Health Organization for Pudendal Education

I've just had a bit more surgery at Frenchay for mesh removal. It all went well, and I've been really impressed by the way that post-op pain was dealt with.

With previous surgeries, as I came out of the anaesthetic I've been in horrible pain each time, and I've been given either oxycodone or morphine whilst I was in hospital, plus tramadol. Going home, I've just had the tramadol - and it hasn't been easy, quite a lot of the time I've simply had to tough it out. I had no option though as no other pain relief was available to me. And to be honest the prospect of having to deal with that again was something of a worry. I knew I would come through, but it has been seriously unpleasant before, and that's not a good thing to have ahead of you.

This time - no pain at all, completely comfortable - to the extent that I did not realise for quite a while that I'd actually had the surgery. This was because Dr Greenslade gave me 'a large dose' of ketamine. I was hallucinating at first which was a bit confusing because I didn't know why it was happening, but once Dr G told me I'd had ketamine then I understood. After that they continued with tramadol, plus oxycodone for pain spikes.

And they've sent me home with that drug regime as well. It is just wonderful being able to take something that actually makes the pain go away. The difference is astounding, I am so much less stressed. I'm taking 300 - 400 mg of tramadol each day - slow release - plus oxycodone 10mg as needed. So far it has been no more than 2 or 3 capsules a day at most, this stuff doesn't last long - 2 hours - but it works really well for dealing with pain spikes.

Anyway, hooray for Frenchay and Dr Greenslade.

Love the way they really have got your best interests at heart Calluna, on all levels. I hope that the op is effective, and yes horray!!
(((hugs from Helen)))
Let us know how you get on especially when you stop floating.

I think that idea was not to let the pain get established, and it certainly worked. Much easier to keep the pain damped down instead of letting it get going full blast and then trying to bring it under control.

Doing quite well at the moment, continence issues are distinctly improved. Really hope that Mr Dixon did get all of the mesh and that there are no more bits lurking anywhere! Am increasing the walking each day but still spending most of my time resting. Pain is reducing daily - today for the first time have not needed any oxycodone so far. But wonderful to know that it is there if I need it.

Am wondering - why is it so unusual for this stuff to be prescribed out of hospital, here in the UK?

It is also interesting to note that they are bucking the trend and prescribing it in Frenchay. Very glad it is working well for you. They seem to be getting rather a lot right there actually, Excellent

Am thinking that it is the best stuff for pain spikes that I've encountered - it only lasts 2 hours but it really does work, the pain really does go away completely - and then when it wears off, things are back in the realm of being manageable again. Am also sure I have no hope whatsoever of getting my GP to prescribe it after I've finished what the hospital gave me, though.

On the other hand, maybe I won't need it! Before the surgery I was not needing any meds, most of the time. Just tramadol for flares, which did its usual thing and helped but did not make it go away.

At the moment, pain levels going down daily - am definitely recovering faster and with less overall pain than with previous surgeries. But am well aware that there may be a bit of an increase still to come - historically we've seen that with lots of people, at 3 or 4 weeks post-op there can be another flare.

Re prescribing - the surgeon who reviewed me before discharge (Miss Lyons) was telling the ward staff that I had to have oxycodone TTA. The nursing staff were, shall we say, expressing doubt that this was possible. They said, maybe if we applied to the pharmacy for it this time last week, they'd have got round to letting us have it by now. And she just said - this lady has to have it TTA, this afternoon. She was impressively well informed about PN, I'd be happy to see her again.

Now, we just need to get you back on the appointment list at Frenchay - or for France...!