#75696 06-15-2008 08:03 AM | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 117 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 117 Likes: 1 | The doctor put me on Codeine/APA 12-120mg/5ml EXL. "Take 15 to 30 ML every 4 to 6 hours." This helped a little.
But I was still in a lot of pain. So he switched me to Morphine Sulf. 20mg/ml soln. "Take 0.25ml every hour until pain is controlled. Then take every four hours." I took it once an hour all day yesterday, except for when I was napping. It had zero affect on me. I'm not sure I'm even going to bother with it today.
Do you know of something I can suggest to the doctor that might actually work? My main concern is the pain in my throat area.
Squamous cell carcinoma base of tongue. Lymph involvement unclear; staging placed at "2 or 3." Biopsy 4/18/2008. Treatment: IMRT every day for 7 weeks. Cisplaten once a week to sensitize cancer to radiation. Treatment ended 7/16/08. PET/CT shows no more cancer.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Pain control is an integral part of the treatment for oral cancer,and you shouldn't need to suggest things to a doctor,he should be giving them to you.When pain is not being controlled then you need to request an appointment with a pain management specialist and don't give in until you get the medication you need.
liz
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 | My husband has recently started the Fentanyl patch. He is much calmer now but constipation is a wicked side effect for him. This whole disease is such a trade off.
cg to husband, 48 Stage 1V head and neck SCC. First surgery 9/07. Radiation and several rounds of chemo followed. Mets to chest and lungs. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Went home to God on February 22, 2009.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I'm not suggesting anyone do as I did but every pain management variation they tried for me created more problems than the pain so I finally just stopped the pain pills and got rid of all the other baggage like constipation and nausea and dehydration and for me it was worth it even though the pain was sometimes pretty bad.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Robin must have been blessed really because with all the pain meds he was on (co codamol,diclofenic,oramorph,morphine sulphate,fentanyl,paracetamol)he didnt suffer any side effects,and constipation was never a problem because i put 15 mls of stool softner in his peg every day.
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 104 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 104 | Andrew111, Cookey is right, you should not have to suggest medication to the doctors but definitely let them know you are in pain and what is, and is not working. Usually they start with the mildest of pain medication and then step it up to stronger ones as needed. Pain control is a team effort, your job to let them know you are in pain, doctor's job to do something about it. I would hope you have ready access by telephone or at your appointments to let your needs be known. Do not be shy about asking for what you need, treatment is hard enough without enduring discomfort that is avoidable. Side effects of narcotic analgesia are drowsiness which usually subsides in a couple of days as your body adjusts, nausea and constipation. Anti-nausea medication and laxatives should be taken routinely when using narcotics to prevent those side effects. If you are on tube feeding you could also ask dietician for a formula with extra fibre, also keep well hydrated.
Caregiver to husband Dx. Stage 4 SCC of gingiva with 3 nodes pos. Partial mandiblectomy with bone graft from iliac crest Dec. 2006. IMRT x30, Cisplatin x3. Completed Tx. March 15, 2007. Osteonecrosis & removal of graft & plate Oct. 2007. Recurrence of SCC Dec. 2007. Deceased Jan. 17, 2008.
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