issue. I don't really see what the problem is, or why it's a feminist issue?

Quite a lot in c-section operations, or quite a lot in all surgical situations?

My ward took my painkillers and gaviscon off me when I came in. They got put in a plastic bag and returned when I left.

My usual advice for new mums is hide your gaviscon on the wards as they take it away and give you shite wee doses when you've been swigging from the bottle for the last 3 months.

Your scenario sounds like a safety nightmare to be honest. They usually put the painkiller up your arse when they're done then you're on a schedule with pain relief.

In my opinion I think this should happen more to save costs over a 30p packet of tablets.

I specifically asked the consultant doing my last section if I would be provided proper pain relief afterwards and he said they were not in the business of letting women suffer. But that was exactly what happened after and I had to kick up a real fuss to get better pain relief.

Well for a start I've never heard of anyone going for any other type of surgery and not being offered something much stronger than paracetamol in recovery. I have wìtnessed the vast difference in treatment first hand between maternity care and anything else but have never been asked this before hence wondering if it was widespread or a childbirth- specific policy. It's not an issue insofar as I can obviously provide something that only costs a few pence, but then why can't the NHS? It's not likely to make a discernable difference to their budget is it, but if it is maternity care specific the fobbing off and mildly contemptuous tone of the letter is very definitely a feminist issue.

Well, I am shocked. I just had a vaginal birth less than a month ago and got my paracetamol and ibuprofen provided free.

That's awful, OP. Both the idea you have to buy your own painkillers (which must be saving them whole pennies, Jesus!) And this misogynistic notion that because it's a "female" surgery your pain is less important. Paracetamol isn't going to touch it!! Reminds me of women in labour being fobbed off with paracetamol when they're begging for an epidural/anything stronger. Or women being expected to put up with tears being stitched without local anaesthetic. Ugh.

I've not had a chance section or surgery but I cant imagine paracetamol/ibuprofen is enough?

No morphine or anything else ?

I've never heard if any men having to recover from major surgery on OTC paracetamol

I’m assuming they will provide stronger painkillers if needed... but in hospital everything has to be prescribed.

If you are at a point where you only need paracetamol it’s probably easier to have some with you than waiting all day for the Dr to come round and prescribe you some.

Maybe it is a cost cutting exercise (over the counter paracetamol is about 16p.. hospitals will have to pay a lot more).

But it could also be that they are trying to make best use of the limited medical staff they have available in the middle of a pandemic.

@Insertdeadcatsnamehere

Well for a start I've never heard of anyone going for any other type of surgery and not being offered something much stronger than paracetamol in recovery. I have wìtnessed the vast difference in treatment first hand between maternity care and anything else but have never been asked this before hence wondering if it was widespread or a childbirth- specific policy. It's not an issue insofar as I can obviously provide something that only costs a few pence, but then why can't the NHS? It's not likely to make a discernable difference to their budget is it, but if it is maternity care specific the fobbing off and mildly contemptuous tone of the letter is very definitely a feminist issue.

In the supermarket a paracetamol tablet is about 1p per tablet. On the NHS it's 3p per tablet so imagine how many they go through and how much costs three could save by making people bring in their own. Thousands if not more.

They*

Wow, wasn't expecting that many replies. Previous post was in response to first reply. I do have something stronger left from having a bad back a while ago and I will certainly be smuggling it in! Not my first section but first was on the back of getting to 9cm after a 3 day labour so it's all a bit blurry! They didn't make me go to the shop though!

Ask your GP to prescribe you just a few strong painkillers in case you need more than a couple of paracetamol.

I would think if you were in severe pain, the hospital would give you necessary analgesia. However you have elected to have a Caesarian.

But it could also be that they are trying to make best use of the limited medical staff they have available in the middle of a pandemic

Are patients allowed to take their own medication in hospital? How will.drs know they have taken anything akd not give something that would result in an OD or be contra indicated?

Never heard of peoole having to provide their own pain relief on a ward before.

I was given liquid morphine after my elective c section along with paracetamol and ibuprofen whilst in hospital.

I was sent home with a little oramorph and I remember asking if they were giving me paracetamol or ibuprofen to take home 😁 they looked at me gone out as obviously they weren't as it is so cheap to buy. I felt a bit bad that I'd asked, I blame the tiredness ha ha!

But I'm shocked you wouldn't get given it while an inpatient!!

I’m assuming they will provide stronger painkillers if needed...

That was not my experience. I got paracetamol and when I was crying in pain I got some peppermint oil because they insisted that the pain from my major abdominal surgery was probably wind. It wasn't, it was pain from where my insides had been cut open and rummaged around in.

The horror of the postnatal ward will never leave me. I live in terror of an unplanned pregnancy (even though my husband has had a vasectomy)

I received paracetamol and diclofenac with both labours and would much rather have provided them myself, the cost to me is far less than the nhs and IMO if we all did that then it's knees would be further from the ground than they are now. At least you've been given advance warning rather than rocking up expecting pain relief and none being provided.