The following is a warning on the Co-codamol tablets I got from the hospital yesterday. I can't help but feel they are covering their bases, so if someone suffers from something whilst using it they can say "Well we did say on leaflets Side Effects section". Anyway here it goes:-
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Like many medicines Co-codamol Tablets BP 30/500 may cause side-effects in some patients when you first start taking them. The side-effects that some patients have had with similar products are feeling sick or being sick, constipation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, giddiness, excitement, difficulty in passing water, dry mouth, sweating, facial flushing, slow heart rate, palpitations, feeling faint on standing up, low body temperature, restlessness, mood changes, hallucinations, pinpoint pupils, pressure on the brain, skin rashes, or allergic, kidney damage and blood disorders.
If you have to take these tablets for a long time it is possible that you could become dependent on them and have withdrawal symptoms when you stop. This can also happen to babies born to mothers who have been given Co-codamol during pregnancy.
If you experience any other side-effects or feel that the medicineif affecting you badly, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Comments Closed:- The Reason I Posted This Article Was Because I Was Amused By The Side Effects, But Now Seems This Is Becoming A Medical Discussion. Please Use One Of The Many Medical Web-sites Or Consult Your GP If You Have Any Queries Regarding Co-codamol!
Update:- Have a Barium meal appointment on 5th November to see if they can find want caused my stomach pain on 2nd October.
Not sure what they will find, but I still believe was caused by the Slim-Fast shakes I was having up until 3 days before. This was the third time I had ended the slim fast plan and the third time I ended with stomach pain, but was worst on 2nd Oct.
I hope they do find something so I can continue losing weight without the worry of more pain!
Today I had my Ultra-Sound test. Depending how you look at it, it's good and/or bad news.
They found nothing.
This means they don't know what caused the pain yet, and I will have to go in for more tests, including a Barium Meal!
On This Day - 1954: Chataway beats 5,000m world record
Chris Chataway breaks the 5,000-metres world record by five seconds in the London v Moscow match at White City, West London.
I don't know what it is about unusal beds, but for me whenever I sleep in a bed other than my own I can never sleep properly. I woke around about 6am and decided to watch some T.V.
I continued writing some more for this blog with the minimal light I had from the bedside unit. At 6.13 the T.V. which I had loaded yesterday morning ran out. As I had been unable to get another card, I had to continue by just listening to the radio.
About 7am, a nurse on the ward switched on the lights at my end of the ward. A short while later she started the medicine round, starting with the guy opposite me, and then myself. I got a purple and white capsule and a brown pill although not 100% exactly sure what they were, I think one was an anti-inflammery and one was a pain-killer.
Before she had finished the round, one of the other nurses and a member of the catering staff started the Breakfast. Again today I had Bran Flakes.
Once I had finished that and my coffee, I look at my bedside unit which was now display a Free T.V. message. So I turned it to Dr.Who on UK Gold and hoped would last until it finished. It did. Not long after it finished they switched off the free T.V.
One of the nurses pushing a small trolley with lots of BioHazard signs on continers and bags came over and looked at my notes. She then said she needed to get some blood for some more tests. Memories of me being used as a Pin Cushion in A+E came flooding back. I hoped that they wouldn't go near my groin for the vein again. I told her about the way they got the blood in A+E and she said she would try an arm vein (one that the A+E didn't even try). So a tourniquet was put around my upper right arm it would stay tight, so I held one end tight in the hope that she would get the blood on the first try.
She asked me to clench my fist and hold. First try she managed to get the vein that A+E hadn't even tried and once extracted the blood, she transferred to 3 viles to go for testing. A small bandage was then placed over the wound and she said I could remove in about half an hour.
I then asked a nurse if the cannula needed to ramain in of if could be removed. She went off somewhere and I thought she had forgotten what I had asked as she hadn't yet answered. About 10-15mins later she returned with a kidney dish and said she could remove it. Once gloved up she Slowly removed the tape holding the cannula in place and most likely remove quite a few hairs with the tape. Then using a moist wipe she cleaned my skin surrounding cannula and proceeded to remove it. HURRAY!! She also placed a bandage over the cannula wound.
I waited about 1/2 hour then removed the bandages and went for a Shower. I had only realised yesterday that there was a shower, but even if I had noticed earlier, I could not have used as had the cannula in my hand.
