So...I completely screwed up the changing of the Fentenyl patch. I missed it by 33 hours - overdue. Ugh! My husband's resting pain level climbed back to an 8.

Sucks! Along with a lot of other explitives.

Ugh!

Just getting this out of my head. I'm fine, but I hate that I messed this up.

It takes up to 24 hours for the fentayl patch to kick in. Ive noticed that when I had forgotten to make the switch, it only took about 12 hours for the new patch to kick in. Hopefully this is the same for your husband and he will see some relief very soon.

Make charts for meds, water, calories, etc. Keep it some place where its visible and you have to physically check things off thru out the day. This will help you to remember when to change the patch. You could put reminders on your cell phone to alert you when its time to change the patch.

Best wishes with everything!

Thanks. We are diligent in tracking everything - down to creme getting applied to his neck area. Somehow one of us marked it had been handled and it wasn't. This is chemo week and chemo brain is in full effect.

Fingers crossed we get to the other side of this quickly.

Julie, It's almost impossible to get through this without some type of slip-up. We had instructions to force fluids during a certain period of time - easy with PEG, right? Too easy, my husband ended up vomiting. I blamed myself for not adding in amount of water required to flush tube each time and I am an RN.
I made a color coded system for meds, fluids, etc.

I often thought that for medical personnel to understand how difficult this is they need to take a patient home with them and be responsible for their care 24/7 outside of a medical facility. Remember all the things you do right!

Thank you very much for your kind words and understanding ... there is so much to be managed!

Please don't beat yourself up or be hard on yourself. Consider this a learning experience, rather than a mistake. There's soooo much to learn, manage and adapt to...not to mention how hard all of this is on the caregiver.

I am, or was...a personal, in-home caregiver, until my DX and surgery. To now watch my significant other/caregiver, as he tries relentlessly to do everything 'right'...I remind him daily...there really is no right or wrong. We're in this journey together, a first for BOTH of us. I do very much worry about how this effects him. The struggle is real!

Take deep breaths and five yourself a gentle, loving pat on the back, hun. You're doing an AMAZING thing...a gift of purest LOVE! (((HUGS)))

finger crossed getting to the other side for you is quick. We are at the beginning stage of this side and it scares me for what is yet to come...... ugh.

sending you good wishes and healing thoughts.... to your husband.

Julie, have you asked your doctor about Fentanyl suckers? My husband is on patches and sometimes, even if you change them right on time, it's not enough. The suckers are great for break through pain so if you and your husband forget a patch change in the future, he could have his sucker and not be in so much pain while his patch was changed out.