Monday 21 April 2008 – Clinic appointment fixed, pain worse

I have made an appointment at my local hospital at the pain clinic and it cannot come soon enough. I am in so much pain now that it has gone beyond a joke, I know I have been doing a little more in the way of exercise than I have of late but I never expected the pain to increase this much. Added to that my stomach, probably my kidneys too, are being affected by the Pregabalin tablets, I am now trying to reduce my intake of them despite the pain, if it gets any worse I can always increase them again.

Still, on the bright side I have made a good start to the bowls season despite nearly crippling myself through bending down to roll my bowls. I know that playing bowls will not in anyway improve the scar tissue pains but I have become the size of an elephant on medication and through having an increased appetite, side effects of the tablets, therefore I am desperate for some form of exercise and a social life. I really do need to lose some weight though, that can only help my current situation for sure.

If I have not mentioned it before then I can recommend applying for a NHS Prescription Charge Certificate to assist with prescription charges if you live in the UK, it has saved me a small fortune in tablets.

Tuesday 15 April 2008 – At last, referral to pain clinic

It has taken me almost six months to get here but now that I am it is such a relief. I still have to take the Pregabalin tablets, they are still affecting my stomach with cramps digestive problems, but it will only be a matter of time before I can progress to something a little more powerful and hopefully more successful than the tablets when I eventually get seen at a pain clinic.

I have to fill out a form when it comes through from my GP and chose which hospital I wish to attend; this is part of a new government initiative on patient choice and waiting times. [Cooking the books to make people feel like they are in control more like!]