Latest lab results not what I hoped for

HellieC

Ro10 said:

Still having the cough frequently at night

The hydrocodone did not help me sleep when I am awakened at night with the coughing.  I called the onocologist today to see if I could try a trial of the Gabapentin to see if the laryngeal nerve was damaged by the radiation.  Unfortunately the nurse makes all her phone calls at the end of the day.  The doctor did approve the Gabapentin, but it was too late to pick it up at the pharmacy.  So I will start it tomorrow.  He started me on 100 mg three times a day.  I sure do help it helps.  I am still looking for a full night's sleep.

the most frequent side effects are nausea or fatigue.  since I tend to get nauseated my husband said " do you want to cough, or be nauseated".  There is something for nausea, but the cough medicines sure are not taking care of the cough at night.  He is ready for me to stop coughing also.

I am down to 40 mg of Prednisone daily.  I took 60 for 6 days since the cough was not better at night.  I don't like the hunger and weight gain with the prednisone.  Hopefully it is helping the pneumonitis.  The CAT did show scar tissue in the lung, so whether that means the pneumonitis is better or resolved, I don't know.

My husband did order a wedge to use when in bed.  I start out the night in bed, but have not been able to stay there all night.  I move to the recliner, so I don't disturb my husband all night?  

Keep the prayers coming that the Gabapentin stops the cough at night.  I will definitely thank the pharmacist that suggested it.   I am sure if I would have stayed in Florida and followed up with that lung doctor would have suggested this whenthe cough did not improve.  

Thanks again for your well wishes and prayers.  In peace and caring. 

Any news on the Gabapentin, Ro?

Any news on whether the Gabapentin is helping, Ro? I've been thinking about you and wondering whether you are managing to get the cough under control and get some sleep.  This has gone on so long you must be very weary and fed up with it all.

Thinking of you
Helen

elpasorudy

A shining example

Ro,

You are a terrific role model. I admire your attitude and fighting spirit. Thinking of you, sending positive vibes your way ... Sounds like there's a wonderful vacation in the works.

Ro10

elpasorudy said:

A shining example

Ro,

You are a terrific role model. I admire your attitude and fighting spirit. Thinking of you, sending positive vibes your way ... Sounds like there's a wonderful vacation in the works.

Thanks for the encouragement and comments

i can't tell that the Gabapentin has done anything for my cough.  I still get awakened every night and then it wakes me every hour.  I have had a few hours of sleep some nights, but mostly it is not good sleep.

i called the doctor to see if I could increase the dosage to 200 mg three times a day.  He said I could increase it.  I sure hope it starts working soon.  The codeine cough syrup, Tessalon perles and hydrocodone is not stooping the cough?  It is frustrating.  I see the pulmonolgist on Wed.  Hope he has a solution.

hope you all are doing well.  You all remain in my prayers, as well as your caregivers.  I know this is hard on them, too.   In peace and caring.

HellieC

Ro10 said:

Thanks for the encouragement and comments

i can't tell that the Gabapentin has done anything for my cough.  I still get awakened every night and then it wakes me every hour.  I have had a few hours of sleep some nights, but mostly it is not good sleep.

i called the doctor to see if I could increase the dosage to 200 mg three times a day.  He said I could increase it.  I sure hope it starts working soon.  The codeine cough syrup, Tessalon perles and hydrocodone is not stooping the cough?  It is frustrating.  I see the pulmonolgist on Wed.  Hope he has a solution.

hope you all are doing well.  You all remain in my prayers, as well as your caregivers.  I know this is hard on them, too.   In peace and caring.

Grrrh!

Grrrh!  I had hoped that the Gabapentin was a way forward for the cough - I hope that an increased dose helps, as the initial dose was quite low.

Good luck for Wednesday - I, too, hope your pulmonologist has a solution.  This has gone on far too long and you must be getting desperate for something to help.

You're in my prayers.
Helen xx

Cindy Bear

Hello

Hello Ro. I don't come here very often anymore.. just once in a great while to check on the lovely ladies on this board.. it's hard to believe next month , My mother will have been gone 6 yrs... it hardly seems possible. You remain in my thoughts and prayers as well .. hoping you get some answers, and some resolution soon.

 

Cindy

nancibee

Ro10 said:

Thanks for the encouragement and comments

i can't tell that the Gabapentin has done anything for my cough.  I still get awakened every night and then it wakes me every hour.  I have had a few hours of sleep some nights, but mostly it is not good sleep.

i called the doctor to see if I could increase the dosage to 200 mg three times a day.  He said I could increase it.  I sure hope it starts working soon.  The codeine cough syrup, Tessalon perles and hydrocodone is not stooping the cough?  It is frustrating.  I see the pulmonolgist on Wed.  Hope he has a solution.

hope you all are doing well.  You all remain in my prayers, as well as your caregivers.  I know this is hard on them, too.   In peace and caring.

Gabapentin

Unfortunately Gabapentin will not do anything for the cough no matter how high the dosage. It is an anti-epileptic seizure medicine proscribed off-label for neuropathy. One of the side effects is drowsiness and studies have shown that it improves slow wave sleep. So my doctor (psychiatrist) prescribed it for insomnia because ambien didn't work through the night. I take 600-900 mg. about an hour before bedtime. I do not take it during the day. It helps me sleep through the night even when I am having an MS exacerbation that makes me pee every hour when I am lying down. I would try taking it before bedtime. My prescription label says "Take 3 capsules (900 mg) nightly".My doctor told me it is really difficult to overdose on gabapentin. Diabetics who take it for neuropathy take as much as 2,400 mg. or more. It won't stop your cough but maybe you will be tired enough that the cough won't wake you up.

Hope that helps.

 

Ro10

nancibee said:

Gabapentin

Unfortunately Gabapentin will not do anything for the cough no matter how high the dosage. It is an anti-epileptic seizure medicine proscribed off-label for neuropathy. One of the side effects is drowsiness and studies have shown that it improves slow wave sleep. So my doctor (psychiatrist) prescribed it for insomnia because ambien didn't work through the night. I take 600-900 mg. about an hour before bedtime. I do not take it during the day. It helps me sleep through the night even when I am having an MS exacerbation that makes me pee every hour when I am lying down. I would try taking it before bedtime. My prescription label says "Take 3 capsules (900 mg) nightly".My doctor told me it is really difficult to overdose on gabapentin. Diabetics who take it for neuropathy take as much as 2,400 mg. or more. It won't stop your cough but maybe you will be tired enough that the cough won't wake you up.

Hope that helps.

 

Nancibee

The reason the Gabapentin may help the cough is because the intense radiation I had to the lymph node close to the trachea may have damaged the laryngeal nerve which triggers the cough reflex.  It would be a type of neuropathy.  I am still hoping the  gabapentin within increased dosage will take care of the night time cough.  The other cough remedies have not helped. 

Thanks for your input.  I know it is an antiseizure medicine.  There have been studies done to show the gabapentin does work for those with chronic coughs.  I continue to hope I will be one of those it helps.  As you can see the time I am posting this the cough came back tonight!!

AWK

Ro10 said:

Nancibee

The reason the Gabapentin may help the cough is because the intense radiation I had to the lymph node close to the trachea may have damaged the laryngeal nerve which triggers the cough reflex.  It would be a type of neuropathy.  I am still hoping the  gabapentin within increased dosage will take care of the night time cough.  The other cough remedies have not helped. 

Thanks for your input.  I know it is an antiseizure medicine.  There have been studies done to show the gabapentin does work for those with chronic coughs.  I continue to hope I will be one of those it helps.  As you can see the time I am posting this the cough came back tonight!!

Hugs

I continue to think of you and hope you find relief.  i decided last night I need to spruce up our backyard.  I will think of you as I attempt to garden!  

nancibee

Ro10 said:

Nancibee

The reason the Gabapentin may help the cough is because the intense radiation I had to the lymph node close to the trachea may have damaged the laryngeal nerve which triggers the cough reflex.  It would be a type of neuropathy.  I am still hoping the  gabapentin within increased dosage will take care of the night time cough.  The other cough remedies have not helped. 

Thanks for your input.  I know it is an antiseizure medicine.  There have been studies done to show the gabapentin does work for those with chronic coughs.  I continue to hope I will be one of those it helps.  As you can see the time I am posting this the cough came back tonight!!

GABA

I did know that. If that is the case can he prescribe a booster dose before bedtime with maybe ambien or lorazepam to help you fall asleep? I alternate between the two so I don't build up a tolerance.

 

sorry for the wrong info. Hope you find something that works.