anyone experience pain with a suction machine?

TRAD
TRAD Member Posts: 27
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Steve is really struggling with 8/10 -10/10 pain levels with his throat and has increased thick saliva so it hurts when he has to cough/spit. Ahe got a suction machine but says it hurts. I can't find anything on the Net that says it hurt people.

Can anyone help here??

Thanks,
Traci and Steve

tonsil cancer - just finished #35/35 rads and has last chemo on Monday

Comments

  • Vee1
    Vee1 Member Posts: 59
    #2
    suction machine
    Hi,

    My brother had to be suctioned through his trach--that was definitely uncomfortable, but it was the only way to get the mucous out. Eventually, they got him to use a tube himself where he inserted it into his mouth to help suction when he wasn't able or strong enough to cough it out.

    I think just based on where the cancer is and the suctioning has be be done there anything will hurt. I wonder if that "miracle mouthwash" would help here?

    Anybody have any experience with this one?
  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #3
    Vee1 said:

    suction machine
    Hi,

    My brother had to be suctioned through his trach--that was definitely uncomfortable, but it was the only way to get the mucous out. Eventually, they got him to use a tube himself where he inserted it into his mouth to help suction when he wasn't able or strong enough to cough it out.

    I think just based on where the cancer is and the suctioning has be be done there anything will hurt. I wonder if that "miracle mouthwash" would help here?

    Anybody have any experience with this one?

    Pain using suction machine
    My husband has used a suction machine for over 2 years due to laryngeal cancer (35 radiation 3 chemo) then surgery then a diagnose of cancer of the cervical of the esophagus (another 35 radiation and 7 chemo no surgery). He doesn't complain of pain when using the suction machine. Your husband's pain may be coming from the treatment since he just finished and the pain will last for a while yet because the radiation is still working. I hope his doctor has given him pain medication in liquid form. This will help and as explained to my husband if you need the pain medication use it because it helps with healing and you won't become addicted if you really need the medication because that was something my husband was afraid of -- becoming addicted to pain medication.

    He rarely suctions his mouth now, just the stoma in his neck for the thick mucus coming out of his lungs. He is able to spitout the thick mucus that comes in his mouth and cough it up. Maybe you should contact the doctor and explain what is going on. Sorry to say the mucus stays for a long time and for some, it will be there forever. My husband has good days and bad days with the thick mucus.

    The mouth wash could help. It does for some and not for others.
  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #4
    Be careful...
    We are currently using the suction machine. Be careful not to hit the tongue/skin with it to much. Try to reach in there carefully and not to far down also.
  • TRAD
    TRAD Member Posts: 27
    #5
    Ladylacy said:

    Pain using suction machine
    My husband has used a suction machine for over 2 years due to laryngeal cancer (35 radiation 3 chemo) then surgery then a diagnose of cancer of the cervical of the esophagus (another 35 radiation and 7 chemo no surgery). He doesn't complain of pain when using the suction machine. Your husband's pain may be coming from the treatment since he just finished and the pain will last for a while yet because the radiation is still working. I hope his doctor has given him pain medication in liquid form. This will help and as explained to my husband if you need the pain medication use it because it helps with healing and you won't become addicted if you really need the medication because that was something my husband was afraid of -- becoming addicted to pain medication.

    He rarely suctions his mouth now, just the stoma in his neck for the thick mucus coming out of his lungs. He is able to spitout the thick mucus that comes in his mouth and cough it up. Maybe you should contact the doctor and explain what is going on. Sorry to say the mucus stays for a long time and for some, it will be there forever. My husband has good days and bad days with the thick mucus.

    The mouth wash could help. It does for some and not for others.

    Ladylacy
    yes he got Fentanyl patches plus liquid hydrocodone. Thanks. Best wishes to you and your husband.

    Traci
  • TRAD
    TRAD Member Posts: 27
    #6
    cureitall66 said:

    Be careful...
    We are currently using the suction machine. Be careful not to hit the tongue/skin with it to much. Try to reach in there carefully and not to far down also.

    thanks cureitall66
    he's going to try again next week. Doc said today that his pain won't peak til thur or Fri this week plus he had his last round of chemo today which will be the bigger battle for the next 2 weeks, no doubt

    Traci
  • TRAD
    TRAD Member Posts: 27
    #7
    cureitall66 said:

    Be careful...
    We are currently using the suction machine. Be careful not to hit the tongue/skin with it to much. Try to reach in there carefully and not to far down also.

    thanks cureitall66
    he's going to try again next week. Doc said today that his pain won't peak til thur or Fri this week plus he had his last round of chemo today which will be the bigger battle for the next 2 weeks, no doubt

    Traci
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #8
    make
    make sure he is not closing his mouth when the machine is on. keep it open

    that happened a couple times for me and had some slight pain.

    is the pain slight, then for me it would me better than hacking and spitting

    if the pain is unbareable then he must be touching some raw area. for me it was not like getting everything but getting the huge globs that we tend to choke on.

    hope this helps and hope the pain gets better.

    john

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