Pain Meds

Within 2 weeks my father went from aspercreme (my father's idea) to darvocet to oxycontin (15 mg to 20 mg). The 20 mg was supposed to be every 12 hours which worked for about a day (according to my father). His oncologist suggested give him the 20 mg every 8 hours which worked but it made him very unsteady on his feet, confused, lethargic with labored breathing. He was brought into the hospital last Saturday and has spent the last 3 days in rehab.  Sometimes, he is fine but sometimes he gets so confused.

My sister will be speaking to the oncologist on Monday to change the meds. These pills are obviously too strong since he cannot function.  I do not believe that he is at that point yet.  The physical therapist told my sister that he is doing very well with therapy - better than she expected.

I saw him tonight and after a minor confusion episode he was fine except for the cracklely breathing again. I want him to be comfortable but I do not think that he needs such strong meds at this stage in the game.

 Tracy

On 5/31/2008 TracyR wrote:

Within 2 weeks my father went from aspercreme (my father's idea) to darvocet to oxycontin (15 mg to 20 mg). The 20 mg was supposed to be every 12 hours which worked for about a day (according to my father). His oncologist suggested give him the 20 mg every 8 hours which worked but it made him very unsteady on his feet, confused, lethargic with labored breathing. He was brought into the hospital last Saturday and has spent the last 3 days in rehab.  Sometimes, he is fine but sometimes he gets so confused.

My sister will be speaking to the oncologist on Monday to change the meds. These pills are obviously too strong since he cannot function.  I do not believe that he is at that point yet.  The physical therapist told my sister that he is doing very well with therapy - better than she expected.

I saw him tonight and after a minor confusion episode he was fine except for the cracklely breathing again. I want him to be comfortable but I do not think that he needs such strong meds at this stage in the game.

 Tracy

 Hey There,

I'm not a doctor, of course. However, it
looks to me, (after having read your post)  that perhaps your father
needs to see a good pulmonary doctor. Such a doctor will examine your
father and find out why he is having a hard time breathing. He may be
put on oxygen, as I am on.

Talk with his Oncologist, and see
what he/she thinks about this option. Then, if his doctor is OK with
it, have him/her recommend a good pulmonary doctor for your father.
They may even make an appointment for your father, with such a doctor,
for ya'all. 

I can only speak for myself. I have a high respect
for my 'oxygen tanks.'  An inhaler may be another method that the
doctor would want your father to use as well. Just go see a good
pulmonary doctor. Ya'all won't regret it. 

I found out that I
have only a 35% oxygen level, through my pulmonary doctor. Plus, it was
'he' that found a dark spot on my lung, that looked suspicious  to
him.  If not for him, my extended small cell lung cancer, with mets. to
my liver and bones, would never have been found. Thus, I would not have
been treated for it. If, your father was my father, dear, I'd take him
to such a doctor, ASAP.

I pray that all goes well for your
father and all of ya'all. Keep in touch and let us know how your father
fairs through it all, please. Take care. Hugs.

My Best to You,

Rosie

Savannah, GA.

Hey,

I'm not a doctor, of course. However, it looks to me, (after having read your post)  that perhaps your father needs to see a good pulmonary doctor. Such a doctor will examine your father and find out why he is having a hard time breathing. He may be put on oxygen, as I am on.

Talk with his Oncologist, and see what he/she thinks about this option. Then, if his doctor is OK with it, have him/her recommend a good pulmonary doctor for your father. They may even make an appointment for your father, with such a doctor, for ya'all. 

I can only speak for myself. I have a high respect for my 'oxygen tanks.'  An inhaler may be another method that the doctor would want your father to use as well. Just go see a good pulmonary doctor. Ya'all won't regret it. 

I found out that I have only a 35% oxygen level, through my pulmonary doctor. Plus, it was 'he' that found a dark spot on my lung, that looked suspicious  to him.  If not for him, my extended small cell lung cancer, with mets. to my liver and bones, would never have been found. Thus, I would not have been treated for it. If, your father was my father, dear, I'd take him to such a doctor, ASAP.

I pray that all goes well for your father and all of ya'all. Keep in touch and let us know how your father fairs through it all, please. Take care. Hugs.

My Best to You,

Rosie

Savannah, GA. 

On 5/31/2008 TracyR wrote:

Within 2 weeks my father went from aspercreme (my father's idea) to darvocet to oxycontin (15 mg to 20 mg). The 20 mg was supposed to be every 12 hours which worked for about a day (according to my father). His oncologist suggested give him the 20 mg every 8 hours which worked but it made him very unsteady on his feet, confused, lethargic with labored breathing. He was brought into the hospital last Saturday and has spent the last 3 days in rehab.  Sometimes, he is fine but sometimes he gets so confused.

My sister will be speaking to the oncologist on Monday to change the meds. These pills are obviously too strong since he cannot function.  I do not believe that he is at that point yet.  The physical therapist told my sister that he is doing very well with therapy - better than she expected.

I saw him tonight and after a minor confusion episode he was fine except for the cracklely breathing again. I want him to be comfortable but I do not think that he needs such strong meds at this stage in the game.

 Tracy

 Hey There,

I'm not a doctor, of course. However, it
looks to me, (after having read your post)  that perhaps your father
needs to see a good pulmonary doctor. Such a doctor will examine your
father and find out why he is having a hard time breathing. He may be
put on oxygen, as I am on.

Talk with his Oncologist, and see
what he/she thinks about this option. Then, if his doctor is OK with
it, have him/her recommend a good pulmonary doctor for your father.
They may even make an appointment for your father, with such a doctor,
for ya'all. 

I can only speak for myself. I have a high respect
for my 'oxygen tanks.'  An inhaler may be another method that the
doctor would want your father to use as well. Just go see a good
pulmonary doctor. Ya'all won't regret it. 

I found out that I
have only a 35% oxygen level, through my pulmonary doctor. Plus, it was
'he' that found a dark spot on my lung, that looked suspicious  to
him.  If not for him, my extended small cell lung cancer, with mets. to
my liver and bones, would never have been found. Thus, I would not have
been treated for it. If, your father was my father, dear, I'd take him
to such a doctor, ASAP.

I pray that all goes well for your
father and all of ya'all. Keep in touch and let us know how your father
fairs through it all, please. Take care. Hugs.

My Best to You,

Rosie

Savannah, GA.

Hello

He does have a good pulmonary doctor who originally wanted him to get further testing 5 yrs ago for the spots on his lung. When he last saw him in March he put him on Symbicort.  He hasn't seen him in a while so hopefully when he gets out of the rehab, he will be able to see him.

He started his radiation today.  Due to his confusion, my sister and his doctor decided to give him oxycontin 2 times a day (instead of 3) and then a filler of percocet every 6 hours.  He was very tired today during his treatment and asked my BIL who is doing his treatments "how is the dog" - no one owns a dog and my sister found out that they have my father a percocet @ 6am - a oxycontin @ 8am - a percocet @ 10am.  He was very out of it. He seemed ok tonight (according to my sister and mother).