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Codeine

Hi all

I posted a while back about pain relief as I started to get some horrible waves of pain across my whole abdomen, like the cramps you get with food poisoning but with no relief. This has developed into a searing pain on the right side just underneath my ribcage, and my GI consultant says this is consistent with where they've seen the worst inflammation.

I've been given codeine which I hope will help, but warned about this causing constipation. As I can already suffer with this anyway and almost never D, I'm now a bit wary of taking it. I'm grateful of anything that can reduce this pain as it's pretty terrible, but obviously I don't want to swap one problem for another. Is there anything I can do to reduce this unwanted side effect?

Thanks in advance!
 

Bufford

Well-known member
Keep well hydrated, drink more water for the body to cope with the painkiller. I've been on Percocete for years, taking no more than two pills per day. Avoid taking too much, it easily overwhelms the system and causes drug dependency. Sometimes taking half a tablet is enough. I found that taking less is better than taking more expecially over the long term. These are an excellent way to both cope and to improve quality of life, but these tablets deserve their respect.
 
Thank you, that is another thing I was slightly concerned about! I don't plan on taking them every day as to be honest most of the time I can cope, but there's been days where I've eaten something that's set me off and it's days before the pain is something near manageable again. I need them more for those times really. Although I was shocked that my GP has given me 100 pills, I was only expecting a small supply to begin with [emoji15]
 

Maya142

Moderator
Staff member
My daughter has been on other pain meds - mostly Tramadol, but now she takes a stronger pain med twice daily. We give her Miralax with it - I think that is called Movicol in the UK - and titrate the dose depending on how much pain medication she takes.

If that does not work, then we give her Milk of Magnesia. Her GI is ok with her taking Miralax daily - she was actually already taking it because she tends to have constipation with her Crohn's. We have just upped the dose since she has been on pain meds.

Good luck!
 
I take Miralax every day as well because I have issues with constipation. When I have a flare up and need Percocet (last year I was on long-acting morphine in addition) I just take more Miralax which evens things out. Hope you feel better soon.
 
Thanks all. My GP didn't give me anything like Miralax, maybe she is going to see how I get on as I've never asked for pain meds before. I'm sure I can get milk of magnesia over the counter if need be, thanks for the tip!

I'm just going to use the codeine very sparingly and hope for the best I think.
 
Also I think our pain meds are quite different, or certainly different names? We do have tramadol but that's given quite cautiously as I think there's a growing concern around people misusing it in this country.

I've heard of Vicodin & Percocet etc, but I have no idea if there's a UK equivalent to be honest. My GP said right from when I was diagnosed it would have to be paracetamol and codeine as obviously NSAID's are off the table [emoji19]
 

Maya142

Moderator
Staff member
They are probably the same with different names - Vicodin is hydrocodone, Percocet is oxycodone.

Here Codeine is actually not prescribed much and when it is prescribed, it's given as Tylenol (same at Paracetamol) with Codeine (in the same drug).

Miralax is over the counter here...It's called Movicol in the UK, I think. I didn't realize it wasn't over the counter.
 
My GI also recommends unsweetened prune juice for constipation. He suggests one glass a day for me. I have it in my refrigerator but haven't tried it yet; my Mom fed me stewed prunes 😝 when I was a child so I haven't had the courage to try but perhaps now is the time. I'll let you know how it works!
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
We tried prune nice for ds
His Crohns issue is constipation as well

Prune juice gave him horrid abdominal cramps
So he just takes daily Miralax
As well as soft canned fruits that start with p
Peaches /pears can help
 
Ah perhaps Movicol/Miralax is available over the counter, to be honest I'm not familiar with it so I wouldn't know. I'll have to ask in a pharmacy and judge from the look on their face lol!

I've never heard of either hydrocodone or oxycodone, nor know anyone who's had them prescribed. That's not to say we don't have these drugs on the NHS, they're just probably not commonly used in IBD. I'm aware of Tylenol, but I never knew it was paracetamol so that's interesting to know, thank you!

I've had pethidine and fentanyl before during colonoscopies (I really struggle with them) which didn't help at all, but thankfully the day to day pain is not as bad as scopes are. Just as well really because I can't see those drugs being given very readily!

