The EADD Health, Sickness and Pain Thread - share what ails you here.

[Inso]

I'm in fuckloads of pain now, nearly floored me earlier, head bent over unable to think of anything else kind of situation

Tram, Gaba, Weed (particularly good strain for pain) and loads tea and its sorta bearable. Awesome life.

 

[wcote]

Dear god codeine is making me constipated!

I've taken it before but its never caused it too be solo bad! It was Easter so had two HUGE roasts in the last two days.

Had to go to boots and buy some Bisacodyl from boots, anyone else tried this stuff, is it effective for relieving codeine constipation?

The right side of my belly hurts! Its very 'stiff' compared to left side! :D

 

[zuleekha]

Dihydrocodeine to Fentanyl patches - Please help

Hi, I have just joined this site and live in the UK.
I have been using Df118 for about 10 years due to wear in my joints in my neck, back and now, my right knee. Had cervical neck fusion in 05 but the lower back and knee now have arthritus in. I also have ME and suffer with fibromyalgia and severe depression. (I am only 50!!!). I was having to use more of the pills as they were not working and was using between 800mg to 1000mg slow release each day - although I was having to crush 300-400 during the day to get some sort of instant pain relief.
Spoke to my doc who said I could go on fentanyl patches with oramorph for breakthrough pain. I started at 12 and now up to a 75 patch and using 300ml of oramorph over 3 days. It doesn't seem to be cutting the pain. I am just feeling absolutely shit (probs because I was told to stop the dfs after 2 days and also stopped my gabapentin at the same time, so was going through withdrawal whilst getting used to the patches)
But I am also getting chronic sweats but feel really cold. I have the shakes, feel dizzy when standing up, my stomach churns and I feel so shit I just want to curl up either in my bed or on the sofa. The last 4 weeks have been hell. Should I stop the patches and go back to the dfs? Is there any other pain meds that are better to be on? I'm scared that I'm fucking up my liver and insides with all these drugs, but I just cannot hack the pain. I am single and don't go out but thankfully have my 22yr old daughter still living with me - but she is going to Uni in September.
I feel so alone and so down...... can anyone offer any advice - please????:

 

[knock]

Hi zuleekha,

Welcome to Bluelight!

Sorry to hear about your situation. Sounds like you're having a rough time.

I'm no expert with the drugs you've been prescribed but hopefully one of our members can give you some advice.

Have you told your doctor what you're going through after stopping the dfs?

I'm going to merge your post into our pain thread, hope that's OK.

 

[kaosisallwesee]

In tram news, ya am totally off 'em now. Replacement additional painkiller has been naproxen so far which I hate. I don't get on well with NSAIDs and naproxen is especially brutal on the gut. I seem to tolerate it somewhat better than I used to though and will no doubt help my case somewhat to demonstrate I do at least try non-opi options.

I agree with ya on the naproxen being a stomach killer. I stopped taking mine after 3 doses as my belly would be on fire with acid-y-ness for a good half hour.
Iv got a lateral miniscus cyst on my left knee, probably due to skateboarding and general fearless childhood activities.
It fucking hurts 24/7, get 30mg co codamols for it , one doc offered me tramadol, another got pissed off the first one offered me it. so iv said i just want my codeine

 

[zuleekha]

I went to see my doc yesterday and she just said its up to me what I want to do....????
Sooo confused. I suggested maybe something stronger than the dfs and to get off the patches and morphine but she said she didn't really want to go down that route as she is not that well qualified and would rather refer to the pain clinic. I went there 5-6 yrs ago and it takes about 6-8 weeks to get the first apptmnt - the 3 docs there were all very Indian and you could barely understand what they were saying and everything just takes sooooo long. I want to get this sorted sooner rather than later...

 

[Mailmonkey]

the 3 docs there were all very Indian and you could barely understand what they were saying

very Indian you say? Fucking disgraceful.

Why not ask them to repeat themselves, or to explain things in another way. I do it with people who are very Scottish.

Shit one about the waiting times for NHS appointments, specially for pain clinic. Hope they can improve on 6-8 weeks for you this time

 

[Shambles]

I agree with ya on the naproxen being a stomach killer. I stopped taking mine after 3 doses as my belly would be on fire with acid-y-ness for a good half hour.

