Human Guinea Pig???

Went to the doctors yesterday. I made a long appointment about 3 weeks ago, as I had a letter from the lab saying that my smear test was inconclusive and had to be done again. As the GP I had been seeing is on maternity leave, I saw another one of the same praxis. I insisted on a woman doctor, just don't entertain the idea of a man doing my smear. So I went in, she introduced herself and I was pleasantly surprised. One of the first things she said was, that she wouldnt be doing the smear tests, as it has been tried twice before, but due to my vaginal septum, they both were not good. She felt, that she didn't want to put me through another smear that possibly comes back inconclusive. So she is sending me to a gynaecologist. Very sensible, I think! But as there was a long appointment booked, she wanted to talk to me about my other problems, mainly the pain related issues. Sensible again!!! We had quite a long chat, with me saying that I didn't really appreciate being on such a load of painkillers (20mg Buprenorphine patches + Co-codamol up to 8 tablets a day). So we were looking into possibilities to reduce the pain otherwise. She also made me lay down on the bench and tested the movement of hip joints. Now contrary to the previous doctors, she thinks it is osteo-arthritis and not rheumatoid. But just to make sure, she had given me a form to take to the hospital whenever I want to have my right hand (where the most pain and discomfort is) x-rayed. Good! I am finally getting an assessment how far this arthritis business has gone. Then she proceeded to discuss more medication with me. I said that I would try anything that will make me come off the painkillers long term. So she prescribed some anti-inflammatory, which apparently doesn't affect the stomach so much, as well as an anti-epileptica, which supposedly helps against the shooting pains. I collected the meds straight after and started taking them last night, as advised. I felt fine yesterday evening. But a totally different story this morning! I woke up completely spaced out, didn't know what day it was, walked around very wobbly and had a banging headache. Now I don't know which medication to attribute it to. I don't want to instantly dismiss taking it, but I also don't want to be a zombie. My next doctors' appointment is not for 2 weeks, so I have decided to just for the moment carry on with the anti-inflammatory as that should help for the constant pain. I am supposed to take one a day, but will try to split the dose into two, half in the morning, half in the evening. My reasoning being, it won't be such a massive amount going into the body at one time. It is now 3.30pm, I have slept from 12 - 3 hoping it would get better, but I still feel spacey and light headed. I will take another half tablet tonight, and see what I feel like in the morning. If I am still this bad, I might try and get an emergency appointment. I don't like being like this, I need a clear head to get on with my day. At the moment I can't even face the outside world!!!

All this is very inconvenient too, as I have an interview with the Bristol Drugs Project on Thursday afternoon for a volunteers position, 1 day a week. This is very important to me and I don't want to mess it up. Hence a good thinking head is of the utmost importance. I have wanted to work for the BDP for a long time, and this will be my chance to get a foot in the door. So hopefully, I can 'sober' up for the meeting!!! I also have a hospital appointment with my Hep nurse on Thursday for the final blood results. Another reason to be clear-headed and articulate. 

Now I will go and take my dog for a walk. Maybe the fresh air will blast out the chemical cobwebs ....

P.S. The police raid the other day was not for drugs but for guns! Scary that one of my neighbours should possess them!!!