By now was about 9:30-10:00 and the other guy suggested we spend a little while in the day room. We watched some crap Sunday morning T.V. show and I also went outside for about 5 minutes to have a cigarette, but smoked it quick as was cold. When I returned inside a nurse said that we should return to our beds as the doctor would be doing his rounds soon.
The doctor soon arrived at my bed although I wasn't expecting him too. He was a doctor who I hadn't seen before but had a very relax demeanour about him. He browsed through my notes then asked me similar questions about why I was there. I told him the same as I had told the other doctors. I had been on the Slim-Fast which I had been using for approx 2-3 months and this was the 3rd time I had stopped it for a few days and was eating sandwiches at my lunch time and for the 3rd time I had this pain in the right side of my chest. As was the 3rd time this I had had this pain, I was persuaded by my colleagues to seek medical attention.
He then did the same as the other doctors again, poking and prodding my abdomen and hissing through my teeth when he hit a tender spot. I told him that although the pain was still there, it was no way as painful as when I arrived on Thursday. He said that he thought I could go home today, and would book me for an ultra-sound scan and a barium test with which they can test whether the problem is to do my my stomach/colon.
A while later, I confirmed with the nurses I could leave and once packed I thanked all the nurses that were on the ward and said goodbye. I also said goodbye to the other guy on the ward. Then I made my way to the main exit and called for a taxi.
So at the moment I still do not know exactly what the problem is. It could be to do with the Colon, or maybe the Gall Bladder. I have still have more tests in Out-Patients to come, but as of this time, I have been told it's not a Hernia or to do with the Appendix. Hopefully I will find out soon and will write more about it here when I know.
On This Day - 1984: Drugs squad swoop on smugglers
Police and Customs in Essex seize Britain's biggest ever haul of cannabis made in a single raid.
5.30am I was awoken with a start by the radio on my unit blaring out. I managed to turn volume down and went back to sleep for an hour or so.
Was woken later in the morning by the wards main lights being switched on. On this morning when the breakfast trolley came around I had Bran Flakes.
I then went to get freshened up whilst the nurses made my bed. When I returned to the ward spent some time before lunch writing more of this, watching T.V. and doing the old favorite of doing Crossword Puzzles.
After Lunch the Guy in the bed opposite me, asked if I wanted to sit in the Day room for a while. On the other ward they were using it as a storage room, but on this ward it was usable as had chairs, and a T.V. (that just about worked). I stood out on the fire escape for a dew minutes to have a cigarette and just when we found something on T.V. to watch his relatives turned up. He went back to his bed, and I returned to mine, as the picture on the Bedside unit was better than the day room T.V.
About an hour later his relatives left and he asked if we wanted to go back to the day room and I agreed. Sod law was such for me, that once we were settled in to watching the day room T.V., my relatives turned up. It was my mum and my grandad. I returned to my bed (again) and I chatted for a while with my grandad.
He had just returned from a holiday in the South of France with my nan to visit my uncle who lives out there. If I had had the money, I would have gone before. Can't help but wonder if I had gone, whether I would have had to spend time in a French hospital.
Whilst my mum was there, I asked if she would be able to get some money from my bank card for me. Apparently there was a cash machine in the hospital my mum had seen, so didn't take her long to find it. Unfortunately the damn machine charged me £1.75 for the withdrawal. Should have asked her to pop into town to get it. We chatted a little longer, then they had to leave as my grandad had to take my nephew to a birthday party.
When they had gone, I returned to the day room, and me and the other guy from the ward finished watching some movie. I then said that I was off to get myself a card for the bedside unit to watch T.V. and to make Phone calls. The guy said he would join me as he didn't know where the machine was and had to get some cards himself.
Once we had informed the nurses on the ward, we headed down the ward and made a left to the machine. We soon found out that the machine would not accept our back notes. I had heard that there was a machine on the ground floor so suggested we head down there.
The lift we headed to the ground in was the ones that takes the beds. It looked slightly different in there as the 2 times I had used in before, I had been in a bed. As we got into the main corridor, we saw a sign for the machine and also for a the hospital shop. We headed for the shop first to get some change.
