My Sister's Physical Pain

Patti3435

Hi. On May 17th my sister Karen, age 46, had suboptimal debulking surgery after 6 rounds of neoadjuvant chemo. (DX 12/10, stage 3C). They removed her omentum, ovaries and tubes. They said that they couldn't get the uterus out because the bladder is attached? Anyway, 3 weeks post-op and her abdominal pain is increasing. She is worried that the cancer is growing. The doctor feels it could just be post-op pain but my sister says she is in as much pain as when she was first diagnosed (pain had subsided somewhat with her chemo prior to surgery). She is now considered platinum resistant. We are seeing the oncologist tomorrow for a new chemo plan. Any thoughts on this pain? Eating increases the pain also. She has lost 30 pounds since dx but she had some to lose anyway so she is not wasting away. I am worried about her pain as she usually never complains. She is on oxycodone and Aleve. Thanks everyone.

Radioactive34

Pain reflief
I hope her doctor is not stingy with pain meds. They cause constipation, but the pain can be intense. I had the surgery 6 weeks ago. The pain ebbs and flows for me. Thankfully the doctors so far have not been stingy.

I try not to use them much, but just having them gives me a sense of security. Have her sister advocate for herself. If you are in the exam room, try to reinforce the impact of the pain in a non agressive manner. That can be a challenge.

R34...Yoli

kikiz

Radioactive34 said:

Pain reflief
I hope her doctor is not stingy with pain meds. They cause constipation, but the pain can be intense. I had the surgery 6 weeks ago. The pain ebbs and flows for me. Thankfully the doctors so far have not been stingy.

I try not to use them much, but just having them gives me a sense of security. Have her sister advocate for herself. If you are in the exam room, try to reinforce the impact of the pain in a non agressive manner. That can be a challenge.

R34...Yoli

I am with R34 on the pain
I am with R34 on the pain meds. I was fortunate not to need many, but pain is both mentally and physically demoralizing. Without proper rest she cannot heal. I also know that although I was always a "meat and potatoes' woman, my Oncologist was still concerned about my weight loss because as she said, It is not just fat you are losing, it is muscels and nutritionally not sound.

I can't help with anything else but know there are many wonderful women who will have more knowledgeable answers.

Just know you and your sister are in my thoughts.

Hissy_Fitz

Oxycodone is highly
Oxycodone is highly addictive. While I agree that pain management is vital, you want to be really careful with the strong opiates, like Oxy.

I had lots of complications from my debulking surgery (hospitalized 16 days) and was on a morphine pump continuously for all that time, plus shots of Torgonol. When they sent me home, I had the Oxy, then after my incision had to be reopened and my back pain became so bad (from having to stay in bed or the recliner for hours on end), they gave me Fentanyl patches, on top of the Oxycodone. I would not use the patches and insisted that my doctor start stepping me down to lesser pain meds (like Vicodin 5mg).

When you have cancer, they will just throw meds at you - very strong ones, too. Since I planned to recover from the surgery and live awhile longer, I didn't want to become dependent on prescription meds. I saw that happen to my mom 3 times. She became dependent on Xanax and pain meds (she had compression fractures in her back) in her 70's, and she thought, because she came by her drugs legally, that she didn't have a drug problem. All three times, the doctors who gave her the pills were virtually useless when it came to getting her off them. I was so angry about that.

Carlene

Patti3435

Hissy_Fitz said:

Oxycodone is highly
Oxycodone is highly addictive. While I agree that pain management is vital, you want to be really careful with the strong opiates, like Oxy.

I had lots of complications from my debulking surgery (hospitalized 16 days) and was on a morphine pump continuously for all that time, plus shots of Torgonol. When they sent me home, I had the Oxy, then after my incision had to be reopened and my back pain became so bad (from having to stay in bed or the recliner for hours on end), they gave me Fentanyl patches, on top of the Oxycodone. I would not use the patches and insisted that my doctor start stepping me down to lesser pain meds (like Vicodin 5mg).

When you have cancer, they will just throw meds at you - very strong ones, too. Since I planned to recover from the surgery and live awhile longer, I didn't want to become dependent on prescription meds. I saw that happen to my mom 3 times. She became dependent on Xanax and pain meds (she had compression fractures in her back) in her 70's, and she thought, because she came by her drugs legally, that she didn't have a drug problem. All three times, the doctors who gave her the pills were virtually useless when it came to getting her off them. I was so angry about that.

Carlene

Thanks so much for your
Thanks so much for your replies. It really helps to know that there are other people who are on this journey that I can speak with when I need advice or help. Thanks.

Best Friend

Oh no!
I am just worried about the whole debulking surgery. My mother had a hard time dealing with the exploratory surgery which is nothing compared to the debulking. She needs removal of part of the liver, uterus, ovaries, tubes, spleen, piece of colon, piece of stomach, and her omentum. AAAHHH! I am worried cuz i have to go back to work or i will lose my job. I am thinking of how she will get around all day without my help. It was hard enough getting her through these first two chemos. I am worried she will just give up if she has this surgery. Also, i have to force her to take an advil. I told her that since she has never used any drugs or alcohol it is not wrong to take her vicodin. Say a prayer. I think she has one more chemo