Bit of a setback

Good point Agus.

Icy I make it a point never to read the leaflets until I notice a side effect. I try not to consult Google either (not always successfully). I find that I have everything mentioned in the leaflets and worry myself stupid if I consult Google.

Thank you for your helpful ideas.

I had in fact been on a minute dose of dosulepin (25mg a day) for many years as a migraine prevention. I went off this totally and suddenly when I went into hospital for my hip surgery; and looking at the advice now i see that it is recommended that you should tail the dose off (a bit difficult with just 25mg! - but I guess I could have opened the capsule and ditched some of the powder therein). It may be that some of my current problems are related to suddenly stopping it - in conjunction with surgery and its assorted cocktail of drugs plus the AF episode. All too much at once. It may be that I just have to grit my teeth and weather this storm - the mornings are grim as I feel totally switched off at the main and it is a struggle to do anything at all, either mental or physical. But I dredge myself out and try and do things.

When I rang GP on Monday I had to speak to a different one as mine was away - he was quite clear that I must not go back on dosulepin, and, having looked it up, NICE is saying it should no longer be prescribed (Sept 2014) so I can understand his reaction. I am sure that is why he went for the citalopram.

I do not usually read the leaflets either - but did on this occasion specifically because the AF is a new problem and I wanted to be sure that it would be OK, as I am very nervous of a recurrence. I will try and talk to my usual GP when he is back.

Having said all this, the depressive symptoms were not there post-surgery, but appeared a few days after the AF, which feels like a greater upset to the system than the surgery.

I am sure that time will put things to rights, and I have to weather this period of ill health before getting back to my former self. I am lucky to be surrounded by good kind people and family.

Mishap, it's good to hear you sounding more positive.

Great to hear that you are more positive today, let time do its job and try to enjoy the care you are getting. Feeling a bit low myself today, simply because it is cold and I don't fancy doing what I had planned. Fed up with TV, just finished my book and cant get into the new one yet. Mrs. Pompa has deserted me and gone off with her mates.

Spoke to my Dr. Yesterday regarding the 30/500 co-codamol I am taking, causing constipation, despite eating the worlds supply of prunes and figs.
He has prescribed a different painkiller, not sure what yet. He was not my normal GP, so I am a bit concerned that what he has prescribed may clash with my regular drugs - will discuss it with my pharmacist when I pick them up tomorrow. I am already taking several drugs that can cause stomach bleeding, so cannot take extra aspirin or ibuprofen based drugs.

Sorry to hear you are having a low day pompa - I hope that the new painkiller will do the trick for you without creating concrete.

My day has just got worse. A large back tooth that was due to be removed in January has fallen completely apart and I have to go in to the dentist at 5.15 today. It is a difficult journey with hopeless access to the surgery. He will not be able to do the extraction because I have only just gone off the anti-coagulants; and I do not know where I stand about antibiotic cover for dental treatment after hip surgery. It feels a bit like the last straw today when I was just about clinging on.

Mishap I think you will find that your dentist will give you antibiotics if he is the slightest bit concerned that there may be a risk of infection- especially as you have had a THR. Tell him the multitude of drugs that you are on because of drug interactions.

My dentist is aware of my recent TKR and errs on the side of caution by giving me antibiotics.

I do think that you should consider changing your user name as it is not doing you much good!!!!

OMG Mishap, you are going through the wringer, by the time all this is over you will be a new woman. I am due some serious dental work, going to ask surgeon about antibiotics when I see him next week.

I'm OK, just having a moan. It's not the concrete I mind, it's the bricks, sharp corners and all.

Keep your pecker up Mishap . Things will get better.

Pompa - ouch!

Galen - thanks for the encouragement.

I have in fact cancelled the dental appointment as I have switched on my brain and realised that I cannot actually get there! The car park is a long way from the dentist which is in a pedestrianised shopping centre and it is further than I can walk at present. The dentist said that I should keep rinsing the gap with salt water until I can get there.

We have a shopmobility centre in the underground car park where I can borrow a wheelchair and, when my DD is back from her hols, she could take me in and wheel me to the dentist from there. One of my other DDs has offered, but she is in the early stages of pregnancy and I am not happy for her to do that. I just hope I can stop the tooth collapsing further before I am able to sort this out.

Things are said to come in threes, so this should be my lot.

Mishap I have no suggestions on how to help your current health issues but have a (((hug))).

And from me! And for pompa!

Pompa, I too have to take co-codamol plus morphine, both known to cause constipation but no matter how many lbs of fruit I eat, it makes no difference. For this reason, I was discharged with Movicol on the list of my prescribed meds. and it works! . Maybe ask your GP if this is an option for you.

Constipation is also known to make you feel low so possibly this is the reason you are feeling a bit down too.

Oh dear Mishap. Get plenty of soup in (and brandy if you are allowed). I do hope things improve for you very soon.

I'm working on the theory that things can only get better.

I improve as the day goes on, so don't feel too bad just now, but dread tomorrow morning when I will no doubt feel as if someone has turned my on switch off again. I have to force myself to get up and get clean and dressed.

One of the problems for me is that there is so much that needs doing here - rubbish is piling up, newspapers all over the place, and books and things are out of reach in collapsing piles. I can't sort it out, as I cannot bend sufficiently at present to tidy it all; and OH with his PD and heart problems is not able to get it all done - I do not even mention it as I don't want him to even consider doing it. He is struggling enough with what he is having to do for me - carrying things up and down the stairs, food etc in and out of kitchen.

Feeling for poor pompa who is feeling a bit down too. We will have to think of some way to cheer him up. Any suggestions?

for you all who are feeling down and unwell.I have my problems but am so lucky that my own health (for my age) is so good that I feel able to cope with them and the citalopram I am taking is helping.

Having an operation, particularly with all he set backs and complications you've had is a bit like having a baby Mishap Like a new mother you need to concentrate on getting better and forget all the things you can't do at the moment. There will be plenty of time to deal with them when you are back to full strength. Your health (and OH's) is far more important than some old newspapers.

to all of you struggling but do you not think it's a positive move that you can share your problems here on line? You all seem to gain strength in helping each other . A dear friend was a respected surgeon who was constantly reproached by management for cheerfully operating on the very elderly. He maintained that to survive hospital you had to be b.....y fit and to have reached a serious age you had to be b....y fit so that's why he operated on them. Keep the faith.

Mishap; I wish I could come over and sort out your piles of stuff. Strangely enough, for someone that can't keep my own house clean and tidy I love cleaning and tidying other peoples.

DH and I have both been struck with health issues this year and unable to do housework. I decided eventually to call in cleaners and they did what they call a deep clean. The whole house from top to bottom. Worth every penny and it gave me less to worry about until I hopefully make a full recovery and can start doing it myself again.

Tegan, I thought you were offering to sort out Mishap's piles

Mega sympathy with the tooth, Mishap. I had to wait two weeks before I could have a broken tooth taken out. Serves me right for pinching some pork crackling off DH's plate but I was so fed up I felt like yanking it out myself.

Hope you feel better tomorrow.

Being poorly is an excellent reason for letting things like housework and tidying go to pot. It's like having the builders in, you can invite friends round for coffee with a cheery "Excuse the mess, it's beyond us at the moment." They might even bring cake! (Or tidy up a bit)