Susan,
I got through it without a feeding tube and if you are committed enough so can you (although we are a minority here). This typically involves substantially more pain, weight loss and slower healing. I have to be honest, I don't regret my decision to forgo the feeding tube but for most here it has saved their lives.

There are many different formulations of "Magic Mouthwash" as it is compounded by the ordering physician. Mine was Lidocaine, Morphine and Benedryl.

Fentenyl patches are always incremented in 25 mcg steps. Do NOT increase your dosage without specific instruction from the doctor and always follow, to the letter, proper usage, application and disposal. NEVER USE A DAMAGED OR TORN PATCH! Fentanyl is the strongest pain med there is and can be very dangerous if improperly used.

Speak with your nutritionist about constipation prevention right away - it is an ugly side effect of narcotic pain management. It can be one of the worst side effects from treatment, many times even worse than mouth sores.

Adding to your last post, anything that alters the pH factor in the mouth can trigger a yeast bloom. I was on Diflucan for many months (even took a maintenance doage). You want to avoid it getting into the esophagus where it can readily go to the stomach and become systemic. Candida (or thrush) can be fatal if it goes systemic, although it is not that common. It is very difficult to treat if it goes systemic.