Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry to read about the pain not being managed better. Being in that kind of pain is not at all helpful to a patient. It actually makes this whole thing so much more difficult.
I suggest upping the fentanyl to 50mcgs or even 75 mcgs. This type of medication needs to be slowly changed weather going up or down. At 25 mcgs its a very low doseage. When I was about where your husband is in his treatments my fentanyl patch was at 150mcgs. I only needed the stronger dose for about 10 days before I was able to step it back down to 50mcgs. Then the patch was gradually reduced again 2 more times before eliminating it altogether.
Hang in there, this is the hardest part of treatments for about 3 more weeks. Best wishes!!!
PS... Dont forget to take good care of yourself too. Caregiving is a tough job! Try to set aside some time just for you even if its a walk around the block or going out to lunch with friends. You will find that hour or 2 can make you feel like a new person. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive |