Pain management

Aldonza
Aldonza Member Posts: 4
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
My sister has uterine cancer stage 3b. After radiation and 1st round of chemo, the cancer was suppressed, 1 month after the chemo, she has been complaining pain for almost 4 months, and the latest pat showed some glowing area in abdominal area, that doctors was felt to 'pessimisstic' and suggested another round of chemo, that started 2 months ago, now just had the 2nd injestion of avastin. she was an introvert before and now even more depressed. As a caregiver, this is really upsetting to see her and always complain about pain (abdominal, chest pain as if something stuck in her chest) and no appetite and made a big fuss from very minor event taking places at home. Any suggestion for pain relief at least to make her feel better / more motivated as pain can 'kill' us.

Comments

  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #2
    Pain
    Welcome Aldonza! Your sister is so lucky to have you caring for her health...wonderful sister you are.

    Outside of the PET showing "glowing area in abdominal area" did they say anything more about pain in abdominal and chest areas? Reason asking best to go to source of pain, instead of working on pain meds.

    But...if pain meds is best option for now, I had pain in lower hip area, as still do...most likely from treatments, I find Aleve to help lower my pain. You might bring it up to her doc, as sounds like more extreme levels and Aleve wouldn't help much. Yes pain is debilitating and any Rx her doc can prescribe will make her feel so much better.

    Sounds like she might be depressed as well, most likely due to the pain.

    There are days when life seems so difficult, but know it does get better, especially when pain is managed.

    Best to you and keep us posted on your progress...we care!
    Jan
  • Aldonza
    Aldonza Member Posts: 4
    #3
    jazzy1 said:

    Pain
    Welcome Aldonza! Your sister is so lucky to have you caring for her health...wonderful sister you are.

    Outside of the PET showing "glowing area in abdominal area" did they say anything more about pain in abdominal and chest areas? Reason asking best to go to source of pain, instead of working on pain meds.

    But...if pain meds is best option for now, I had pain in lower hip area, as still do...most likely from treatments, I find Aleve to help lower my pain. You might bring it up to her doc, as sounds like more extreme levels and Aleve wouldn't help much. Yes pain is debilitating and any Rx her doc can prescribe will make her feel so much better.

    Sounds like she might be depressed as well, most likely due to the pain.

    There are days when life seems so difficult, but know it does get better, especially when pain is managed.

    Best to you and keep us posted on your progress...we care!
    Jan

    Pain
    Jan, thanks for your prompt reply. The doctor is not willing to conduct more test to identify the source of pain, nor to touch anything inside the body in case this might 'activate' the cancer cell to multiply more quickly (told by another medical professor specialised on abdomin, but not the oncologist). But from the onc's response, theie expression told us that it has been spread - I would say this is not professional at all - but we have to live with it as this might not be wise to change to another doctor. But as the uterine cancer was around 6 cm when it was identified, and hence had caused damage to one of her kidney, so cannot readily go to pharmacist to buy pain relief medicine as advil and has to be prescribed just in case it adds burden to the kidney. However, she told me 80% of the time, she felt pain, is there any way you help your pain ?

    Thanks for sharing, and I know that GOD has been and will be sending angels to help her.

    Aldonza
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #4
    Aldonza said:

    Pain
    Jan, thanks for your prompt reply. The doctor is not willing to conduct more test to identify the source of pain, nor to touch anything inside the body in case this might 'activate' the cancer cell to multiply more quickly (told by another medical professor specialised on abdomin, but not the oncologist). But from the onc's response, theie expression told us that it has been spread - I would say this is not professional at all - but we have to live with it as this might not be wise to change to another doctor. But as the uterine cancer was around 6 cm when it was identified, and hence had caused damage to one of her kidney, so cannot readily go to pharmacist to buy pain relief medicine as advil and has to be prescribed just in case it adds burden to the kidney. However, she told me 80% of the time, she felt pain, is there any way you help your pain ?

    Thanks for sharing, and I know that GOD has been and will be sending angels to help her.

    Aldonza

    Aldonza
    Well...if the doc won't give you help, assuming you're on your own. I've never truly experienced horrible pain. The only intense pain I encountered was after my hysterectomy, with which, doc prescribed pain meds (vicotin)....couldn't have survived without them for the 3 weeks.

    Everyone has different types of pain and levels and I have no clue what to suggest. Have you considered going to your local drug store and asking the pharmacist what he'd suggest?

    Sorry wasn't more helpful,
    Jan
  • imackie48
    imackie48 Member Posts: 96
    #5
    jazzy1 said:

    Aldonza
    Well...if the doc won't give you help, assuming you're on your own. I've never truly experienced horrible pain. The only intense pain I encountered was after my hysterectomy, with which, doc prescribed pain meds (vicotin)....couldn't have survived without them for the 3 weeks.

    Everyone has different types of pain and levels and I have no clue what to suggest. Have you considered going to your local drug store and asking the pharmacist what he'd suggest?

    Sorry wasn't more helpful,
    Jan

    Pain from chemo
    Jan, did you ever get like,a irritation in your stomach from the chemo. I've been taking Tylenol, and warm milk.
    Irene
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    #6
    imackie48 said:

    Pain from chemo
    Jan, did you ever get like,a irritation in your stomach from the chemo. I've been taking Tylenol, and warm milk.
    Irene

    Irene
    Gosh I can't even remember about pain....think mine was mainly due to pain in limbs -- legs and arms. Tummie issues were due more to getting foods to settle in my stomach, to not come back up.

    Warm milk is great to coat stomach prior to tylenol.

    Where are you on your treatments? Having radiation as well?

    Best to you Irene!
    Jan
  • Aldonza
    Aldonza Member Posts: 4
    #7
    jazzy1 said:

    Irene
    Gosh I can't even remember about pain....think mine was mainly due to pain in limbs -- legs and arms. Tummie issues were due more to getting foods to settle in my stomach, to not come back up.

    Warm milk is great to coat stomach prior to tylenol.

    Where are you on your treatments? Having radiation as well?

    Best to you Irene!
    Jan

    Pain
    Jan, maybe you are right, everyone has different type of pain and it is not a simple subject. One of the doctors recommended she visited the pain relief centre which is for tne terminal one. We are scared to think of it as the implication is horrible. But if this is a place where we can find the pain relief, and to have better quality of life, then we will try. But do you know if getting the pain relief implies there is no more hope ? we seem to put an equal sign to it. Aldonza
  • maryv1119
    maryv1119 Member Posts: 37
    #8
    Pain control
    I'm a 3C grade 3 survivor. I had surgery and lots of chemo and rads. My pain was intense, even long after treatment ended. No amount of narcotics helped the pain. I went to another Dr who gave me neurontin (non-narcotic). I was pessimistic, but it worked! I went from severe daily pain to hardly any pain, and it helped my neuropathy too! Good luck!

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