My Mom - Just Completed Chemo & Radiation (updated 10/27)

mp327 said:

Chris
Thank you so much for posting the above comments. I realize you were directing them to Linda, but they will be very helpful for any other newbies who come to this site. You have laid it all out as to what can be expected. It would be hard for me, after 4 years, to go back and give as much detail as you have! Thanks!

mxperry220 said:

Suggestions
I took one dose of oxycontin and had the same blurred vision and took no more and switched to Advil. As far as your mom vomitting, is she eating something before her anibiotic? I know they advise not to take antibiotics on an empty stomach. Your probably already are aware of this but I thought I would pass this along. Antibiotics can make a person constipated. She might want to take a laxative for this if it persists.
Mike

sandysp said:

Stool Softeners by the handful
Honestly, with the pain medication, I found it was important to take up to six stool softeners a day. I don't know what stage is, but you brought back my memories of screaming in the toilet. I did that too once I was toward the end of the treatment and after the end of the treatment since the treatment is cumulative in nature.

As far as flying in December, I find that flying gives me some pretty significant side effects. This, apparently is because I was treated in my lymph nodes since three of them were suspicious for cancer. Now I have problems in pressurized cabins. So I would say yes she can probably do it, but she may suffer some side effects and may need a great deal of rest when she gets there and, if she is like me, may need to bring her pain meds. I have a lot of pain when I fly but evidently for people who were treated as I was, this is not an abnormal complaint. I worried a lot about some of the pain meds I was given that I totally needed but when I stopped having extreme pain, I did not feel any need to take the meds. I did not suffer from addiction to them. I hope this is the case with your mom. No one should have to suffer from extreme pain in this day and age. Encourage her to take the meds and stool softeners.

Sounds like you are near the end of the worst of it. Hang in there and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. You deserve to have a wonderful time.

All the best,
Sandy

mp327 said:

Such good news!
Chris, your comments that your mom's appetite is making a real comeback and she didn't need to take her pain med this morning makes me smile! Baby steps! Soon she will feel SO much better! I hope both of you have a nice Sunday together.

Thanks

Marynb said:

Hi Chris
I am so glad your Mom is on the road to recovery! That is terrrific! Well, it is dark and tropically muggy here today. I started bringing in the deck furniture, but I am not very strong so I have to do a little at a time. I went to the store yesterday and could not get any bottled water...sold out. I am going to venture out again in a few minutes. The problem we have in New England is that the trees still have leaves and they overhang electric wires. It seems every time there is the least little breeze, we lose power for a week! National Grid is reeally bad here!

Seems the cat senses something because she is following me around the house, crying. This week is my oncology team meeting and I hope it is not postponed....but if it is, I will deal.

Hang in there and. am so glad your Mom is feeling better!

Let me know if the storm gets bad there. I may have to evacuate !

Mary

eihtak said:

Pain management
Hi, glad to see your mom has had some pain relief. I was in horrific pain even before treatment began, and started taking oxycontin at the start. My tumor size and placement made it so I could not even sit or lay on my back. At times I would fall asleep kneeling on the floor beside my bed with my head on a pillow, or just pace the floor massaging my butt cheeks to get relief! I stayed on the pain meds throughout treatment and several months of recovery (dosage slowly increasing). Just as I was feeling better and weaning off them I had a second cancer diagnoses of breast cancer, so remained on the oxycontin for several more months through that treatment. I am now 1.5 yrs post treatment for Anal Cancer, and 6 months since breast surgery (some treatment is long term). At times I felt like a drug addict with the amount of oxy I was taking, but if managed correctly can sure make things more tolerable! In this day and age there is no reason to suffer when there is help available. My advice is to take a mild stool softener though, I took 1-2 Senna daily since the oxy can cause constipation. Also as much water as possible. When I was both physically/mentally ready to be done with the pain med the dose was lowered every 2wks so I could just wean off. I had a couple uncomfortable nights but nothing too awful. I seldom take even a tylenol now unless I've really overdone things. Hope this is going to make her/your recovery a bit smoother. As always, all in my prayers.