As you will be aware, the Coronavirus pandemic is having a massive impact on the provision of elective healthcare nationwide and there will be major changes to how we provide care to our women in CEMIG during this time until normality returns.
All of our outpatient appointments have been changed to telephone appointments and we understand the limitations that this may bring for example not being able to perform examinations.
All ‘routine’ investigations will be suspended whilst the hospital delivers only Emergency and urgent care.
All non-urgent surgery has been suspended also. It is likely that the only planned surgery that continues is urgent cancer surgery.
We understand that for many of you this will mean continuing to manage often severe pain symptoms at home. Please do involve your GP for specific advice and in particular if you have other medical conditions. Pain management guidance is available on the webpage but the following is a ‘ladder’ of pain killing medications that for most women will be suitable;
Please be considerate of the current burden on GP surgeries. Neither the CEMIG team or your GP will be able to issue prescriptions for medicines that are out of stock such as paracetamol.
Our email address is: asp-tr.cemig.admin@nhs.net
Step One
- Paracetamol 1g four times/day
Step Two
- Ibuprofen 400mg three times/day
- This may be increased to a total of 2400mg/day in 3-4 divided doses.
Step Three
- Paracetamol + Ibuprofen (doses as above)
Step Four
- Replace Ibuprofen with Naproxen 250-500mg twice daily
Step Five
- Paracetamol + Ibuprofen/Naproxen + Codeine 60mg Four times/day
Severe pain
If your pain remains severe/or if you are unable to use the above medications and you feel like you are not coping then it may be appropriate to consider GnRH agonists such as Zoladex (Gosrelin). This medication reduces levels of oestrogen and produces an effect similar to the menopause. This has been shown to be beneficial in particular for painful periods. We will often use this in combination with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to minimise the symptoms and side effects. However, side effects are common and include;
- Headaches
- Hot Flushes
- Night sweats
- Irritability
- Bone thinning
- Mood disorders
- Vaginal dryness
During the coronavirus outbreak we are hoping to be able to continue offering Zoladex injections. Please contact us directly if this is something you would like to arrange/discuss.
Best Wishes,
The CEMIG team