Pain medication

Sam999
Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Are you taking any pain medications? Right now i am taking advil and that seems to be working but my doc thinks it might get bad pretty fast and i should try some narcotics to make sure i can handke it.

Earlier she had prescribed oxycodon but when i told her i am prone to nausea, she gave methodone.

I do not knkw which one is better. What are you guys using? Any input on should i start pain med now or wait till i actually need it?

Any thoughts on which is better?

Thanks,
Sam

Comments

  • meaganb
    meaganb Member Posts: 244 Member
    #2
    I say only take what you
    I say only take what you need to control the pain. If Advil works, take that. Just make sure you're taking it correctly and not taking like 4 at a time. That stuff can really mess your stomach and liver up if taken incorrectly. That being said, I don't think it would hurt to go ahead and get a prescription of a stronger narcotic filled. My RO prescribed liquid Lortab. He also prescribed Phenergan which helps fight nausea that pain meds can cause. If you're this far in and Advil is still doing the trick then you are doing awesome!
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #3
    Pain?
    Sam,

    I think, be prepared, but only take what you need. I always had a ready supply of pain killers but only took a few. At week 5 I had to return to the hospital for a faulty PEG. The doctor told my wife he really was hard on my throat and prescribed liquid hydrocodone, turned out I could not even tell they were in my throat. Once or twice I took a swig of the hydrocodone to help get to sleep.

    The worst pain for me was the outside neck burn during weeks 6, 7, & 8 and I used Silver Sulfadiazine to fix that.

    Feel better; feel lucky if you don’t hurt.

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    I agree with what everyone else is saying....
    there's no harm having something on hand (you know how these things work, if it's going to get bad, it'll do it on the weekend)...then just keep on using what works until it doesn't work any longer. I don't know what the difference is between Methadone and Morphine, except one is a synthetic opiate, but maybe Methadone being synthetic doesn't cause nausea.
    Anyway, you might surprise yourself, and still be taking Advil 10 days from now...

    p
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #5
    phrannie51 said:

    I agree with what everyone else is saying....
    there's no harm having something on hand (you know how these things work, if it's going to get bad, it'll do it on the weekend)...then just keep on using what works until it doesn't work any longer. I don't know what the difference is between Methadone and Morphine, except one is a synthetic opiate, but maybe Methadone being synthetic doesn't cause nausea.
    Anyway, you might surprise yourself, and still be taking Advil 10 days from now...

    p

    delicate balance
    pain is not conducive to healing and should be avoided. Do not hesitate to take adequate doses to control your pain and do not get behind in it's management. No one here is going to wind up on skid row shooting heroin with a dirty needle. The priority is to make the treatment tolerable so that it can have a chance to be effective. The other side of the coin is not addiction, but rather constipation, which can be the most agonizing pain you have ever felt. Find your balance with not stopping the workings of the digestive tract to a crawl but still managing your pain and this will be your proper threshold. Use laxatives/stool softeners to regulate balance when necessary.
  • amy_h414
    amy_h414 Member Posts: 98
    #6
    I know everybody's different
    I know everybody's different but my husband has not needed narcotics for pain, so maybe you won't either. I would say wait until you need them, but having the pills around just in case is probably a good idea.
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #7
    amy_h414 said:

    I know everybody's different
    I know everybody's different but my husband has not needed narcotics for pain, so maybe you won't either. I would say wait until you need them, but having the pills around just in case is probably a good idea.

    My throat is defintely
    My throat is defintely getting worse soI went ahead and took oxicodine, it said to take 5-10ml, so i took 5ml and it seems less effective than advil! I thought it will be lot more effective. Maybe i need to take 10ml. I did take nausea med and with that i have no nausea, so my biggest fear that i will end with horrible nausea did not happen.

    Thanks for all the good input as always.

    Sam
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #8
    Pain meds...
    Hey Sam,
    I tried to tough out surgery related pain, and rad. pain with little to no pain meds. Was afraid of addiction. Know people who are living this. But my suggestion is have the meds ready....I had severe reaction to rads., (NOT COMMON so don't worry on this I'm a rare case) Landed in hospital, dehydrated...and sores were unbearable....I was severely scolded by the nurses because I let the pain get ahead of me. If you can (and I pray that you can) get through all of this without narcotics it would be fantstic. But we have cancer, not a sprain....it's ok to use what we need to get through all of it. I'm praying for you, regards Katie
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #9
    katenorwood said:

    Pain meds...
    Hey Sam,
    I tried to tough out surgery related pain, and rad. pain with little to no pain meds. Was afraid of addiction. Know people who are living this. But my suggestion is have the meds ready....I had severe reaction to rads., (NOT COMMON so don't worry on this I'm a rare case) Landed in hospital, dehydrated...and sores were unbearable....I was severely scolded by the nurses because I let the pain get ahead of me. If you can (and I pray that you can) get through all of this without narcotics it would be fantstic. But we have cancer, not a sprain....it's ok to use what we need to get through all of it. I'm praying for you, regards Katie

    Yeah agree that is why i
    Yeah agree that is why i went ahead and took it. For some reason it is not working as good as advil, will need to check with my doc on dosage.

    I was afraid of nausea, i hope i dont get that since i am taking nausea med.
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #10
    Sam999 said:

    Yeah agree that is why i
    Yeah agree that is why i went ahead and took it. For some reason it is not working as good as advil, will need to check with my doc on dosage.

    I was afraid of nausea, i hope i dont get that since i am taking nausea med.

