new codeine regulations, period pain, and emotions

catkingcole

Hi all..
i just felt like i needed to vent somewhere as i ended up bursting into tears because of a run in with a male pharmacist over trying to get nurofen+ for my period pains.
I'm aware of the new regulations and I know they have to ask questions and so on, and i'm ok with that, i don't mind telling the whole pharmacy i'm having horrible period pains. i just want them to give me the over the counter pain-killer i'm looking for after all of that. the guy today, i know he's doing his job and trying to be nice and everything, but as soon as i said what i wanted it for (this is after waiting for about 5 mins nearly passing out at the counter from pain), he goes into this big story about how there's just been some new study or other that shows that the amount of codeine in nurofen+ has a minimal effect on period pain and that regular nurofen should be all i need, and if i needed anything stronger than the regular nurofen i'd have to go to my doctor about it. i was dumbstruck and just wanted to get out of there and get home before i fainted, so i ended up buying the regular nurofen. (even so, hours later i was still curled up in bed in pain.)

i started tearing up on the way home, mostly because i was in terrible pain and hadn't slept last night, but also just being frustrated with having to try to argue about my period pain to a male stranger and getting nowhere. last time i tried to buy it a different male pharmacist started on asking me if i'd ever tried using a hot water bottle instead! i felt so insulted.

is anyone else out there having this trouble? i really don't want to have to start going to my doctor about this. going on the pill doesn't work for me, and it's not every month that the pain this bad. i know by now that when its bad a couple of nurofen+ sorts it out almost immediately. the pharmacist today was telling me i should be taking the nurofen a few days before i even get my period, 2 every 6 hours. that's versus just two or 3 nurofen+ on the worst day.

this has basically meant that i've ended up taking the day off work today because of period pain and i'm so angry about it. sorry for the rant. i'm just wondering how should i deal with this next time it happens. maybe i should shop around until i get to speak to a female pharmacist who understands? maybe i should do that sometime when i'm not in pain to stockpile and make sure i have n+ when i need it? do they have these restrictions up north?

Nevyn

Ok it sucks that you couldn't get the pain meds you used to and that you are in that much pain, but honestly no woman should suffer like what you are right now with that level of pain from period cramps.

You do need to go to the dr and get it checked out, you shouldn't have to take a day off work cos you got your period, tell this to your dr and get them to refer you to a gynie so they can have a look.

There are a whole range of medical conditions which just seem to be horrendus period pains.

metrovelvet

He should have just given you the pills. Jesus Christ. FEminax has codeine in it.

Are you over 18? If so and you are ever stuck like that, nip into the nearest pub for a double brandy. Its better than codeine.

I used to get such terrible pain that I'd take 800 milligrams of ibuprofin. But its not nearly as effective as a double brandy.

catkingcole

Thaedydal wrote: »

Ok it sucks that you couldn't get the pain meds you used to and that you are in that much pain, but honestly no woman should suffer like what you are right now with that level of pain from period cramps.

You do need to go to the dr and get it checked out, you shouldn't have to take a day off work cos you got your period, tell this to your dr and get them to refer you to a gynie so they can have a look.

There are a whole range of medical conditions which just seem to be horrendus period pains.

thanks Thaedydal.
I really don't think its anything worth a special visit to the doctor over. I've been talking to doctors about periods since i was a teenager and was passing out regularly with them. As i've gotten older the pain is much milder than that usually. Every now and then it gets horrible, but as long as I don't force myself to do anything physical there's no fainting or anything (I blame most of my fainting episodes as a teen to our nations PE teachers who faced with a class full of "i can't, i've cramps" every week have no choice but to prescribe "gentle exercise"). No doctor I've ever talked to has thought it's been necessary to look into it deeper, and none have suggested anything more than continuing n+ when i need it and trying evening primrose oil.
it just feels so unfair that I might end up having to spend a lot of money going to doctors to convince pharmacists to sell me something i already know is the answer for me, all because some minority of people have gotten addicted to codeine. i guess a lot of the over-the-counter-codeine addicts are going in saying they have period pain and that's why they're being so harsh? is there a way to convince them? though i'd say all the time of the month spots on my chin, pale face and the automatic welling up reaction i had today should've convinced him i was a genuine case.

catkingcole

metrovelvet wrote: »

He should have just given you the pills. Jesus Christ. FEminax has codeine in it.

Are you over 18? If so and you are ever stuck like that, nip into the nearest pub for a double brandy. Its better than codeine.

