Had my surgery on 28th

LiseA
LiseA Member Posts: 266
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

it was brutal.  I'm still having a rough time due to insufficient pain medS.

I just wanted you all to know. Still too disoriented to write much.

 

 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
    surgery first for me

    LiseA,

    I am sorry you are having a rough time, but hopefully much better times are ahead.

    Disoriented is part of the “new normal” (just a little).

    Rest up and get better soon.

    Matt

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #3
    Hi

    Thanks for checking in. I have been thinking of you.

    Hope your docs are able to control your pain better so you can begin healing and get started on the road to recovery. 

    Gentle hugs!

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #4
    the_wife said:

    Hi

    Thanks for checking in. I have been thinking of you.

    Hope your docs are able to control your pain better so you can begin healing and get started on the road to recovery. 

    Gentle hugs!

    Anyone used Fentanyl

    Anyone used Fentanyl patch?

    ive been on it for several days.  

    Many issues?  i saw a post some weeks ago about using A hot pad and the dangers. Patch on right arm x

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #5
    LiseA said:

    Anyone used Fentanyl

    Anyone used Fentanyl patch?

    ive been on it for several days.  

    Many issues?  i saw a post some weeks ago about using A hot pad and the dangers. Patch on right arm x

    My son has for years...........

    It comes with many warnings and do not let anyone touch the one you remove, or the new one. No alcohol and read all the warnings. They can be very good when handeled properly.

    You might want to google it and it should come with a pamphlet from the pharmacy.

    Fentanyl

    Bill

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #6
    pain control

    Hubby used the patches throughout his treatment and into his recovery. He started on a low dose, then had to change to a higher dose. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call your doc or your pharmacist. 

    If your pain isn't being controlled by just the patch, ask for liquid oxycodone. In my husband's case, it was the only thing that helped with the pain in combination with the patch. It's important to work with your team to control the pain. 

     

  • slk2015
    slk2015 Member Posts: 54
    #7
    pain control

    I agree with the_wife:  If the fetanyl isn't working, let the doctor know.  They tried fetanyl patches on me in the hospital and the patches did nothing.  I made them remove the patch.  The only pain med they could find that worked for me was dilauded.  It took three days in the hospital experimenting before they figured this out.  My ENT did know I was resistant to most pain meds, but thought we could handle it.  Turns out, some things hurt a lot more than one anticipates.  A lot more.

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #8
    There are lots of options for pain meds...

    Keep talking to your doctors until you find the right one for you. Pain will interfere with your recovery.

    We went through fentanyl (150 mcg), Gabapentin, hydrocodone, dilaudid and methadone. I was never so happy as when I took the remainder of the meds and deposited them in the "safe return" box at the county sheriff's office when we finally weaned off them months later. 

    It WILL get better.

    Barbara

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #9
    Had an early post op appt

    Had an early post op appt yesterday and discussed pain.

    Doing better today.

    I am on 2nd round of ABX and developed lots of cottage cheese looking stuff in mouth. Doc didn't seem alarmed. 

     

    Said to keep swishing with solution and maybe use soft toothbrush on other teeth.  Mouth isn't quite wide yet, and he didn't want any facial exercises just yet.

     

    Thinkining of swishing with probiotics also.

     

    Thoughts anyone? 

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
    LiseA said:

    Had an early post op appt

    Had an early post op appt yesterday and discussed pain.

    Doing better today.

    I am on 2nd round of ABX and developed lots of cottage cheese looking stuff in mouth. Doc didn't seem alarmed. 

     

    Said to keep swishing with solution and maybe use soft toothbrush on other teeth.  Mouth isn't quite wide yet, and he didn't want any facial exercises just yet.

     

    Thinkining of swishing with probiotics also.

     

    Thoughts anyone? 

    I hate that

    There is nothing worse than not getting the correct dose of pain med, there is just no excuse for that these days. I live on Nucynta and Tramadol, it is not the best world but it has been working for me for the past 4 years.

     Anyway I am glad to see you are doing better

     

    Tim

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #11
    LiseA said:

    Had an early post op appt

    Had an early post op appt yesterday and discussed pain.

    Doing better today.

    I am on 2nd round of ABX and developed lots of cottage cheese looking stuff in mouth. Doc didn't seem alarmed. 

     

    Said to keep swishing with solution and maybe use soft toothbrush on other teeth.  Mouth isn't quite wide yet, and he didn't want any facial exercises just yet.

     

    Thinkining of swishing with probiotics also.

     

    Thoughts anyone? 

    If you are on antibiotics,

    If you are on antibiotics, the cottage cheese stuff may now be thrush. My husband had a few bouts of thrush during his treatment.  Nystatin helped with that. I would let your doc know. Keep hanging in there!

     

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    #12
    LiseA said:

    Had an early post op appt

    Had an early post op appt yesterday and discussed pain.

    Doing better today.

    I am on 2nd round of ABX and developed lots of cottage cheese looking stuff in mouth. Doc didn't seem alarmed. 

     

    Said to keep swishing with solution and maybe use soft toothbrush on other teeth.  Mouth isn't quite wide yet, and he didn't want any facial exercises just yet.

     

    Thinkining of swishing with probiotics also.

     

    Thoughts anyone? 

    Pain

    I'm glad you are doing a bit better. I was on 25mg Fentanyl patches and Hydrocodone liquid for a couple of months after treatment ended and I still had quite a lot of pain. It does get better slowly. For brushing your teeth, try a child's toothbrush. It's easier to get all the way to the back teeth and the bristles are softer. If you're lucky, you might find one on sale like mine. It lights up. Gotta have some fun in life!

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #13
    Pain Chart

    Fentenyl is stronger than Morphine, and Dilaulid is almost off the charts. My son was on dilaulid after his wreck. the first hour he was so high he didn't know what he was saying. the next two hours was ok, and the last hour was all pain. He should have been on a drip. He has 5 breaks in his back, broken hip, ruptured spleen, liver, and kidney damage. A long with broken arm head injury and road burns from sliding down the highway 90 feet.

    Here is a pain chart that can give you an idea what they are giving you

    http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/medicine/painkiller-comparison.htm

     

    Bill

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #14
    Feeding tube was removed

    Feeding tube was removed yesterday. Thank God I passed the swallow test. 

    we are returning home today, and will be back to MDA in a couple weeks. Hubby has to work and we are both tired of Houston and stuck in a hotel post op.

     

    Swelling of surgery area has begun. My mouth is lopsided. Pain is decreasing.  I have no idea yet what treatment will be coming up because not a word on path report. They did say it takes two weeks. For me, I don't want to know. I just want to be home and recuperate before dealing with anything else.

     

    They have not told me how long to keep the donor site bandaged or in cast, or much on mouth care.  I have to say that is my pet peeve with MDA.  Maybe it's the team i am with, but I have to keep prodding and digging for answers to my questions.  Maybe I'll ask about follow up care in my town until we return to Houston. 

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