off to the doctors on monday

only49

morning all,

i am off to the doctors on monday, i have OA i am feeling a bit nervous about it as the last time i went about me, it was that horrible doctor i saw and i glad to say he not there anymore, anyway i have been taking ibuprofen and codeine phosphate but that makes me feel dopey, and ibuprofen dont always agree with me, i thinking of asking if i can try those pain patches that some people on here seem to get on quite ok with.

i am also going to mention about my ankles as i think the OA going there as well, today i feeling really tired and my ankles and knees are bothering me, i think it worth a go trying the patches, my question is how do i get over to her what i going through and what its like, my thoughts are maybe i should just say it effect everything i do, any thoughts for other people might help.

thanks

dreamdaisy

Hello only49, it's nice to hear from you. Doctors' visits are always daunting, aren't they? Make a list of what hurts and when, what helps and what doesn't, note how long you can stand or walk for (I have to sit to prepare veg etc now, I cannot stand for any length of time), note whether pain affects your sleep, anything that will give the doc a picture of your life. On Monday, when you walk in, you can then say 'Hello, I hope you are well today, I've done a list for you.' and they can read it and get a good idea of what is going on with you at the moment.

There are all sorts of pain relief products out there, the doc may have some suggestions for you, but make sure they know what you don't get on with - I think the pain patches are morphine-based (please remember I AM NOT A DOC and I could be wrong on that!) and if you don't get on well with morphine then they may not be the thing for you. We are all different!

Good luck on Monday and do let us know how you get on. I hope all is well with D and your husband. DD

jillyb1

My advice for the doc visit is take someone with you to back you up and make sure you mention everything on your mind . My doctor and rheumy seem to humour me and disregard everything I say ; but then listen avidly to my husband when he repeats everything I've just said ! Jillyb

barbara12

Hi Sylvia
It can be hard to find the right meds, like DD says I think the patches are morphine based, I was offered then at the pain clinic, but I think were do you go when they stop working, so I will stay with my co codamols, gabpentin for my back and the amitryptaline for the night, you go back to the doctors and write everything down, if you are anything like me you will forget what you wanted to say.
Good Luck and please let us know how you get on.
Love
Barbara x

magicdragon

I agree whole heartly with Barbara im fairly sure these patches are morphine based and if this is the case, with you currently being on ibuprofen and codeine its like going from step 1 to step 6 missing the inbetween.
Also I think the doctor maybe resistant to going straight to patches before trying the inbetween.

I agree with everyones suggestions about lists to take (im strugging with getting the balance right for my painkillers to)
Also have you tried naproxen? that's a stronger anti inflammatory which might help more than a rise in painkillers but im sure if you explain your issues you should find and inbetween that should help.

Have you enquired about the pain clinic?

dreamdaisy

Good luck for tomorrow, only49, I hope your appointment goes well. Let us know, please, if you can how, you get on. DD

caterina57

Hi
Good Luck for tomorrow - I too have OA, but do get extremely tired - thought it was only the RA sufferers that had that - I don't sleep well, but I think my "lethargy" is just not down to not sleeping well or my meds, because even after a good nights sleep I still dont feel right.

try to be strong at your appt and writing stuff down to prompt you is a good tip
Cath

frogmorton

Hi Sylvia

I will be with you tomorrow morning for sure

As for your pain releif be guided by your doctor - I was. My problems were 1. pain releif was not really working,(wearing off too quickly) and 2. they made me feel too woozy! The patches suit me as they give a level of the meds ALL the time (similar to the slow release meds some are on)

The patches which I have (bu-trans) are a synthetic opiod. Oddly enough , a lot don't realise that CODEINE has an opiod affect as well - which is why they make me so woozy I expect.

I dont know why some are worried about the patches - they start at 5mg and go up to 20mg.

I do hope the doc can help you find somethin g which works for you.

ironic

Hi Sylvia,
I hope it goes well for you tomorrow; hopefully the new Dr will be far more approachable for you.
Yes a list is a good idea and maybe a referral to the Podiatrist for some insoles if you have not already got them.
Fingers crossed for you.
Lv, Ix

julie47

Morning only49
Just been looking through the forum and seen that you are going to doctors today.
Just want to wish you luck and hope that he/she is nice to you today.

I am dressed in woolley hat cause its cold and ready to jump in your pocket

Juliepf x

frogmorton

Tis chilly isnt it guys??

Am ready and waiting too

Love

toni xx

barbara12

HI Sylvia
Good luck for today, dont forget to right down everything you want to say, and all the pain you are getting.
Hope it all goes well for you
Love
Barbara xx

tkachev

Hi Sylvia,

I hope it all goes well today. Let them know you are affected by the pills, that you can't think straight. I have OA in my ankle . You might be offered an x-ray, that is how they discovered my OA.Patches will just mask th pain and it better to find out what the problem is so it can be treated.

Good luck,big hugs (((( ))))

Elizabeth

tjt6768

Best of luck today Sylvia...

only49

well i tell you how it went today, before i begin please dont take anything the wrong way, but here i go.

went in and she said you doing all the right things do you want to try some gel stuff its called feldene gel anyone tried this ? i did mention about pain patches she said i dont really recommend them, and i come out thinking well that wasnt much good and i wont be bothering going again, it seems as if she dont and cant understand what its like, you all do because we are all in the same boat but how i see it is you lot and hubby knows whats its like as he see me going through it, but at the end of the day all i want is some help, why or why did i bother, i am sorry to say not feeling very happy at the moment, thank god for this forum, and for people that understand what its like.

woodbon

Hi, I'm alright with my GP, whos very nice, but the last rhummy I saw at the hospital was horrible, so I know how you feel.