    Dr prescribed Hydrocodone
    which I have tried 3 times. One didn't do anything but make me feel dizzy. I am not used to taking ANY meds so it should have done more, I'd think. Sat. I took 2 and just went to bed to rest and enjoyed my throat not hurting so badly but it didn't work but around 4 hrs. so I'm taking Xstrength Tylenol, alternately with Aleve and AdvilPM at night to help me sleep. Really just started this, this past week. Side effects are getting worse, and I think they boosted my rads this week and my skin is so sore and I'm afraid it will split, tho I am keeping the cream they prescribed. When I expressed concern to my Dr. about my liver and kidneys, he suggested alternating Tylenol and Aleve, to lessen the impact on either organ. And, he said no longer than we're going to need these helps, we don't need to worry about that! I'm CERTAINLY not going to get addicted to Hydrocodone....I hate that stuff and how it makes me feel "zoned"!! Just my take on meds! Sam....do take your meds with food as on an empty stomach it could cause nausea.
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #11
    Mrs. Sarge said:

    Dr prescribed Hydrocodone
    which I have tried 3 times. One didn't do anything but make me feel dizzy. I am not used to taking ANY meds so it should have done more, I'd think. Sat. I took 2 and just went to bed to rest and enjoyed my throat not hurting so badly but it didn't work but around 4 hrs. so I'm taking Xstrength Tylenol, alternately with Aleve and AdvilPM at night to help me sleep. Really just started this, this past week. Side effects are getting worse, and I think they boosted my rads this week and my skin is so sore and I'm afraid it will split, tho I am keeping the cream they prescribed. When I expressed concern to my Dr. about my liver and kidneys, he suggested alternating Tylenol and Aleve, to lessen the impact on either organ. And, he said no longer than we're going to need these helps, we don't need to worry about that! I'm CERTAINLY not going to get addicted to Hydrocodone....I hate that stuff and how it makes me feel "zoned"!! Just my take on meds! Sam....do take your meds with food as on an empty stomach it could cause nausea.

    What I took...
    I hate to sound like the sissy in the group (just kidding of course) ...but I was taking 5-6 Narco (hydrocodine 10mg / 500 aceptaphadamine 500mg) a day along with 4 advil every 6 hours. If none of you have looked at the picture of my neck, check it out ....that might explain why I took soooo much. Either that or I have no pain threshold..wish I did if I do not :)

    What some of you may not know (can't remember if I ever shared it) ...the same day I had my very first visit with my ENT 109 miles from home (I lived 109 miles from my treatment facility) we went back to the hotel and I had the mother of gallbladder attacks. Ended up in the ER then hospitalized and gallbladder removed ...4 days in hospital ...

    ...before all of that ...I had never had a sugery, broken bone or even a cavity!!! LOL...

    ..my point is this ...I'm more with ratface...if you need them, take them...you will heal faster :):)

    oh, I forgot to add I wore two fentynal patches as well ..as 25mcg / hour and a 12mcg / hour ....every three days new patches ...

    I pray you never have to take the first pill. :)

    Tim
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #12
    I'm not a big fan of taking
    I'm not a big fan of taking anything that makes me feel weird. I actually took my first pain pill ever last month when i had my tonsil out. It wasn't actually hurting but i was afraid it would. it was hydrocodone and it doesn't make me sick or loopy or anything. i have an rx sitting here just in case. having said that, you might want to just try one to see how you feel. better to know ahead of time than be in serious pain, take the pill and it make you sick when you are really in the thick of things. you know what i mean?

    i had a hysterectomy and hardcore oral surgery and never needed any pain meds. same with the tonsil, just took it in case... i'm am hoping my radiation experience will be much the same. i guess i will know soon enough. treatment begins wednesday.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    Had It All
    For the most part...liquid and tablet hydrocodon, and oxicotin, tablet percocet.... Even liquid morphine (roxanol)...

    Everything other than the morphine worked fine...no weird feelings, or really anything other than taking the edge off of any pain or discomfort.

    The morphine made me nauseous, and did nothing for any pain.

    I pretty much believe if you have pain and there is something for it, take it. More than likely if you aren't abusing it and taking it as prescribed, you are OK.

    Even worse case, deal with withdrawl after you beat cancer, if that's what it comes down to.

    JG
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #14
    Skiffin16 said:

    Had It All
    For the most part...liquid and tablet hydrocodon, and oxicotin, tablet percocet.... Even liquid morphine (roxanol)...

    Everything other than the morphine worked fine...no weird feelings, or really anything other than taking the edge off of any pain or discomfort.

    The morphine made me nauseous, and did nothing for any pain.

    I pretty much believe if you have pain and there is something for it, take it. More than likely if you aren't abusing it and taking it as prescribed, you are OK.

    Even worse case, deal with withdrawl after you beat cancer, if that's what it comes down to.

    JG

    I celebrated too soon,
    I celebrated too soon, yesterday i was able to take two doses of oxicodine so thought i am good to go, today i was severely nauseated, thru up big time right befors rads.....now my stomach is all empty so trying to get someghing down with the throat hurting,

    They told me to go back to advil for today and doctor will meet with me tomorrow and decide what to do next.

    Sam
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #15
    Sam999 said:

    I celebrated too soon,
    I celebrated too soon, yesterday i was able to take two doses of oxicodine so thought i am good to go, today i was severely nauseated, thru up big time right befors rads.....now my stomach is all empty so trying to get someghing down with the throat hurting,

    They told me to go back to advil for today and doctor will meet with me tomorrow and decide what to do next.

    Sam

    MEDS...
    Sam,
    There are alot of different classes of pain meds out there. I can't tolerate vicodine at all, get dizzy and throw up. Your MD will find the right one, maybe a liquid would work better in your situation ? Hang in there, you'll get through this...and be more knowledgable because of it. I'm so sorry things are so tough....warmest regards. Katie

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