Pain Meds

concerneddaughter17
concerneddaughter17 Member Posts: 11
in Anal Cancer #1

How long were you on pain meds, and how long did you continue to stay on them after the conclusion of treatment?

Thanks in advance for your insight, and best wishes to all! 

Comments

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #2
    concerneddaughter17.....

     

     

     

    Hi,

    You'll probably get a variety of answers to this question as some people never required or used any pain meds and others received high doses. Like all else, we are all different in how our bodies react to this disease as well as its treatment.

    By the time I was dx the pain was unbearable and early on was prescribed oxycontin. As treatment proceeded, the pain of radiation added to my discomfort and at the same time had complications related to my ostomy surgery so the prescription was increased. By the end of treatment I was taking a high dose of oxycontin (time-released) 2x's a day as well as oxycodone (fast acting) for break through pain. I continued this for a couple weeks after treatment ended and then over the next month or two slowly weaned off of all. It is important to wean off of pain meds and to not stop abruptly as there can be serious effects when doing so. It was also necessary to take a regular stool softener while on the pain meds as they can be very constipating and cause unwanted issues during this treatment.

    Some people have no need for such high levels of pain relief, but I did! My doctor also explained that in order for your body to do the work it needs to do (heal) it needs to focus energy on that and if too much energy is focused on pain relief it will not have what it needs to heal. Sleep is also important in healing and if pain is preventing that, the pain needs to be addressed. Pain relief is most effective if you can stay ahead of it, rather than trying to reduce once it hits.....thats the reason for a regular schedule of time-released (every 12 hrs).

    Hope this helps........

    katheryn

     

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #3
    Pain meds

    I was very fortunate. I just needed varying doses of codeine/paracetamol, mainly over the counter strength. I finished treatment on the Friday (having 2 treatments that day to catch up on missed Xmas treatment) and stopped taking anything by the following Tuesday. I was given Oramorph to take, but never needed it. I just made sure I took it regularly & so was always on top of the pain. I found the use of a portable bidet was invaluable and going commando whenever possible. The main thing to remember is to stay on top of the pain. Playing catch up is not helpful. Take whatever is needed. This is no time to soldier through it. 

    Best wishes 

    Liz

  • horsepad
    horsepad Member Posts: 146 Member
    edited September 2016 #4
    Initially I was prescribed

    Initially I was prescribed oxycontin but because of severe burns from radiation, I was put on various pain meds that didn't help.  Finally, I was put on morphine and that worked on keeping the pain under control.  I was on paid meds for about 6 weeks after completion of treatment.

  • Paris75
    Paris75 Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2016 #5
    Pain meds

    I was on strong pain meds first from shortly after the treatment ended for about a month or six weeks. This pain was largely due to the sores around my anus and the continuous diarrhea that irritated those sores. I stopped once the sores were going away.

    I went on them a second time about three months after the end of treatment, when the poops began to take form like normal poops (almost). The interior of the anus was swollen, painful and full of scar tissue, which left very little room for a poop to pass and get out. I was in extreme pain for weeks. I took the pain meds then for about a month or five weeks, gradually tapering off, which is very important. That time I actually had withdrawal symptoms, but I managed to get off them.

    It is a fallacy to think that the pain should be gone once the treatment ends. For me it was much worse after the end of treatment.

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