The first thing that greeted us was a large sign saying we don't give change for machines. So we made some purchases instead. I got a bottle of Diet Coke and also a "Take a Break" magazine for the puzzles. When we got to the machine the guy got his card, then I tried to get mine. The machine eventually accepted my £5 note and I got a £5 phone card, then I tried for a £10 T.V. card, but it just wouldn't take it. I decided to wait til tomorrow when there would be a PatientLine rep in the hospital. Cards in hand we returned to the ward.
Not long after returning tea was being served. After tea and just as was getting dark outside another of my colleagues turned up, which was a great surprise. He brought me a magazine to read and as had gone to the meal on Friday I had missed he brought in some photos he had taken with his digital camera. He had also printed some photo I had taken on my Nokia 7650 of his desk which we had decorated for his 50th birthday and I had e-mailed to him. He also brought me a PC games magazine for me to read.
We chatted for a while about work, my colleagues, and also about the meal I had missed. He stayed about an hour, but had to go as had not had any tea.
By now was about 8:45pm so I got into bed and spent the next few hours watching T.V. including The Vicar of Dibley and the Fame Academy Final (was only one of whole series I saw) and was glad Alex Parks won. I also spent time whilst watching T.V. writing some of the earlier Blog writings. A short while after the end of Fame Academy I went to bed.
1957: 'Sputnik' satellite blasts into space
A Russian satellite has been launched into space - the first man-made object ever to leave the Earth's atmosphere.
I was properly awake by about 7am. Obviously the first feelings were "Where the hell am I?". Eventually the memories of the previous day came to me and I remembered where I was.
Shortly after I was greeted by a "Morning". It was from the girl in the bed opposite me. I returned the greeting and got another burst of "Morning". This time it was a male voice from the bed next to the girl. We chatted for a while then the breakfast trolley came around. Wasn't a great choice (cereal, cereal, cereal, cereal, or bread and a spread). I settled for Weetabix.
Then for a while I did writing of this as well as listening to Kiss100fm on my portable radio. About 9ish the girl said she was going for a cigarette. I enquired if she would show me where we could smoke. She agreed and once I had some trousers and shoes on (still wearing gown) we went to the (unofficial) smoking area which was on the fire escape.
Whilst out there I took the opportunity to make a couple of phone calls on my mobile which I had taken out with me. I contacted home and my work to update them on my situation. The girl and myself alse chatted about why we were there. She was in for a gall bladder removal operation, which had happened a few days ago.
When we got back onto the ward the doctors / consultants / registars were doing the rounds. They got to me at some point and like with the other patients the curtains were drawn. The doctor who seemed in charge then asked me some questions before another barrage of prodding and poking.
This doctor seemed to think it could be to do with my colon or gall bladder and requsted a scan (ultrasound I think) be undertaken. He then added some more drugs for me to take. As I was the last patient he was visiting on my ward, after finishing with me the doctor and his onterage left the ward.
Later in the morning the girl said she was going for another cigarette. We had been chatting to the guy in the bed next to her about how nice it was to get some fresh air out there as the ward was hot and stuffy. He was aprehensive though as he was here as had a broken leg (tibia) and he would have to negotiate the full length of the ward.
Once he was up on the crutches (leg wraped in a splint) he hobbled along the ward with us and joined us on the fire escape. Whilst outside they both said that they would most likely be going home today. We stayed out there about 10-15 minutes then returned to the ward. On our return we found out we would be moving wards.
The girl checked with the nurses to see if she really go home. The doctors had said she could and soon was packed and dressed, ready for her mum to get her. Just before lunch her mum turned up and she had said goodbye to everyone she made her way home.
The maintenance crew started moving everything that wasn't screwed down like the lockers next to beds, bins, tables, etc and also things that were screwed down like white-boards, paper towel dispensers, etc. The patients (including me) had to wait to be moved. We soon learned was due because infection control had to determine the ward safe (should I be worried?).
Before we were moved, lunch was brought round. I had Fish (Haddock I believe) and Chips. After lunch I made sure I had packed everything for the move into bags which I left at the foot of my bed.
The infection control team soon determined the new ward safe and shortly after the maintenance crew came down to start moving us (the patients). They started moving the females first, so the other 2 guys and myself had to wait about 20mins.
The guy with the broken leg was moved up to the new ward with us even though he was going home as he had to wait for his wife to finish her shift elsewhere in the hospital.
On arrival on the ward was the notable addition of a small unit on a swing arm above the bed to watch T.V.(terrestial and basic digital channels), make and recieve phone calls (direct) and listen to the radio (http://www.patientline.co.uk).
