Fentnyl Patches for Pain

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afraidinindy
afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has any one out there had success using the Fentnyl pain patches? They have my husband's at 75mg and plan to increase it today to 100mp in hopes of keeping him more comfortable. He is using Oxycodone for break-through pain. It seems his pain is increasing daily. When they first started the patches, he remained quite comfortable. The pain blocks didn't do anything. I just wonder where we go from here? Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

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  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
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    I knew a man that had prostate cancer with mets everywhere. He sat in his chair, refusing to take the appropriate level of pain meds because he was afraid of becoming addicted. He passed in great pain.
    If you haven't already, PLEASE get hospice started, my dear....if you have, stop here, don't read on...it doesn't apply...
    I was, as you probably read, VERY shaken last week with the death of my surogate son. I wanted to do everything I could for him while he was alive, and ignore the distinct possibility that he could lose his fight....
    Your precious love is desperate in his pain, please don't deny him anything....don't let him end up like my prostate cancer friend....

    All that said, I will do anything/take anything to avoid pain...for me, THIS would be MY hell...pain is like the thief in the night...it steals everything....
    Hugs to you for such very hard decisions.

    Just love him,
    Kathi
  • pepperdog
    pepperdog Member Posts: 96
    #3
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    KathiM is right; if you haven't contacted hospice, please do. There is no reason for your husband to suffer, there are meds that can help and they won't give up until they find what works for him.
    Pepperdog
  • uni522
    uni522 Member Posts: 46
    #4
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    pepperdog said:

    KathiM is right; if you haven't contacted hospice, please do. There is no reason for your husband to suffer, there are meds that can help and they won't give up until they find what works for him.
    Pepperdog

    Okay, I have to ask....
    my husband's on morphine slow release twice a day and a morphine immediate release for break through pain. It doesn't control his pain either. However, he's still doing chemo. I thought I read that you can't take chemo once you start hospice. Is that true?
    brittany
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #5
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    Hi,

    I do not have any answers regarding pain patches. Just wanted to let you know that your husband is in my prayers.

    I also want to let you know that I am thinking of you as well. I know this is a difficult time for you. I wish I could wrap my arms around you. My heart aches for you in this difficult time. You have many friends here praying for both of you. Keep posting and know that we are here for you.

    Betty
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #6
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    AuthorUnknown said:

    Hi,

    I do not have any answers regarding pain patches. Just wanted to let you know that your husband is in my prayers.

    I also want to let you know that I am thinking of you as well. I know this is a difficult time for you. I wish I could wrap my arms around you. My heart aches for you in this difficult time. You have many friends here praying for both of you. Keep posting and know that we are here for you.

    Betty

    Thank you - yes, it's tough but I'll do anything possible to help him. Sometimes I think I can't handle it emotionally, but I keep remembering the scripture that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thanks for your prayers.
  • afraidinindy
    afraidinindy Member Posts: 80
    #7
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    uni522 said:

    Okay, I have to ask....
    my husband's on morphine slow release twice a day and a morphine immediate release for break through pain. It doesn't control his pain either. However, he's still doing chemo. I thought I read that you can't take chemo once you start hospice. Is that true?
    brittany

    The Fentnyl seems to help my husband more than the morphine. Not sure regarding hospice - I know they can't be treating you for a cure but in my husband's case, there is no cure. I have not yet checked about hospice care. They are considering a different type chemo in an attempt to prolong life and provide more comfort (which I can't understand that one). Best of wishes on your husband's condition. I pray daily for a miracle for mine.
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #8
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    afraidinindy said:

    Thank you - yes, it's tough but I'll do anything possible to help him. Sometimes I think I can't handle it emotionally, but I keep remembering the scripture that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thanks for your prayers.

    I would also urge you to call Hospice. It does not mean that he is near the end or anything like that. It is just a way to get his pain under control and to take some of the burden off of you.
    I remember after my lung resection I was in the hospital in great pain. I was on IV Fentanyl and it made me have all of these really wierd dreams like that I was eating bras and throwing up staples! It was really horrible so I did not want to use the meds. The nurse was a real **** and she did not want to bother the doctor because it was the middle of the night! I kept on going out to the nurses station and telling her I was in pain and she kept telling me to "settle down". I wanted to choke her!
    Finally when I new nurse came in the morning she took care of the situation. It really sucked! And that was only one day.
    Then when I went home I was on Oxy and that made me very agitated with everyone. I just thought every single thing that came out of their mouths was stupid! I was ready to kill someone. Needless to say that is not a good thing,
    so I finally went to the pain management team, but by then I was already ready to get off the pain meds anyway. I just ended up taking Tylenol. I do much better with real morphine.
    Fentanyl is a synthetic morphine. That is all it is.
    Anyway, he probably needs to be on a totally different class of drugs. If his doc wont take care of it, hospice will.
    Just get on it and don't wait around any longer, the poor guy should not be suffering.
    Take care and best wishes,
    Susan.

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