"Trying to get pain relief"

I was admitted in late March to the Bruce Suite for an operation to remove kidney stones. I was met by a lovely nurse and an overseas transfer from Finland, everything went according to plan, my surgeon explained everything about the op and options and I signed the consent form. Later after the operation I had a different nurse who was pleasant enough then my surgeon gave me the thumbs up that all had gone well. The nurse asked if I'd like tea n toast, I said I would smelling the lovely aroma coming from the patients across from me enjoying their toast.  Unfortunately, I was given pure black burnt toast and horrible tea. She then asked if I had painkillers with me, went into my bag and gave me 2 tramadol. At tea time the dinner trolley arrived and 2 courses were given out to some patients including the young man to my left who replied to the nurse that he wasn't really hungry. I was informed I'd be discharged later on, which came as some surprise as I had been told I'd be in for 2-3 days. Although I was still in pain I thought I'd be as well at home as I was taking my own painkillers anyway and the op being successful. The nurse who discharged me couldn't believe I had been given no dinner especially after having to fast for the op, she was full of apologies and wanted to make me something to eat but as my husband had just arrived I said I'd get something at home.

Once home I suffered in pain until the Saturday morning, when the pain got so bad I collapsed at the bottom of my bed continually vomiting, my husband phoned for an ambulance. The ambulance crew were first class, I was given anti sickness and morphine injections, when he wasn't satisfied the pain had lessened enough I was given another morphine top up. I was then taken to Crosshouse Hospital was checked out then transferred to Ayr. I eventually ended up in station 4 where every nurse there was so nice and helpful but for one thing. They don't seem to have any authority to dispense pain relief. Paracetamol is pushed on you, which does nothing for real pain and only constipates, where in my case seemed ridiculous as they knew that I hadn't had a bowel movement from before my operation. Sometimes I was given along with 2 paracetamol 1 tramadol, sometimes 2. You felt you had to beg for pain relief and it wasn't only me, I watched women and girls doubled up in agony crying for hours before anything was given, the nurses would sympathise and comfort the patients but couldn't give any pain relief until God knows who on high dispensed it. On the night I myself received this manna from heaven called morphine, after being doubled up in unbelievable pain which I found out was caused by the removal of my stent scraping what was already badly inflamed. I thought although I still had some pain it was easier and I could maybe have a much needed sleep, but no, a doctor appeared who said he'd like to flush everything through so put me on 6 hourly drips which caused me to get up to the toilet every 5 mins, this went on all night until the last drip at 6. 10am. Honestly you couldnie make it up, it's quite laughable really. I should also add that all this time from my operation I was on antibiotics for a urine infection, it was obviously not working but I was kept on it until the day before my discharge, I still have the infection now along with thrush that's also in my mouth which is bleeding, and cracked and blistered lips.

I came home in early April still in pain. On Friday I was in excruciating pain then for 2hrs had sickness and diarrhoea, sweating all over but shivering, couldn't get a heat in me at all, stayed under the duvet & blankets only getting up for the toilet frequently due to irritation, my urine infection & thrush. Husband wanted to call doctor but wouldn't let him as I knew I'd end up back in hospital which I felt does nothing I can't do myself.

Today I am slightly better, still have awful irritation, my mouth and lips are raw but I did manage a little breakfast. Still in pain but bearable, getting there hopefully.

I wonder if there's a shortage at this hospital for pain relieving drugs or if a re assessment of how it's dealt with towards patients in real pain? It felt like asking for morphine at Ayr Hospital is like asking for gold dust. If you can't get the pain under control then you can't heal! It's the pain that pulls you down, get rid of that then the rest is easy.

I don't know if anyone will actually read this, but if you do I apologise for the length as I'm not so good on editing.