One drug needs another to counteract.....

My sympathy, Luckygirl though it doesn’t really help. Pain relief is so personal - I can’t cope with anything morphine based which limits the options, but could you ask for referral to a pain relief specialist? Given that your pain is not going anywhere and you don’t have a date for surgery you need support now, and even wonderful GPs are not all up to date on pain management. Definitely worth making a fuss about.

I (almost literally) feel your pain Lucky
I’m so sorry about your holiday. That must have been upsetting

I sympathise, I know about side effects, have experienced them as did my Dad. I hope you get some sensible action from your GP soon. In the meantime, rant away here. I have always found a good rant to have great therapeutic value!
Hope you feel better soon.?

Oh lucky that all sounds awful.

Could you not pay to see a consultant privately?

That all sounds awful lucky. So many different things to manage and especially feel for you with the rock of Gibraltar scenario. This time earlier this week was in the same horrible situation which will be repeated any day now if I dont do something, laxido is mr medicine which is supposed to soften things,
So sorry about the holiday.

I have seen one privately and am having surgery on 24th - on NHS it would have been next year, which is just unthinkable. I cannot begin to imagine what it is like for those with no savings. NHS date was early next year - I have already had 6 months of this and I am totally ground down by it - cannot sit, lie, walk, stand without pain. I just have to grit my teeth and hope that the surgery later this month will at least relieve some of the pain.

Bugger this getting older lark. So frustrating as there are so many things I want to do and lots of my friends are really enjoying their retirements with cruises, walking holidays etc. All I want is to do my garden.

Jealous, moi!?

Good luck with the surgery Luckygirl .

Sorry to read about your problems Luckygirl. Sadly the NHS is falling apart.... or at least it is in my area.

I have been referred to a dermatologist and received a letter last week asking me to log onto the NHS website where I was given 5 options of hospital clinics with the waiting lists given below each. Most of them had a wait of nearly a year, but when I clicked on them, none could offer an appointment at all, even a year ahead, so that was a complete waste of time. Thankfully I'm not in pain, and my heart goes out to those (like you) who are.

Wishing you all the very best.

Oh dear. Sounds awful. I do hope your operation gives you some relief.
Re rock of Gibraltar: when I was on those strong painkillers I was given Laxido but supplemented that with oranges and strong coffee. I doubt the coffee would do your atrial fibrillation much good though.
Sending positive vibes.

Oh Lucky, I do so sympathise with the Rock of Gibraltar. Any more than one codeine, does that to me, but sometimes needs must.
I have had Movicol, CosmoCol, and Lactulose, which is quite good. Chewing a couple of (Tesco) liquorice twists at bedtime can also help.
Let's hope the Rock dissolves and that you can get some much needed sleep.
Hoping that the wait until you operation goes swiftly.

Luckygirl had I not read your whole post I would instantly have suggested Movicol as DH has been on it for years and it has been our saving grace on more than one occasion. I didn’t know about the AF side effect.
Other suggestions for the Rock of Gibraltar are raisins lots of them (advised by gastro consultant for DH of similar problem) also loads of water (you probably know that already) and All bran. I wish you luck. Been there and it’s not nice.

Thanks for all the ideas and kind thoughts. My breakfast consists of all-bran, flax seed, nuts and either apple or banana. I have roughage coming out of my ears - but unfortunately nowhere else!

Dulcosoft and plenty of water. Good luck getting pain sorted.

Luckygirl3, as you are in such pain - and effectively housebound - you can refer yourself to the district nursing service (or ask the GP to refer).

The nurses can advise, prescribe and, if necessary do 'manual extraction' (sorry to mention it, but a neighbour needed to have that done for 'impaction' after hip replacement and Codeine).

Have you tried a TENS machine? I found it quite helpful after my back injury (still needed tablets, just not so many). The sensation of pain was reduced and changed, at least.

My daughter has colon cleansing twice a year. She doesn’t have any problems in that region but feels marvellous afterwards
It’s perfectly safe for severe constipation.

Try dried apricots, about 7 works for me, for the Rock of Gibraltar, especially once you have got it moving. They work very reliably for me!

Sorry to hear Lucky you must miss your doctor DH for so many reasons. Unfortunately that’s exactly what happens when you need to take medication. My MiL used to take various pills which had to be counteracted by many others. Sorry no practical solution, hoping the surgery will sort it. All the best x