I used to get such terrible pain that I'd take 800 milligrams of ibuprofin. But its not nearly as effective as a double brandy.

wow, really? i never drink brandy, but i will have to try that next time.

(oh yeah, i'm 27, so i've tried a lot of remedies over the past 15 years or so of periods, but brandy is still a new one on me)

SugarHigh

metrovelvet wrote: »

He should have just given you the pills. Jesus Christ. FEminax has codeine in it.

Are you over 18? If so and you are ever stuck like that, nip into the nearest pub for a double brandy. Its better than codeine.

I used to get such terrible pain that I'd take 800 milligrams of ibuprofin. But its not nearly as effective as a double brandy.

Why should a trained professional listen to someone who isn't trained?

Instead of going to a doctor to get her symptoms checked out you recommend her go to a pub so she can find it easier to ignore her symptoms, instead of trying to treat them?

This is the equivalent of turning off a fire alarm instead of putting out the fire.

metrovelvet

SugarHigh wrote: »

Why should a trained professional listen to someone who isn't trained?

So instead of going to a doctor to get her symptoms checked ou recommend her go to a pub so she can find it easier to ignore her symptoms instead of trying to treat them?

This is the equivalent of turning off a fire alarm instead of putting out the fire.

Have you ever found yourself on the street doubled over in pain bleeding from your genitals?

You think its so easy to get to the doctor? You think you can get appointments just like that?

All the doctor is going to do is prescibe ibuprofin.

The trained professional should listen to someone who isnt trained because the person who isnt trained knows his or her body better than anyone.

Sardonicat

OP, follow the pharmacist's advice. The type of period pain you desribe does not sound like it should be ignored. If your GP keeps dismissing it then go to another one.

I have to be honest with you, you have stated in your post that you have spoken to several Dr.s about your period pain and they all dismissed it. I find that hard to believe.

Pembily

metrovelvet wrote: »

Have you ever found yourself on the street doubled over in pain bleeding from your genitals?

You think its so easy to get to the doctor? You think you can get appointments just like that?

All the doctor is going to do is prescibe ibuprofin.

The trained professional should listen to someone who isnt trained because the person who isnt trained knows his or her body better than anyone.

My cousin is a pharmacist and has to ask every person the same question and give the same story too!!! Its her job, and if someone asks her for coedine products and she doesn't give them the story then she could loose her licence!!!! The trained professional is trained and has to listen to the training they have been given!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I am a woman and I have been doubled over in pain and you really should go to visit a dr as that kind of pain is not normal - seriously!!!!!!!!!!! They should seriously investigate it more...

Nevyn

catkingcole wrote: »

thanks Thaedydal.
I really don't think its anything worth a special visit to the doctor over. I've been talking to doctors about periods since i was a teenager and was passing out regularly with them.

As i've gotten older the pain is much milder than that usually. Every now and then it gets horrible, but as long as I don't force myself to do anything physical there's no fainting or anything (I blame most of my fainting episodes as a teen to our nations PE teachers who faced with a class full of "i can't, i've cramps" every week have no choice but to prescribe "gentle exercise").

No doctor I've ever talked to has thought it's been necessary to look into it deeper, and none have suggested anything more than continuing n+ when i need it and trying evening primrose oil.
it just feels so unfair that I might end up having to spend a lot of money going to doctors to convince pharmacists to sell me something i already know is the answer for me, all because some minority of people have gotten addicted to codeine.

i guess a lot of the over-the-counter-codeine addicts are going in saying they have period pain and that's why they're being so harsh? is there a way to convince them? though i'd say all the time of the month spots on my chin, pale face and the automatic welling up reaction i had today should've convinced him i was a genuine case.

Listen it's not normal, a lot of irish drs don't seem to listen to female patients and fob them off and tell them they will be grand, when there is an under lying medical issue.

I have had friends and family in a state like you are once a cycle and there were other medical issues, you need to find a dr who will listen to you and give you a referral to a gynie or find a dr who deal with those issues as part of their general practice.

Many women go in diagnosed and suffering with conditions they shouldn't have to cos they think what you are going through it normal, it's not. It is worth going to the dr about as it's making you that ill and has you taking days off work.

If your dr won't listen then try a different dr.

catkingcole

catkingcole wrote: »

i'm just wondering how should i deal with this next time it happens. maybe i should shop around until i get to speak to a female pharmacist who understands? maybe i should do that sometime when i'm not in pain to stockpile and make sure i have n+ when i need it?

