Pain in my pelvic secondaries with fractures became unbearable and so I tried to get help via my GP on Thursday last, before the weekend shutdown. My pain control had been based on ibuprofen full doses, with paracetamol. This had been adequate until about two weeks ago. I phoned McMillan Helpline to find out what to do. They listened to my story, took my personal details and advised me to ask my GP to refer me for palliative care services as soon as possible.
The GP surgery put me in a telephone queue to wait for my GP to call me back later in the day. He finally called me about 6.30pm at the end of his day at the surgery and agreed to refer me to the local palliative care nurse for advice on my problems. I checked on Friday morning that the referal had been made but the palliative care nurse phoned me at the end of his busy day, about 5.30pm. He agreed to come and see me at home on Monday, tomorrow, at noon.
We had a crisis on Friday night where I could no longer climb into bed, my wife did her best but couldn't help me and I got some sleep in an armchair downstairs. So I contacted the emergency out-of-hours doctor service on Saturday morning asking for pain relief advice. The response was immediate and effective. I was put through to a doctor on call who discussed my drugs regime and prescribed a capsule I had never heard of before. (My concern has always been that an opiate-based drug for pain, from codeine upwards to morphine, would block up my already tight urine flow). Tramadol has worked wonders, I can PU easily, my pain is much less and I can get into bed and sleep. I am taking only one capsule every 6 hours not the maximum of two every six hours.
The out-of-hours doctor was patient, understanding and best of all effective. She faxed her prescription to the village pharmacy right away and I took my first dose at noon yesterday within an hour or so of talking to her. My main complaint in all this has been that no one has come to see me at home since I became unable to go to the surgery or go out further than the pharmacy just round the corner.
I am more comfortable now but a bit giddy and thick in the head. I have to be careful not to fall over with my crutches.