Tell me about it. Have had to stop taking them cos they were absolutely crippling me. Was worse than when I had a stomach ulcer for years. I really cannot even begin to imagine how anybody could take that stuff regularly. Brutal barely covers it 8(

Think I'm gonna have to go back to me docs and have a wee whinge again. Not really expecting him to do much but when in doubt a wee whinge is often beneficial. Slow and steady wins the race. There are very few treatment options left other than ones that actually work so summat's gotta give sooner or later 8)

I went to see my doc yesterday and she just said its up to me what I want to do....????
Sooo confused. I suggested maybe something stronger than the dfs and to get off the patches and morphine but she said she didn't really want to go down that route as she is not that well qualified and would rather refer to the pain clinic. I went there 5-6 yrs ago and it takes about 6-8 weeks to get the first apptmnt - the 3 docs there were all very Indian and you could barely understand what they were saying and everything just takes sooooo long. I want to get this sorted sooner rather than later...

Levels of Indianness aside, 6-8 weeks ain't a long wait for a pain clinic appointment at all. I'd give me left ball to be seen that quick. Have been on the waiting list for more or less 6-8 months so far and still no sign of imminent appointment

As for your meds situation, there isn't really all that much "between" DHC and morphine/fent for a doc to be prescribing really. The next one up from DHC is morphine and fentanyl is about as strong as scripted opies get. Other option would probably be oxycodone which is a bit stronger than morpine but nowhere near as strong as fent. From the way you describe your symptoms I think I know a fella who has somewhat similar situation only with a terminal illness on top. He gets scripted oxycodone (extended release for daily use and instant release for breakthrough pain) and also 75ug fent patches. He was getting morphine instead of the oxy until quite recently when he developed (yet another) horribly painful condition though.

Morphine and fent is a damn fine script for pain relief. It sounds more like you're maybe suffering a bit with adjusting to it - I'd actually suspect it's stopping the gabapentin that's causing the problem here cos morphine + fent packs a lot more opi punch than DHC does. You were on quite a lot of DHC for quite a long time though so is only normal to take a while to adjust the dosage to suit. I'd get my name on the pain clinic waiting list as they tend to have more options open to them than the average GP does (or at least is more willing to explore said options). It is what they specialise in, after all. Even the Indian ones.

 

[wcote]

Gabapetin has some pretty brutal withdrawal. Heard it compared to benzos and booze!

 

[zuleekha]

Sorry about my 'very Indian' quote and hope that I didn't offend any Indian peeps out there!!
Some are really nice but I always seem to get landed with the ones that speak so quickly and sound as if they are still talking in their native tongue! That, added with the way they just want you out the door as soon as you have come in and them looking down their nose at you coz they think you just want to get high..... it really bugs me!
I am still so damned confused about whether I should swop one addiction for a stronger/different one. I'm only 50 and the thought of having to be dependant for basically the rest of my life on opiates scares the shit out of me. Unless I get a new knee and maybe more vertebrae fused together, my joints will only get worse rather than better - just don't know what to do

 

[Pagey]

Managed to get my old tetrazepam script back, I'm sooo fucking happy about it. Means I'm completely done with the muscle pain. Now I just need to find someone who'll prescribe me something strong enough for the nerve pain and I'll be sorted. But this is a big step already :D

 

[Mercc96]

How long does CBT for pain usually last? Like I've come to understand that some pain treatment is like bingo where you got to tick of a number of things 1&2nd line and CBT before you get anywhere really.

 

[wcote]

Well it turned out I had appendicitis so my my appendix was taken out on Thursday night, arrived in walk in A and E, within an hour was seen by Dr, who within 5 mins was pretty sure I had it. So got 10mg morphine IV straight then, which was very nice. Was there and then put on Nil by Mouth.

Moved to observation ward for 4 hours, were they on gave my IV paracetamol, I was in agony! But as soon as I was moved to surgery ward was put on 30mg oral morphine, which let me tell you after not having eaten for 12 hours hit the spot (didn't eat at all the 8 before I decided to visit A and E.) Was told I would be operated that day by midnight.... Which I wasn't. So by 1am I was allowed a sandwich and a cup of tea before 2am, at which point I was put back on NBM. Throughout the night given morphine 30mg oral. Then a 6am was put on it ever 3 hours. So first operations were at 8am hence only allowed sandwich at 1am as you have to be fasting for 6 hours at least.