I totally feel your pain. Literally. Up until 4 months ago I was getting terrible pains, thankfully found that microlite sorts it for the most part for me. I know it must have been really upsetting, even just getting to the pharmacy in such a state of pain, I can't imagine how bad it was to have to go home without what you wanted.

To be honest though, I think blaming the pharmacist's gender is a wrong turn. I was reading this article in the Irish Times, and it said that there's no allowance in the new regulations for the pharmacist to avoid talking in depth with the patient even if the pharmacist knows the patient. So even if that pharmacist had known you and your problem already, he couldn't have just asked a quick "what's it for?" and let you have it. He's obligated to make sure that you're in need of it, which unfortunately includes a slightly lengthy convo sometimes. I realise that in your condition you weren't up to pushing the issue when he was trying to steer you away from the plus, and he could have been more helpful, but if I were a pharmacist at the moment I'd probably be terrified of selling codeine. With the regulations being new and all, I wouldn't be surprised if <insert governing body's name here> were sending people into pharmacies just to check how the new regulations were being handled by pharmacists. While a different pharmacist may have been more relaxed with it once you gave a reason, I don't think that pharmacist would have to be female to understand, or that a female would understand necessarily.

Also you mentioned stockpiling it. I'd say that even if you had convinced a pharmacist to give you the neurofen+, if you tried buying a few packs at a time they could very well end up giving you none at all, it would look pretty suspicious.

I'm really sorry you were put in such a terrible position, and I wish I could give you helpful advice rather than just an opinion. Here's that article in case you wanna have a look.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/0824/1224277436013.html

metrovelvet

Thaedydal wrote: »

Listen it's not normal, a lot of irish drs don't seem to listen to female patients and fob them off and tell them they will be grand, when there is an under lying medical issue.

I have had friends and family in a state like you are once a cycle and there were other medical issues, you need to find a dr who will listen to you and give you a referral to a gynie or find a dr who deal with those issues as part of their general practice.

Many women go in diagnosed and suffering with conditions they shouldn't have to cos they think what you are going through it normal, it's not. It is worth going to the dr about as it's making you that ill and has you taking days off work.

If your dr won't listen then try a different dr.

I find the GPs here are very bad at listening to you.

metrovelvet

Pembily wrote: »

My cousin is a pharmacist and has to ask every person the same question and give the same story too!!! Its her job, and if someone asks her for coedine products and she doesn't give them the story then she could loose her licence!!!! The trained professional is trained and has to listen to the training they have been given!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I am a woman and I have been doubled over in pain and you really should go to visit a dr as that kind of pain is not normal - seriously!!!!!!!!!!! They should seriously investigate it more...

In the mean time...until they can get to the doctor... a double brandy.

Pembily

metrovelvet wrote: »

I find the GPs here are very bad at listening to you.

So you have to make them listen to you!!! I am 26 and if I hadn't made my GP listen to me I would have gone untreated and might have found at 32 that I can't have kids all cos I didn't kick up a fuss when I was 24!!!!

Its your body and you shouldn't be in so much pain that you pass out - its not normal no matter what anyone says!!! We are in the 21st Century FFS!

Faith

I agree that the new regulations are irritating. I normally take ibuprofen, and I know well when I need something a little stronger. But in this case, like the others have said, you just have to go to your doctor. INSIST that they listen to you.

Alternatively, if they refuse, tell them to write you a note saying you need Nurofen Plus for period pains and you can give that to the pharmacist. It's not a prescription, but it saves you the long talk.

Nevyn

metrovelvet wrote: »

In the mean time...until they can get to the doctor... a double brandy.

Mixing pain meds and drink can be dangerous.

metrovelvet

Thaedydal wrote: »

Mixing pain meds and drink can be dangerous.

Yes I know. It was in lieu of... not along with.

catkingcole

true-or-false wrote: »

I totally feel your pain. Literally. Up until 4 months ago I was getting terrible pains, thankfully found that microlite sorts it for the most part for me. I know it must have been really upsetting, even just getting to the pharmacy in such a state of pain, I can't imagine how bad it was to have to go home without what you wanted.

