Thoughts for tillytop, please.

dachshund

Hello Tillytop
i hope you get answers soon. thinking of you.
take care.
((((((((tillytop))))))))
joan xx

bubbadog

Hi Tilly, Have you a date for the ultra-sound to check for gall stones? Oh Tilly you really have been through it!! Hope you know for certain soon what it is and that it's sorted soon. Take Care.

dreamdaisy

Hello Tilly, I hope things are not too bad this morning. ((((())))) DD

stickywicket

Hello again, Tilly. Hm gallstones. Well, that was a bit unexpected but I guess it makes sense and, if it proves to be right, it can be soon dealt with. I know one or two people who've had the op and very successfully. It suppose it's one more thing to get your head round but at least it'd mean the stomach's OK. Please let's know when the scan - or whatever - is. I'll be there.

tillytop

Thanks again all for your continued support. Sorry for delayed thanks - been a very rough few days (muggins here decided to go "cold turkey" on the morphine after the consultant indicated that might not be helping the nausea. Seriously bad move and not to be recommended.) Don't know who was more terrified by my middle of Sunday night "screaming abdabs" (literally) - me or Mr Tilly :shock: but, after that little episode, the morphine is firmly back on the menu in whatever dose is needed until we can find out what is causing the pain etc.

Been trying to sort out ultrasound appt - cos as others have said, gallstones would be, hopefully, easy to sort and I really hope it turns out to be the answer. But caught in the mire of hospital admin again (I thought things were supposed to be easier when one is paying but it seems not). Consultant said should get ultrasound appt within a week. Called consultant's secretary to ask how to move it forwards, she says "ring radiology". Ring Radiology who say "no request yet", so back to consultant's secretary again and waiting for reply. Annoying thing is that apparently I could have the scan as soon as Friday if someone would just send the flippin request through. :roll:

Thanks again kind peeps.

Tilly xxx

villier

Oh Tilly that is a shame hope you are feeling a bit better now back on the morphine, gosh I thought it would have been a walk in the park getting your app for ultrasound as you were going private, keeping fingers crossed you may get word today and get this sorted once and for all..............tc..............Marie xx

stickywicket

Tilly, Tilly, Tillly! You went cold turkey on morphine :shock: Surely the consultant never recommended that? Even I know that that’s a no-no. What on earth were you thinking of? Please, lovely Tilly, get a proper reduction programme sorted out by either consultant, GP or someone who is medically qualified to do it. What would you say to one of us if we did that?

I’m really sorry about the delay. If this is all done in a private hospital I’d have expected the cog wheels to move a bit more freely. It sounds as if the secretary is the weak link. I hope it comes through soon and you can get some peace of mind.

Meanwhile, take care. Please. ((((()))))

Numptydumpty

Oh Tilly, what rotten luck you're having.
I do hope your scan appointment comes through soon.
(((())))
Numpty

dreamdaisy

I completely understand why you stopped the morph so suddenly - desperation makes us do weird things because logic and reason fly out of the window. ((((())))) I too hope you can get this appointment sorted out much sooner rather than later. Take care, keep warm and keep up with the minimum of morph to get you through. DD

kentishlady

Hello Tilly. Well this is, hopefully 3rd time lucky as the previous 2 attempts have just been 'lost' somewhere between Kent and wherever you are?!! Am sorry to hear you are having a rough time and do hope you can get your appointment sorted out a.s.a.p. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could avoid all the extra hassle with what seems like constant red tape? It would definitely lessen the stress levels!

Take care of yourself.

Beryl

(())

valval

that awfull my consultant sent me straight down to make app. and had it in couple of days and that was nhs keep going you will get there i know the pain and you need morf i not off it yet but back to basic dose had to up it for bit but they did say could double if needed managed not to go that high the pain i had was same as stones and would not wish on any one ((())) val

mig

Hi Tilly am thinking of you ,keep warm. Love Mig

tillytop

Thanks so much peeps for your replies.

I absolutely know I shouldn't have done what I did with the morphine but DD has hit the nail on the head in terms of complete desperation. What I didn't share before was that it was an appalling appointment on Saturday in terms of the consultant's manner (which might explain why he could see me so quickly and his colleague didn't have a free appointment until mid January) and I came out in a dreadful state. I worry that the difficulties I have been having with getting help are down to me - but I can't see what I'm doing wrong if so. I am always on time for appointments, unfailingly polite (even when the doctors are not), respect the appointment time limits, take time to prepare so I don't waste time dithering over answers etc.

That said, I do believe he got a handle on what has been going on and what needs to happen to move things forward so I just have to try and hang on to that. But on the one hand I have the GP telling me to take as much morphine as I need to keep on top of the pain, and on the other hand, the consultant telling me I shouldn't be taking that amount of morphine. And me, stuck in the middle, worrying about how the hell I am going to cope with this much pain without it.

And the result of my chasing today? A curt reply from the consultant's secretary saying "it seems that Dr x forgot to do the scan referral after your appointment" and that she will ask him to do it tomorrow.

But there is something positive to share - the nice radiologist told me that I would be able to have the scan results there and then - which means that if it is obviously gallstones, I will know quickly and be able to get things moving to try and get it sorted sooner rather than later (hospital admin permitting :roll: ).

Thanks again all,

Tilly xxx

mig

It must have been really awful for you and for Mr Tillytop as well,hope you can get some answers soon and get the help you need.Sending mega hugs to you both. Mig

roses1

Hi Tilly,

what a time your having ! I do hope it all gets sorted asap !

