And allof the others too!

Yup,
Mark56

I need a rant .. and I dont want to rant on my little SCS bit, even though it is SCS related ... but perhaps this could be a place where we can have a rant about random things.

My Doctor prescribed me Bu Trans Patches last Tuesday .. saying they were to be replaced every three days.

Got to the chemist and they only had two patches in stock but promised the further two at some point during the week.

I put the first patch on on the Tuesday, and together with Oramorph, kept my pain at an ok level. Sadly, the patch came off after my Thursday morning shower, so I put the other one on.

I got a missed call from the chemist on Friday and rang Saturday morning to return their call. No answer. Now they have two branches of Manor Pharmacy in Matlock, so I called their other branch and unfortunately they can't access the other branch's computer system. So I explained my situation ... but they were unable to give me the further two patches as they are controlled drugs.

The Pharmasict came on and said .. "Oh no, these are 7 day patches" .. and I looked at the little patch holder and sure enough it said .. replace after 7 days .. then I looked at the typed prescribed dose and it said change after 3 days ..

CONFUSED?!

I'd taken the patch off asuming that the other two would be delivered on the Saturday morning ... andi t was coming off from showering.

Now it's Monday .. I get a call from the original pharmacy saying that they are seven day patches .. so I asked why the Doctor had put three day .. there has been some mix up .. I think its the chemist who gave me the wrong patches to be honest.

The Doctor is calling me tomorrow anyway .. but I'm not happy as I'm feeling emotional, in pain and grumpy.

I've had to go back to the Tramadol, and topped up with 20mg Diazepam today because of back spasms .. plus pain is going down both legs now instead of just the one. (But the Doctor thinks it's because of the three 500 miles journeys I have driven in less than 6 weeks and that it should settle down)

Rant over. Patches due tomorrow.

Rant Two: I phoned my Neuro Surgeon's secretary today and told her that I was extremely sorry for bothering her but that Mr. Roe had said he would put me on one of his free theatre lists for October and when would I hear something as because of Mike having to have time off for his Dad's death and burial, he has things to arrange at work.

Still waiting to hear!

Should I call back tomorrow .. or wait a few days?

Hi Karen,

I guess we all need a rant every now and then it keeps us sane and this is a good a place as any. I've used those patches and they are definitely 7 day patches unless they've changed recently. I was very allergic to them, they irritated my skin so much that the drug burned my skin, what made it worse was the fact that they were on for 7 days, at least with the Matrifen patches they are every 3 days, which is less likely to cause irritation, this patch is much smaller too than the BuTrans. I'd say that's where they're getting mixed up too. I've no problem with the Matrifen patches except that I came out in a rash the first day I used them but I stuck with it and they're fine.
You can also get this plaster type stuff to put over them so they don't fall off in the shower, I got a small roll of it for .20 cents. I'll route out the name of it you want me to. It's the very same as the plaster they use after surgery. It's hard to keep them on for for a few days without falling off in the shower.

I'd ring the Secretary again tomorrow or Wed, the one that shouts the loudest gets heard the quickest! I seriously doubt they'll care though! It's awful like that and you just want a date so Mike can arrange time off, it sure does suck, my consultant put me off so many times, he kept telling me next week but he couldn't fit me in. I had a rant over that here too!

I'm scheduled for Fri 28 Oct for more revision surgery finally, I thought it would never come around. I hope he can actually get me some relief this time.

Night night hun and take care,

Sinéad xxx

and, as they say.... sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So.... I would hazard a call... not one every minute mind you, but a call to see to the situation. No harm in that.... I did it....

Also, one might want to get ahold of some of those hyper strong bandage products or a bit of waterproof tape and secure the patch before a shower... especially if the thing has to last seven days. Either that or avoid showering for seven days, go to the chemist to let them know what that is like [EEeeeewwwww, oh and avoid the hair combing, the deodorant, all of the usually toiletry things, maybe even get a couple of those real looking like earthworm things and put some in your hair and hang one out of your mouth. Chemist might take notice.... or pass out ], then go home, shower enjoyably and apply the next patch.

Multiple ways to overcome a problem, there usually are.... sorta like skinning a cat, or a chemist as they say in some places.....

Yup,
Home, home on the range [cowboys didn't bathe very often either in the
19th century wild west where I live,
Mark56 [dang, there aren't any cowboy smilies]

Hullo my little fruitbats!

Well .. the patches have gone as they caused blistering of the skin ... I am now on Tramadol and Paracetamol again .. with Oramorph for breakthrough pain. I'm beginning to realise that medication that allows you to drive, be awake, be aware, talk sensibly ... does hardly anything for the pain. At night I can dose myself up and the pain is topped by freaky dreams and interrupted sleep. I give in. I have worked out a plan !!

Tramadol and Paracetamol before I get out of bed .. makes me feel smiley and makes me feel I can cope with the pain .. carry this on every 4 - 6 hours till the afternoon when I add 10ml of Oramorph and have a sleep and rest ... then carry on with the Tramadol and Paracetamol till bed time ... then add 60ml Amitryptilline aswell as the Tramadol/Paracetamol and add 10ml Oramorph ... when waking in the night, take 5ml Oramorph whenever I wake up.

Had my Pre Op last Thursday and saw surgeon who explained the laminectomy and paddle leads and said .. "Now I will send you for a pre op" ...

Yayy .. already done ... I really think communication is lacking there.

Am now awaiting news of when I go into Hospital again.

Am still smili

Hi Karen,

I'm so happy you've finally got the plan right for your meds, those patches totally burned my skin too.

Later alligator

Sinéad xxxx

So glad they are moving you right along finally!
Seems like whenever I had something important like this coming up, I'd always get pushed up til after the new year.
Hopefully not in your case!

GITTER DONE!!

You've got it? Good to go? A date? And the pre-Op was actually done?

Well......

What're you waitin for??? As Rae writes, let's gitter DONE..... We're burnin daylight!!

This is exciting... you probably couldn't tell....... [I always wanted to use that one].
Mark56

No date .. in fact the new surgeon hadn't even been told I'd had a pre op that morning .. he was going to send me for one.

I'm going to call them next week as it's been a week since the pre op and I would have thought I would have heard something.