I have OA and have it in mulipule joints, and yes it makes me tired. I am getting more stiff in the lower back hip region and that makes me tired walking or standing!!! Hey, you don't want my problems. Sorry. :oops: I expect the pain is making you tired and you may not be sleeping well. Also the worry about things in general tires you and can depress you, so if you feel depressed, do tell the doc, they can help you with that.

Well good luck and I hope all goes well for you. Love Suexx

dreamdaisy

I think that pain patches are a big step to take - once on them how do you go back to something less powerful? I haven't heard of the gel but if you can get it on prescription then yes, try it: I think they tend to be less harsh on the body, perhaps your GP is thinking about that aspect. I know the patches come in varying strengths but as they are morphine-based (am I right on that? Where's frog whe you need her?) that will affect your liver as that organ has to process it. Finding effective pain dullers can take time - let's hope the gel works - you are trying it? DD

skezier

Hi Sylvia,

Sorry it was a bad appointment, its not good when they are like that. Don't let it put you off going back though.

The gel can help and maybe it will if your lucky? Worth a try though.

Gp's don't understand oa at all i don't think. I wonder if you see a consultant at all cus they at least tend to get the pain it gives and the fact that the grinding relentless pain drags us down and stops sleeping as well.

Fingers crossed it will ease up for you. Cris x

Just wanted to say remember that not ALL pain patches are the strong morphine opic ones, some are no different to the tablets you already take so depending on which you go on its not such a big step and if you have stomach issues or find the tablets in one dose can effect you the patch equivalent can be the answer.

like all drugs there are scales and the patches can be more mild than some of the tablets. Its just people automatically think of the strong ones.

dreamdaisy

Thank you skezier, the stuff one learns on here! I automatically thought strong pain relief because that is how they have always been presented to me, I did not know you can get 'weaker' ones, as it were. Thank you for the clarification, oh wise woman of the forum. DD

tjt6768

Hi Only, I hope that they
cream helps, I have tried it but it dint do much for me at all, but as has been said many many times, we are all different..
Could you ask for a pain clinic referal? They would be the best ones to see obviuosly, if it is owt like here though it's a fair waiting list.

You could also ask for some chilli oil to try if the feldene doesn't work, it does help me a bit with my hands, enough to let me do some excersises anyway.. It is all worth trying.. I know how frustrating it is when you are in pain and you just want them to do something about it, but it can take time unfortunately...

Moral support is always available on here...

Keep ya chin up..

julie47

Hi only49
so sorry you came away from the doc a little cheesed off and that you thought it was a waste of time.
I hope the cream helps......will cross my fingers.
Take care.
Juliepf x

tkachev

Hi Sylvia,

So sorry your appt was so disappointing. So how long will it be until you can hobble off to see anybody else? Did you get a prescription for the gel? At least give it a go but really that is not strong enough for the pain.

Hugs Elizabeth ((( )))

only49

tjt6768 wrote:

Hi Only, I hope that they
cream helps, I have tried it but it dint do much for me at all, but as has been said many many times, we are all different..
Could you ask for a pain clinic referal? They would be the best ones to see obviuosly, if it is owt like here though it's a fair waiting list.

You could also ask for some chilli oil to try if the feldene doesn't work, it does help me a bit with my hands, enough to let me do some excersises anyway.. It is all worth trying.. I know how frustrating it is when you are in pain and you just want them to do something about it, but it can take time unfortunately...

Moral support is always available on here...

Keep ya chin up..

dont even know if they got one here, i think they just cant be bothered i am so sorry to say i got no faith in them any more, my mum in law 2 years ago was sent into hospital and ok she was 85 but her doctor put her on warfin and when she was in hosptal they took it off of it, and she was on it for a reason, and then she had stroke and thats what finished her off and that and the c diff bug, and they dont always know whats best for you is it any wonder i dont trust them, and with my own dad he was having duretic tablets ( water tablets ) and they told him he didnt need to take them anymore and this was years ago and my mum had to call the doctor out one night as my dad could breath she gave the doctor hell, but that was a long time ago, but somethings you dont forget and the health service not as good as it should be.

only49

tkachev wrote:

Hi Sylvia,

So sorry your appt was so disappointing. So how long will it be until you can hobble off to see anybody else? Did you get a prescription for the gel? At least give it a go but really that is not strong enough for the pain.

Hugs Elizabeth ((( )))

i had to wait a week for that appointment and not that keen to go back at the mo as i feel like shouting at them and as to the gel i got loads of it in the bathroom and that dont work, you lot DO understand what i mean i just wish they did.

dreamdaisy

If you have already tried it and it does nothing then you have to tell her that. It is difficult for GPs to remember all their patients - I don't believe it is necessarily a lack of interest, I think it's down to numbers. We all think we are very important (and to us we are) but to them we are one face in a constant stream of generally miserable faces that they see on a daily basis. They need reminding about who we are, what is wrong with us, and what we need. We cannot, and should not, expect a doc to remember everything. It is just not possible. (Mind you I reckon our practice probably has more registered patients than the population of your island! I think I saw a figure at my docs of circa 2500 - that is a lot, yes? ) I suspect, despite your criticism of the NHS, you would be very reluctant to go private. The NHS is a wonderful system, for the most part, but like all large organisations it comes down to the people who are running it and those that we meet. Every barrel has a rotten apple or two in it somewhere. The worst nursing I ever received was in a private hospital, the best came courtesy of the NHS.

Mull it all over for a couple of days, only49, then perhaps go back and try again. She won't understand that easily perhaps simply because she is healthy. You will have to use your very best words and persuasive arguments! I do hope that you can find an anwer soon. DD

hileena111

Hope things went well for you today.....let us know when you can

Love
Hileena