Gosh, yes, I wasn't even thinking of the patch and its special issues ... good call, Christine! The instructions on that always make me so paranoid! But it sure helps. Also, doing any of those things while trying to apply it can cause some of the med to wear off early (you get it on your hands or whatever, and then you wash off your hands if you're following protocol) so it's not as potent. Connie, when I finally broke down and begged for help ... because even though I'd admitted pain, they weren't acknowledging how bad it was ... they gave me a shot in the office and then sent us home with a Fentanyl prescription. It was a lifesaver, truly. I was using my regular meds to get through stuff (I have some tough meds anyway for migraine and such) but it wasn't enough for radiation burn. At least, not for me.