So Thursday morning rolled past no operation, then the afternoon. Still nothing. At least as I was fasting the 30mg oral morphine was actually doing a good job of chilling me out. However it got to 8pm. Only 4 hours till all but emergency surgery stops. So then worried, Hungary, dry mouth and tolerance to morphine starting to kick in, even with empty stomach of 16 hours. But then at 9.30pm. My name is called. Its surgery time! Get taken down to operating room.

Anesthetist gets me sorted, gives my fentanol, tells me to tell me when I feel dizzy. After I minute I feel nothing.... So she just knocks me under without.

Operation successful. So I'm coming around and this is the funny bit. They are giving me IV morphine as I start to wake up, but its not doing the job. They saying we have given 'x' amount we can't really cant give you much more! They are worried I could easily OD or whatever, (I wasn't blagging it really was not doing the job). To which I mumble, 'I was addicted to heroin over a year ago, which is true. So the main guy was like 'why didn't you just say". So says 'right we can give him plenty more!, in a really friendly way! So puts in more and more, still not quite doing the job. So then the IV some fent, that starts to help a lot more. But they gave me 10mg, then go to 2mg ever minute or so.

After not too long i say OK its getting much better now. So they stop giving me more partial as it was much better and I was OK, also because I was nodding a bit and they were reaching levels even for an ex user they weren't to happy about giving much more.

BUT one of the junior Dr is asking me how much pain I'm in, she forgot to say their pain number thing is just out of 3 categories. So she asks me and I thought it was out of 10. So I say well its a 5, she says you sure. So she tells the other Drs, so they have a quick chat, and are like 'OK' you promise your not addicted to heroin any more, I was like yes! So they agree to put even more in me, by this stage the anesthic really is wearing oof so now I'm buzzing, not sleepy 'noddy' So they put more 2mg every minute for 5ish more mins. Then senior Dr says out of 3 how bad is the pain, I say 3? Its out of 10! His fave drops...... Was it not explained our system is 3 ( it groups parts of the out of 10 system into 3 groups) so I explain its a 3, 4 at most. So I was 1 out of 3. So no more painkillers.

I bet the junior Dr got a right bollocking. So fuck knows how much IV morphine I got but I felt great! Once back on ward had something to eat, nurse was sure I'd be sick, she the gave me more morphine only oral, then I go for a fag, its 2am 'ish' was such a great fag. Get back in, eat a slice of toast, ask for more oral morphine get some. Have fag go to sleep. Feeling great. Wake up, but no ,ore morphine! Just codeine.

So now back down south, and managed to get a mate to wait in train station loo as my mum was with me, so I could grab a bag of gear a 3nd Valium so I could sleep. Got to sleep at 10pm. Woke up 30mins ago. Gear was.1 but good. Valium was needed I'm now going to float through today.

My scar fucking hurts. The gave me codeine tablets.


So yeah last few days have been painful! As apart from after surgary the painkillers don't do more than take the edge off.

 

[monstanoodle]

Fukkin naproxen!

Only been taking it for three days - and at below the recommended dose, always with food, etc. Stomach is in absolute shreds already

Roll on script day next week

It really fucked my stomach up too man, as did Diclofenac They're horrible - Ibuprofen is the only one I can take but, even then, if I'm taking 400mg tablets 3 x a day (the highest recommended dose) I can't take it for a few days in a row like that because it ALSO starts to turn my tummy against me

Really sorry to hear things are so harsh right now Shammy ~

A mate of my brother gave me the remainder of a bottle of Omega 3, 6 and 9 1200mg gel capsules a few days ago and after the first day my knees hurt a great deal less, and then the next day they barely hurt!
But today my right knee (the usual trouble maker) has started up again. And they don't help with my back pains.

Ah well, I'm going to continue taking them until they run out but I'm not fucking buying any more - 60 Capsules for practically £15!!!

Anyhoo - Good luck to all those bracing the pain Much love

 

[wcote]

Seeing GP at 15.10

I'm nervous as I'm going to ask her if I can start a codeine or DHC script. I'm more nervous about her saying no and seeing options pretty much gone. I can't go up on the Gabapetin as it makes recalling words difficult and its so frustrating!

I really hope she is open to DHC like she said she would be.

I need something, the OTC set up is jus stupid!

 

[wcote]

Went well.

