I justdo not understand why I am feeling so bad...there is so much pain i am now on fentanyl patches 25mg plus Ordine for breakthrough and other stuff. I lie to my doctor and tell him that the patches help when they dont. I have sunk so low. I dont know what to do. I am two and a half years post treatment. Surely it should be better by now. I want to scream....my teeth have started falling out and they are so painful. There is so much other personal stuff going on. I want it to be over. I am so tired of the whole thing

Oh Margie, I wish I knew the words to say to make you feel better. Hang in there. There are people here on this site that will help, of that I'm sure. One thing I can say is don't lie to your doctor about the pain. If the pain is there then you need something to help. From a carer's point of view the pain is one of the worst things to watch. Once there is relief from the pain things seem much easier to bear. Just don't give up. Speak to your doctor about stronger pain meds please.

Wendy

Margel,

I never was on the patch but from what I've read 25mg is about the lowest they ever start someone on. Also NEVER lie to your doctor during this ordeal. How in the world can he begin to Tx your symptoms if you aren't truthful to him.

Margel

time to step up to the 50mcg with the option of the 75mcg patches, As David noted, 25mcg are just "trainer patches" for severe pain. Confession is good for the soul, so contact your Doctor asap and tell him what is really happening and ask for an upgrade. Read some of EricS's posts about heavy duty patches and pain pills and you will see you are relatively speaking just taking aspirin for a broken bone.
good luck
charm

I believe we have had people at the 200 level and I believe I read that they go as high as 500.

They sure do !!!

Margie, It's time to make the sads take a stroll away from you. Tell you Dr about the pain and your frustration. You might need some meds for depression as well as stronger patches or pills. My teeth broke off and fell out, and yes I miss them, But you and I are both alive and can tell about the pain and frustrations it causes. I was given 25 Fentanyl Patches too and they are in my dresser drawer because they were just too weak to do any good. Ask your Dr for some stron Magic mouth Wash . It acts on the pain rather quickly but doesn't last that long. Time for a pill to take hold tho. Good luck and cheer up for you and your family plus your family here. I do understand where you are coming from.

Margie,

You should be honest with your doctors. Unless you tell them what is going on, how would you expect them to know what you are going through?

What action plan do you have to fix your teeth? A few months ago you were asking about HBO. Did you look into the HBO treatments??

Karen

Karen The docs are still working on what to do re my teeth, the latest idea is that they will remove them one at a time when they get too loose, so no HBO. They will not take all the teeth out because they are concerned that my jaw and chin may get serious infection and that would require surgery again. So, I am waiting to hear when I go in to have the first of my teeth removed.

Thank you all for your kind words.

Margie

Margie

That is ashame that they are not recommending HBO. HBO Treatments before any dental work to remove teeth and/or after any dental work, especially when radiotherapy has been involved, helps to heal the wound site and helps prevent infections.

Have you been to another specialist for a second opinion? It is just that if you are in so much pain, as you were back in May - 5 months ago, it might be worth checking that out and getting some advice from someone else.

I had a problem with one of mine aching after radiotherapy, and they immediately got an xray and removed it then and there on the spot.

Karen