The upside of the unit is you have free radio, breakfast T.V., and to recieve calls. The downside is you have to pay for T.V. (2hour=£2.00. 1day=£3.50 7days £20,00) and obviously to make calls (20units on a £2.00 card and 50units on a £5.00 card).
About an hour after arrival on the ward the guy with broken leg was on his way home when his wife finished her shift.
That left on my half of the ward a guy who had a stomach problem and was on free fluids (basically any liquids) and myself.
After I had my tea,one of my sisters and my mum came to visit. They brought a card, flowers (*) and some other items I had phoned for them to bring in.
*Off Topic (slightly):- Why do people bring in Dead (cut) flowers into hospital when someone is sick. Wouldn't it be better to give a Living Plant?
On Topic:- They stayed for a while chatting about my stay and what's happening on the outside world. An hour or so into their visit my colleague who had visited yesterday (Thursday) popped in for another visit.
This was a short visit as he would be off to the meal at the local restaurant for 2 of my colleagues who were celebrating their birthdays recently. One was 40, whilst the other was 50. As we are a Mad bunch at work it was advertised in our tea-room as the "90th Birthday Meal".
My colleague also brought in with him a copy of the Evening Standard and some fruit. He brought me upto speed on things at work aswell. We started a crossword in the ES but he had to leave before finishing it so he could get to the meal on time. My mum and sister left a little while later.
Not long after my family left I went to find the place I could purchase cards for my T.V./Phone bedside unit. I was told there was a vending machine on the ground floor (5 floors down). On the way to the lift I asked a member of the nursing staff who said that there should be a machine on this floor. They took me to the main corridor and down one of the side corridors was the machine.
I got myself a 1day T.V. card to watch some evening entertainment. When I got to my bed I picked up the reciever to register my details. Once details were confirmed, the operator said that my extention number would appear on the screen to confirm I was registered. 7, 8, 9pm came and went with still no details. Twice I picked up the handset but all I got was a recorded message saying to replace the handset as my details were being registered. In the end I gave up and went to sleep.
On This Day - 1952: Tea rationing to end
News of the end of tea rationing means Britions will soon be able to enjoy unlimited 'cuppas' for the first time in 12 years.
I awoke this morning early (about 3am) with abdominal pain on the right hand side. Later in the morning after a few hours of painful sleep I decided to venture to work thinking the pain would go away.
At first I was putting up with the pain (or not really noticing), but took the precaution of notifying my line manager. During my tea-break the pain felt worse and two of my noticed I was not my normal self. I told them about the pain and they suggested that I see my doctor and soon
I returned to my desk expecting to see my next client, but before calling them I decided to take my colleagues advice and ring my doctor. I found the number and contacted them for an appointment. At first I was offered 3 weeks (Sod That, I was in pain). So I asked for something sooner. I was then offered tomorrow (03/10/03) (Hello, I was still in pain). I asked for any appointment today. Upon enquiring the person said that they have one at 11:40 (Thank You).
So I checked with my line manager and after notifying her of work I had remaining I left for the appointment.
I phoned for a taxi and arrived about half an hour before my appointment. The first thing I noticed stepping out of the taxi was the surgery had changed since my last visit.
The entrance had moved from down a side alley to the front of building. They also had some hi-tech equipment in the waiting area, like a touch-screen system for checking-in (although wasn't working). Also there was an L.E.D. display for showing important surgery information and when the doctor is ready.
Eventually I was called in and I explained my problem. I was having pains in my right abdomen. After explaining in more detail he wanted a urine sample. Luckily I was all clear for diabetes and something else but can't remember what he said.
He then did a physical examination which involved prodding and poking my tender abdomen (OUCH). After a few more questions he said he didn't think it was the appendix or a hernia, but he was still unsure so contacted someone at the local hospital. The doctor had wanted to talk to the Registrar but they were unavailable so he spoke to an S.H.O. (senior health officer/official?).
He finished his chat and said that the best thing would be to go to the hospital for more tests. I was given a letter and made my way to the local hospital (I think this is where I realize I could have something serious wrong with me).
On my way to the hospital I tried phoning home but no-one answered, then contacted work to let know I was on my way to the hospital.
