At the end of my radiation treatments 6 1/2 weeks on, I started using Morphine like pain patches that you wear for 3 days at a time. This was because of a very sore palate and tongue. Please be careful of constipitation. It can happen very fast. I suffered a few nasty, "very painful" bouts of it before using stool softeners etc, to control it. The doctors warned me but I just didn't pay close enough attention.

If the constipation results in painful fissures, ask your Dr about using an ointment called "Nitrobid"...

It is EXTREMELY POWERFUL!!!!! Only use a teeny tiny itsy bitsy dab on the site where pain is most intense (anal). MAKE SURE YOU WEAR rubber gloves and keep the tube in a ziplock bag marked DANGER with masking tape, or large marker, etc.

One time Seth thought it was his hydrocortizone cream and nearly died trying to wipe it off!!

Anyway, it will induce a limited pressure headache, but speeds healing of the tissues by as much as 80%.

The trouble with stool softeners, is that our bodies are very adaptable, and after just a couple of days can require more and more to achieve the same results. Then, after some time, they may even have what is called the "phenomenon of reverse effect", or somthing like that, where the softeners themselves can make you constipated.

A good fiber suppliment can help with this, and doesn't have the resistance problems, but I don't know if this is contraindicated in radiation tx. I'd imagine not, but ask you Dr to be sure.

Just thought I'd mention it in case the pain meds result in dreaded painful constipation.