To be honest though, I think blaming the pharmacist's gender is a wrong turn. I was reading this article in the Irish Times, and it said that there's no allowance in the new regulations for the pharmacist to avoid talking in depth with the patient even if the pharmacist knows the patient. So even if that pharmacist had known you and your problem already, he couldn't have just asked a quick "what's it for?" and let you have it. He's obligated to make sure that you're in need of it, which unfortunately includes a slightly lengthy convo sometimes. I realise that in your condition you weren't up to pushing the issue when he was trying to steer you away from the plus, and he could have been more helpful, but if I were a pharmacist at the moment I'd probably be terrified of selling codeine. With the regulations being new and all, I wouldn't be surprised if <insert governing body's name here> were sending people into pharmacies just to check how the new regulations were being handled by pharmacists. While a different pharmacist may have been more relaxed with it once you gave a reason, I don't think that pharmacist would have to be female to understand, or that a female would understand necessarily.

Also you mentioned stockpiling it. I'd say that even if you had convinced a pharmacist to give you the neurofen+, if you tried buying a few packs at a time they could very well end up giving you none at all, it would look pretty suspicious.

I'm really sorry you were put in such a terrible position, and I wish I could give you helpful advice rather than just an opinion. Here's that article in case you wanna have a look.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2010/0824/1224277436013.html

thanks. I actually read that article earlier in my search for these studies that show that 'codeine has no affect on period pain' (haven't found any evidence, instead just lots of people recommending it.. and as someone already pointed out, Feminax, which is marketed exclusively for period pain contains codeine).
I have sympathy for the pharmacists in this actually, I know they're trying to make a living, trying to help patients, and trying to follow the rules. It just made me inexplicably angry today to be told by this guy that the thing I've been taking for my pain has no effect when I know from years of experience that it does. Even though part of my whole argument with this is that period pain is different for everyone, I'd still find that advice easier to take from a person who's at least had periods before (and I know - a doctor or pharmacist doesn't have to have had every illness to be able to properly and knowledgeably prescribe their remedies, i guess this comes down to once a month sexism).

And re: the doctor thing. Thanks for the concern everyone, I go to a womens practice and I've seen many different female and male doctors in my time with this pain. No one yet, not even me, has been convinced this is anything other than period pain. I've read the other period thread on the board at the moment, and it seems like there's a fair few others who've had similar pain? so it seems normal enough. or else i'm just a wimp.

i'm really glad microlite and the pill works for some people for this, unfortunately for me it lead to horrible mood swings and constant breast tenderness

metrovelvet

Pembily wrote: »

So you have to make them listen to you!!! I am 26 and if I hadn't made my GP listen to me I would have gone untreated and might have found at 32 that I can't have kids all cos I didn't kick up a fuss when I was 24!!!!

Its your body and you shouldn't be in so much pain that you pass out - its not normal no matter what anyone says!!! We are in the 21st Century FFS!

Og god Pembly. Ive had it with doctors here. Had it.

If I had a penny....

sallystar

Hey OP, after many years of painful periods (now controlled thanks to Mirena Coil and childbirth!) I fully empathise with you. I would suggest that you make an appointment with a Well Woman clinic based GP. I found that Ponstan worked really well for me and my GP used to give me a repeat prescription for a few months. What works for me though, will not necessarily work for someone else so it'll just be a case of trial and error! If you find that the only relief you will get is from Nurofen Plus, your GP can maybe prescribe it for you, a few of tablets a month, and repeat for a few months. You and your GP can review it after a few months and repeat if successful.

LizT

You can buy Nurofen + in the North over the counter. But as others have said before if the pain is really bad, you need to go to a doctor.

catkingcole

sallystar wrote: »

Hey OP, after many years of painful periods (now controlled thanks to Mirena Coil and childbirth!) I fully empathise with you. I would suggest that you make an appointment with a Well Woman clinic based GP. I found that Ponstan worked really well for me and my GP used to give me a repeat prescription for a few months. What works for me though, will not necessarily work for someone else so it'll just be a case of trial and error! If you find that the only relief you will get is from Nurofen Plus, your GP can maybe prescribe it for you, a few of tablets a month, and repeat for a few months. You and your GP can review it after a few months and repeat if successful.

Yeah, a friend of mine takes ponstan too. Her period pain tends to last days though, mine is usually a case of a few intense hours on the first day and sometimes some dull pain the next day. It's just that it seems a bit unnecessary and really expensive to have to go back to the doctor for repeat prescriptions if there's nothing particularly wrong and something over the counter that could do it.

Ectoplasm

+1 on the Ponstan. I suffer from period pain every month and my doc prescribed it to me. It really is worth going to the doctor, even if it's only to avoid horribly frustrating (and potentially embarrassing) incidents in the chemist.