Well prune juice just sounds awful, and I say that as a fruit and veg lover! [emoji23] I can barely tolerate any fruit or veg at the moment which is making me very unhappy, so I suppose prune juice would just cause more trouble. I have no idea where I would get it from, but if I see it I'll give it a try.

I would much rather my body is properly nourished instead of endless carbs/protein to keep weight on but at the moment that's a total no go. My issue is I'm not constipated every day, but I can get that way quite easily without realising. I do think I'm worse at the weekends and I definitely drink less water when I'm not at work so that may well be why. I'll have to try ensuring I drink more at weekends before anything over the counter I think.

Thank you all for your advice, it's much appreciated!
 

Bufford

Well-known member
Make a note of how many glasses of water you drink, and also note juices as well. I make it a habit to drink a lot of water, if I don't I get constipation problems and I have a colostomy. There are times when I think that I am getting enough, but then note that I could not remember the last glass of water, and my urine becomes concentrated.

I drink about 6 liters of water per day.
 
Make a note of how many glasses of water you drink, and also note juices as well. I make it a habit to drink a lot of water, if I don't I get constipation problems and I have a colostomy. There are times when I think that I am getting enough, but then note that I could not remember the last glass of water, and my urine becomes concentrated.

I drink about 6 liters of water per day.


Wow, that's a lot of water compared to what I drink. At work I will probably have 2-3 litres a day because it's available from a cooler, but when at home it's nowhere near this. In fact, I don't really drink water at all when at home, just tea. Definitely something to think about!
 
I drink tea at home all the time, and apparently it does count towards the recommended daily intake, even if it's caffeinated. Fruits and vegetables with a high water content also count. But I know I should drink more fluids. It's hard to keep track sometimes. How are you doing? You're supposed to start a biologic soon, right?
 
I drink tea at home all the time, and apparently it does count towards the recommended daily intake, even if it's caffeinated. Fruits and vegetables with a high water content also count. But I know I should drink more fluids. It's hard to keep track sometimes. How are you doing? You're supposed to start a biologic soon, right?


Haha well that was the plan yes! Currently flaring, FC over 600, hair coming out in handfuls etc.

Unfortunately the bloods they took to screen me for any nasties show I've been exposed to TB! Quite how I've managed that I have no idea, I was one of the last school kids to be vaccinated before they stopped doing it because the disease was considered eradicated.

So I'm waiting to hear back, they are going to contact a respiratory specialist and go from there. Probably evaluation and chest x-ray before biologics are even on the table again so that's incredibly annoying [emoji37]

But I can't complain, at least it's been picked up and will be handled accordingly. How are you doing?
 

Bufford

Well-known member
If I don't drink enough water I get very sluggish and tired, then the cramping begins. If I hold off too long constipation becomes a problem. I find myself reaching for the glass each time I go into the kitchen. I constantly take sips of water throughout the day, and carry a bottle of water from home. I reuse my water bottle and it important to wash it out and rinse with a bit of bleach each day to keep it sanitized.
 
Sophabulous:

My Mom always tested positive for TB and with every test had to get a chest X-ray. She never had TB, though. It just meant extra work. She's 95, though (healthier than I am!) so I don't know if things were that different in terms of possible exposure when she was young.

I'm hanging in there. Taking Entocort but feeling pretty lousy. Plus my GI is moving his practice as a precursor to retirement and though he's passing me on to someone who seems really great it still means there'll be an adjustment period. I haven't felt really well since my first hospitalization 4 years ago. I'm so sorry you have to wait to start something new. It seems like everything takes forever and when you're not feeling well the wait is endless.
 
Aw what a pain that must have been! Glad she’s ok though, she sounds like a tough lady to keep down [emoji6]

I’m just hoping mine was an anomaly, and the evaluation and x-ray shows no evidence. God knows what I’m going to do if I do have it, thankfully I’m taking the whole thing with baffled amusement! What will be will be I guess.

Sorry to hear you’re not right. I know exactly what you mean with these things, it’s hard enough dragging yourself through day to day life, without weeks of uncertainty and stress. Hope you get sorted soon x
 
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