Talked to GP about what I'd like to happen. Explained I'd like to try DHC 60mg SR twice a day. She said she would rather do Morphine, so she starts me on 10mg MST SR, twice a day. That's equal to 100mg DHC twice a day.

So starting dose, should help a lot.

 

[Pagey]

^Ask for DHC and get morphine instead, not bad! Hope it helps

Saw yet another new doctor for my neck today (well a physiotherapist). He said that I clearly had a 'trauma', as he called it, in my neck, but also about 5 or 6 all down my back and my hips are displaced as well. Basically my whole upper body is fucked, presumably from my 10 years of judo. And he also said something about there being some pressure in my temples that shouldn't be there, didn't quite get it, something about how I was born and that it explained a lot of the pain....so anyway I'm screwed. Apparently dealing with everything would take years, if even it can all be dealt with. Not the best of news

 

[monstanoodle]

Went well.

Talked to GP about what I'd like to happen. Explained I'd like to try DHC 60mg SR twice a day. She said she would rather do Morphine, so she starts me on 10mg MST SR, twice a day. That's equal to 100mg DHC twice a day.

So starting dose, should help a lot.

Bloody hell wcote!
Ask for ginger beer and get pale ale! :D I hope it helps out man - I can't imagine it won,t. But, if it doesn't help completely, I'd also use an NSAID or Paracetamol et. al.
They do help, even if just a little.

^Ask for DHC and get morphine instead, not bad! Hope it helps

Saw yet another new doctor for my neck today (well a physiotherapist). He said that I clearly had a 'trauma', as he called it, in my neck, but also about 5 or 6 all down my back and my hips are displaced as well. Basically my whole upper body is fucked, presumably from my 10 years of judo. And he also said something about there being some pressure in my temples that shouldn't be there, didn't quite get it, something about how I was born and that it explained a lot of the pain....so anyway I'm screwed. Apparently dealing with everything would take years, if even it can all be dealt with. Not the best of news

Shiiiiit man That really, really, fucking sucks!
I hope to the almighty imaginary ghost in the sky that you get proper pain management
p.s. Didn't know you did Judo Brilliant martial art in my eyes! Shame that it's fucked you up badly

My Codeine, Ibuprofen and Omega oils are doing alright for my pain, but I'd imagine Ethanol having something to do with it also
Not great ofcourse, but better than waking up with the cartilage of my knees feeling like a rod of Iron (a doc gave me that comparison and I was like "Jeez YES! That's exactly how it feels!" ).
I've been walking loads which not doing enough is sometimes the cause for the pain... I think anyway. So yea, doing all I can to help.

Much love and good luck sufferers of pain

 

[maxalfie]

Went to emergency dentist in our hospital last week as thought I had an abcess as had huge lump on side of my neck and face. They took out a rotten tooth but apparently its not an abcess but a blocked salivary gland.
Not that painful but if not gone in 2wk then have to go back.
The machine they used to take an x-ray of my face was like something out of Total Recall.
I stood in front of a machine, looking in a mirror while biting on a stick think and my face was divided into quarters by red lights,then two plastic things curled round my head to hold it in place while the x-ray took 12 seconds to move all around my head.
The x-ray it took was amazing, so clear. Must be some expensive equipment machines like that.

 

[Pagey]

Shiiiiit man That really, really, fucking sucks!
I hope to the almighty imaginary ghost in the sky that you get proper pain management
p.s. Didn't know you did Judo Brilliant martial art in my eyes! Shame that it's fucked you up badly

Thank you, proper pain management would be nice! Although doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon unfortunately so hopefully the giant spaghetti monster up there will get to work soon 8)
Yeah, I used to do a lot, like 2 or 3 hours a day - was training for the national championships when I almost broke my neck at practice and that's when I had to stop, sadly. Clearly that's what happens when a 15 year-old girl is made to train with full-grown men. I really miss it though, such a fantastic sport. Dyou ever do any too then?

My Codeine, Ibuprofen and Omega oils are doing alright for my pain, but I'd imagine Ethanol having something to do with it also
Not great ofcourse, but better than waking up with the cartilage of my knees feeling like a rod of Iron (a doc gave me that comparison and I was like "Jeez YES! That's exactly how it feels!" ).
I've been walking loads which not doing enough is sometimes the cause for the pain... I think anyway. So yea, doing all I can to help.

Much love and good luck sufferers of pain

Ouch, that sounds really painful. Good luck, hope it'll continue to improve