Upon arriving at A+E I reported to the reception. I then sat in the waiting area thinking I was going to be waiting a while. But only a few minutes later I was called in. I was then given a lovely hospital gown (ha ha), told to undress down to my underwear and put the gown on.
Once I was gowned up 2 nurses came to draw blood for tests. I mentioned that I have deep veins and after a few minutes decided to air on the side of caution and let the doctor insert the needle.
When the doctor arrived the nurses explained problem with my veins and he proceeded to try. He managed to insert a canular (needle) into my right hand. He was unable to get any blood, but a test with a saline solution found it could be used to give me medication so was taped down to secure it.
Another canular (needle) was inserted into my left hand, but again no joy in getting any blood. So then he had to try the vein near my groin. Luckily although it hurt to buggery he got the blood. He then informed me that I would need an X-ray.
I then waited god only knows how long (as I had removed my watch when I put the gown on) and then was taken to the X-ray department. I was taken there in a wheelchair and thank god as this gown was gaped open at the back. The X-ray room was nice and cool compared to A+E. They then X-rayed my abdomen.
I was taken back to A+E were I had another long wait. I saw lots of patients coming and going but I had to wait for the registrar.
I took the opportunity to ask to borrow the phone as I couldn't use mobile and needed to let my family (and work) know the score.
An eternity later the registrar turned up and proceeded with exam. After exam he suggested it could be the gall bladder or the colon.
To be on the safe side he said I should stay overnight for observations.
"I think I should mention that the doctors, registrars etc seems puzzled by the lack of any other symptoms (i.e. normal temp, normal blood pressure, normal blood count, normal toiletting, no sickness and so on), which apparently rules quite a few things out"
When the registrar had gone I asked again to borrow the phone so I could let family and work know the ward I would be on.
Sometime later I was taken up to my ward.
I was taken up on one of the A+E trolleys to the ward. When we arrived I was asked if I could move to the new bed. I said "yes" but wanted the curtain closed to retain some dignity whilst still wearing the gown.
A very short time after getting onto the ward the nurse came over to enquire what I would like for dinner. By this time I was ravenous and would have eaten anything. I have meatballs and mash with a trifle afterwards for pudding!
Whilst finishing my dinner my mum and 2 of my sisters turned up with some essentials that I had asked for. This included clothing, toiletries, book (Universe in a Nutshell by Professor Stephen Hawking), puzzle magazines, GameBoy (with Tetris game) and my mums Palm IIIx (which I am writing this blog article on now).
(I also at some point made a prediction that if anyone from work was to show up that it would be a specific male colleague. The reason being that whenever someone from work is ill in hospital it's almost a guarutee that he would be first to visit.)
I had to send someone to get some batteries for GameBoy, Palm IIIx and my radio.
One of my sisters asked if I had got the other book by Proffessor Stephen Hawking for which I had been given a £20 Waterstones voucher for. I had to admit I hadn't as I was still using the voucher as a bookmark.
I took the voucher out of the book and gave it to the sister who had asked the question saying next time your in town to get me a couple of DVD's (or if possible to get Star Trek Nemesis).
Not long after seeing what was brought the colleague I thought earlier may arrive, did.
We chatted for a while, but eventually they had to leave.
Before finally golng to sleep there was a coffee brought to me and some observations (temp and blood pressure) were taken.
During the night I awoke a few times due to the abdomenal pain and because of the blasted needle in my hand.
On This Day - 1968: Birth of sextuplets stuns Britain
A woman gives birth to six babies in what is being hailed as the first recorded case of live sextuplets in Britain.
It's now day 9 of my diet, which while I am sticking to, I am not religous about it. I have had the odd biscuit and last night had a round of Marmite on Toast.
But now it's 9.40am and I am looking forward to my 10.00 break, when I will have a Hot Chocolate SlimFast. I will (try) to go until the tin is empty and then I will stop the diet for at least a week.
I have started, albeit a not so strict, diet. I am doing the SlimFast diet. I have obtained some of the ready made tin of the Coffee Delight variety. They are slighlty wierd tasting as they say Coffee, but has an aftertaste of Toffee.
It is 7 o'clock and all I have had today is 2 tins of SlimFast Coffee Delight, a ShortBread biscuit, about 4-5 cups of coffee, and I am about to have a sandwich.
I have also done about 10km on my Exercise bike. It may not sound alot, but it shocked all the people who know me. :)