I had the same experience last week. I hadn't been back to my doc for my repeat prescription of the Ponstan and was caught short. As I was aware of the fact that codeine is now harder to get, I tried regular Neurofen first; I might as well have taken smarties for all the difference that made.

I hauled myself up to the chemist only to have an argument with this weapon of a pharmacist which culminated in me bursting into tears in the shop. I was mortified, but I'm already a bit emotional due to the totm, and now this wagon was giving out to me because I hadn't given the Neurofen 3 DAYS to work!

I really do get the point of the new regulations, but I've been having periods for 20 years now. (Oh dear, that made me feel old :eek:) I know my body and what works and I don't think it is reasonable for me to suffer for 3 days and take a rake load of tablets when two doses of the N+ will sort me out.

DonJose

lizt wrote: »

You can buy Nurofen + in the North over the counter. But as others have said before if the pain is really bad, you need to go to a doctor.

Nurofen plus can be bought online at <snip>, like the above posters said, if the pains persist, consult a doctor.
<snip>

Mod note: Purchasing controlled medication online is against the law. Links removed.

giddybootz

Ah i love Ireland....gotta stop those bleeding wimmins from getting at the codeine but yet every day i step over heroin junkies to get in and out of work....sigh!

Roughly every 3rd month i get reall really bad pains for the first 2 or 3 days and on those months i NEED my codeine !! I hadn't heard about these new laws til now...can't wait to discuss my period with a stranger in boots

psycho-hope

cat think everything that can be said has been said, i found the only way to get a dr to listen to me about the pain i was in at totm was to find a younger female one and refuse to leave on till they listened to me, like you I cant take the combined pill cause of a family history of breast cancer, but there is other options out there, from prescribed painkillers to other types of contraception

hope you get sorted soon

squeakyduck

I've got a massive box of aspirin in my bathroom. It is the business. I also have a little heat up duck that you put in the microwave. He does the job while I wait on it to work!

It is ridic that he wouldn't give you the drugs though. He'd obviously be reaching for it too if he had those pains!

catkingcole

EMF2010 wrote: »

+1 on the Ponstan. I suffer from period pain every month and my doc prescribed it to me. It really is worth going to the doctor, even if it's only to avoid horribly frustrating (and potentially embarrassing) incidents in the chemist.

I had the same experience last week. I hadn't been back to my doc for my repeat prescription of the Ponstan and was caught short. As I was aware of the fact that codeine is now harder to get, I tried regular Neurofen first; I might as well have taken smarties for all the difference that made.

I hauled myself up to the chemist only to have an argument with this weapon of a pharmacist which culminated in me bursting into tears in the shop. I was mortified, but I'm already a bit emotional due to the totm, and now this wagon was giving out to me because I hadn't given the Neurofen 3 DAYS to work!

I really do get the point of the new regulations, but I've been having periods for 20 years now. (Oh dear, that made me feel old :eek:) I know my body and what works and I don't think it is reasonable for me to suffer for 3 days and take a rake load of tablets when two doses of the N+ will sort me out.

that's exactly my feelings on it. they want you to start taking the regular nurofen before your period even starts. I was on the pill for a while about a year ago, and I'm only just getting to know my cycle now, and I can still be days off on the expected due date. If I was to follow that advice I'd be taking the nurofen for days and days. That just doesn't make sense to me. I got horrible gastritis when I was in the hospital for a few days a while back, they said it was due to all the ibuprofen they'd been giving me and how it's just a risk some times when you have to take ibuprofen regularly for a few days! I do NOT want that to have to go through that again, it felt like a heart attack or something.

catkingcole

Thanks for everyone's responses. I feel totally fine today. I think I'd just needed to vent my frustrations to some other women. Think it's just going to be a case of forward planning and being prepared for it in future.

metrovelvet

squeakyduck wrote: »

I've got a massive box of aspirin in my bathroom. It is the business. I also have a little heat up duck that you put in the microwave. He does the job while I wait on it to work!

It is ridic that he wouldn't give you the drugs though. He'd obviously be reaching for it too if he had those pains!

You know aspirin is a blood thinner right?

_Whimsical_

Thaedydal wrote: »

Mixing pain meds and drink can be dangerous.

This is true but it's also very effective.I'm not saying anyone should do it regularly but in instances in the past where I've been fainting and vomiting from period pain that painkillers didn't touch, brandy was the only thing that ever helped. Only a little small amount worked for me,maybe 3 or 4 teaspoons,probably because I don't drink at all. If you are in violent pain and can't find anything to help in the house it's worth remembering to try a very small amount...only in emergencies though.