Take care ((((hugs))))

Rose x

applerose

Goodness me. You are having a rough time of it. I hope you get your appointment very quickly now and they can find out what is causing your pain.

stickywicket

Hey, let’s hear it for nice radiologists At last, a ray of light. However, it also sounds as if gallstones is a real possibility and that, too, would be good news, I think, as they can be dealt with.

I know it’s hard, in the midst of these things, to bear in mind that all is not, necessarily, as it seems with consultants. The kind, affable ones with the good bedside manner, aren’t necessarily the best diagnosticians or surgeons. (I remember being told by a hospital-working friend, at the time of my first TKRs, that orthopaedic surgeons were the ones with the shortest fuses :shock: )

As for the morphine, I guess it might well be helping one thing and hindering another but there’s a big difference between the consultant’s advice of not taking as much and simply not taking any. You must have had a brainstorm. Hopefully, all will be resolved with the scan results. I do hope so, Tilly. It could be the start of a great new year for you and you so deserve that.

Christimay

Hi hope you're not in too much pain tilly keep yourself warm, plenty of rest and I hope you manage to get a sleep to get a break from the pain unfortunately pain and no sleep go together take any help offered,thinking of you xxxx

bubbadog

Hey Tilly, I did warn you about going cold turkey with the morphine! But on the other hand I do understand why you did. And after all the hard work your back on it. I can only understand how you feel!!

I hope the scan appointment comes soon so things can start moving. Sadly there are some right mean consultants out there! I've had a couple! But the nice ones out do the nasty!

You take care tilly and I hope you don't have to depend on the morphine for to long. And when your ready to stop reduce it down slowly!

tillytop

Thanks again all.

To coin Skezier's phrase, I was "armchair surfing" all night again thanks to stomach pain (the same pain that had me in A & E a few weeks ago - as yet undiagnosed but seemingly unlikely to be connected with possible gallstones) but thankfully it has settled now to merely uncomfortable, but manageable.

It seems that consultant still hasn't done referral but radiology have kindly booked me a scan appointment for Monday afternoon, on the understanding that the request is on the way, so that is pretty much sorted I think. So hopefully I am a step closer to finding out what is (or isn't) causing at least some of the stomach trouble.

Thanks again.

Tilly xxx

tillytop

Me again. Was adding a bit more to my message but system timed me out.

I genuinely appreciate the comments re my stopping the morphine suddenly and I have definitely learned my lesson.

Completely barking? Yes indeedy. Brainstorm? Not so much. In response to being told that the vile nausea with which I have been struggling for an average of the first 7 hours or so every single day for the past year, was possibly due to the morphine my immediate reaction was to try to do without it - "just" for 24 hours to see if the nausea improved. If I had got to that point and it had helped, at least I would have known and been able to hang on to the thought that things would get better on the nausea front if/when whatever is causing all the stomach pain had hopefully been sorted - and I could then go back and cut down more slowly. I just really needed that small bit of hope. As it was, it wasn't to be. If I had realised how bad the consequences of my "experiment" would be, I would never have done it - and I certainly won't do it again.

On a lighter note - at my request Mr Tilly now "looks after" my supplies of pain dullers and leaves me with what I need for the day ahead. I congratulated myself on my sensible plan - but hadn't anticipated that he would keep forgetting where he has hidden them. :roll: After half an hour of fruitless searching for the morphine pills yesterday evening, he gave in and I have had to order another box today. And it's not as if we live in a mansion so there really aren't that many hiding places! I love him to bits (bless his cotton socks)

Thanks again.

Tilly xxx

mig

You got a good man there Tilly,sending mega hugs.Mig

tillytop

Thanks Mig - and I have, haven't I? He came home with a pressie to cheer me up yesterday - a Kindle Fire!!!!! We had been discussing the merits of upgrading my existing Kindle but I never expected to be able to have a new one now - specially not with the private healthcare costs looming. I am a very lucky girl!

Hugs coming back your way too Mig. ((()))

Been back to GP this morning as suggested by consultant last weekend. Lanzoprazole swapped for Omeprazole (consultant says that drug is easier on the stomach than Lanzoprazole - seems daft that stomach protecting meds can cause stomach probs but apparently that is the case). Talked to GP about the morphine - he has said try swapping it for Tramadol instead. No forward on the pelvic pain - he agrees that it might be interstitial cystitis but says it's hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. He suggests taking a urine sample to the surgery every time the problem occurs to test for infection and, if samples come back normal constantly, then he would suspect interstitial cystitis and perhaps look at referring me to a urologist. Hey ho.

Tilly xxx

Numptydumpty

Well at least the Kindle Fire is a piece of good news
Lucky you, I'd love one, do let us know what it's like.
I'm sorry you're no nearer with the cause of pain.
(((())))
Numpty

stickywicket

That sounds like a good appointment, Tilly. He obviously listened to your concerns, took all on board and is doing a bit of consequent tweaking. I hope it helps.

I was switched from lansop to omep once I’d to double the dose and it’s been good. I hope the switch to tramadol helps too. If, as your consultant suggested, morphine might be part of the problem, the tramadol would be a good move too. Positive news also on the pelvic pain. That sounds like a good plan. (Keep a supply of specimen bottles in ) It sounds like you could be in for a good Christmas, complete with new Kindle Fire. Excellent.