Pain relief

hi all,

My dad has been battling pain for 6 weeks now, with it being very severe in the last 10 days and getting worse each day.  4 days ago, he was told he had bowel cancer, spread to lymph nodes and liver.  We are still awaiting biopsy and surgery....but till then we need him on some decent pain relief.  What do you recommend?  What kind of pain relief is needed when your insides are covered in cancer?  He is taking a paracetamol/codeine combination at the moment but that is doing absolutely nothing.  Dad is off to the doctor today.  He cannot sleep at night as lying down causes the pain to flare up even worse. I just pray his doctor gets him on something decent, because this pain is not helping him cope with the shock and fear of the Dx, it's making him increasingly depressed and we need to be positive, i know.

On Oct 26, 2009 10:01 PM mumof2boys wrote:

hi all,

My dad has been battling pain for 6 weeks now, with it being very severe in the last 10 days and getting worse each day.  4 days ago, he was told he had bowel cancer, spread to lymph nodes and liver.  We are still awaiting biopsy and surgery....but till then we need him on some decent pain relief.  What do you recommend?  What kind of pain relief is needed when your insides are covered in cancer?  He is taking a paracetamol/codeine combination at the moment but that is doing absolutely nothing.  Dad is off to the doctor today.  He cannot sleep at night as lying down causes the pain to flare up even worse. I just pray his doctor gets him on something decent, because this pain is not helping him cope with the shock and fear of the Dx, it's making him increasingly depressed and we need to be positive, i know.

Hi.

Sorry to hear what you are all going through.  I had similar when my Dad was diagnosed.

Once your Dad is in the system you need to push for better medication. I can remember pleading with someone to give my Dad more pain relief.  This becomes very stressful for the carers.  Looking back ,I think I personally spoke to Doctors,consultants and oncologists in the end to make sure my Fathers pain relief was adequate.  Make yourself his spokes person.  I took on that role and was glad I did.

When a person is first diagnosed I belive this to be the most testing time because the medical people have trouble assessing the pain the patient is having to endure.

Don't be afraid to speak up and ask for better pain relief, my Father survived on paracetomol for a while but I didn't feel it was right and needed more guidance for his care.

At least when they feel comfortable you can then at least feel a little more settled yourself.

Good luck and speak up and be heard 

Gail (UK)

Thanks Gail,

I have been stressing to mum to ensure she demands something significant in the way of pain relief.  Doctor is today, in 2 1/2 hours.

The last 4 days have felt like 4 years...and each day is measured in hours and minutes now.

sorry, just venting.

Thankyou  for your advice, i appreciate it.

Rebecca

On Oct 26, 2009 10:38 PM mumof2boys wrote:

Thanks Gail,

I have been stressing to mum to ensure she demands something significant in the way of pain relief.  Doctor is today, in 2 1/2 hours.

The last 4 days have felt like 4 years...and each day is measured in hours and minutes now.

sorry, just venting.

Thankyou  for your advice, i appreciate it.

Rebecca

Thoughts are with you all.

Let me know how it all goes, if you have time.

Good luck 

Gail (UK)

It is very important for his comfort level to be there and let the docs know he is in so much pain he cant rest that will have to be shoved in their face at times, our doc is freat they added a long acting morphine (sometimes you have to play with the doses a good doc will tell you that) along with his other pain meds for breakthrough pain. To much of the paracetomol can cause liver damage so be careful there. That is something he does not need right now! Ask for a longer acting med with the other in between. Get his meds under control if you dont he will get depressed and decide he does not want to go on this way. If you cant go to the doc with him call and talk to his nurse, mom is probably overwhelmed with the moment to moment struggles help her get things under control.

It would also help to request copies of his tests, lab results, and medication list. Get a folder keep it all together keeping the newest results in the front and ask questions to the nurse (she can get more done for you, she will be your best friend if you treat her as such) tell her that you need to understand what the next step is anytime anything changes. Compare all results of everything with what the previous results. Sometimes the docs miss things that need to be addressed. This is not on purpose but they do.

As a nurse (haven't practiced for 12 years) I know this is important, you need to get ahead of the game and stay there. 

 Hi everyone,

Dad is on morphine now which is giving him some well needed relief.  He has some slow release capsules for round the clock and some sevradol for his breakthrough pain.

First 2 days on the slow release was good, however last night and this morning he needed his other morphine for the breakthrough pain.

At least he isnt in as much pain and it makes the waiting for the colonoscopy much easier.

We're hanging in there.  The initial shock has worn off, however we are bracing ourselves for prognosis.