Vicodin/Hydrocodone...is this a "normal" pain med you take for your pains and aches?

marc24
marc24 Member Posts: 92
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone,

Lately my mom has been having lots of abdominal pain, around where the liver is at i guess. From this point on, im getting tired of being the doctor and guessing what and where is...my question is now is Vicodin, or Hydrocodone something you take for your pains?? I ask this question because i wanted to know that its something "normal" that cancer patients take to ease the pain..i feel like she never had this pain before and she is extra hesitant to take it since she is already taking other meds plus she is "scared" of this new medicine. She took it last Friday, felt better after a few hrs, but its on going sharp pain after. So is this OK for the rest of you guys to take as a 'routine' type medicine? Im just afraid also since this medicine affects the liver already and her main problem is her liver mets.


ALSO, please give my mom great luck for tomorrow, it is the day when she meets her Oncologist regarding the results of the PET Scan after 5 chemo..im really wishing for some good news for a change.....

thanks again as always!!!

Comments

  • eric38
    eric38 Member Posts: 583
    #2
    I have 4 liver mets and they
    I have 4 liver mets and they give me hydrocodone. I think that is just the standard pain meds they give to cancer patients unless they are in severe pain and then they do morphine.
    I would think that the chemo would be harder on the liver than the pain meds but it should also help to relieve the symptoms when it shrinks the tumors and prevents any further damage. The liver is pretty resilient. It can restore itself when it has time to heal. I have been fortunate enough to not have much liver pain but some people have said that their doctors told them when the chemo is aggressively attacking the liver tumors it can cause pain. Maybe it is a good sign. I guess you will know in a week or so. I choose to believe she is responding well to treatment and I will send prayers and well wishes your way.

    Eric(:.)
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #3
    Been on both
    I've been on both and I'm still on Vicodin 3 months after surgery. Granted I'm only taking a quarter of the pill, but it does help with the rectal pain to ease up a bit. I think those two are both standard pain meds. Good luck to your mom on your appointment.

    Kim
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #4
    Liver pain
    After I had my liver resection, my surgeon prescribed Dilaudid (which had very few narctoic side effects for me by the way), because it was easier on my liver. Vicodin or hydrocodone contains acetaminophen which he wanted to avoid because its harder on the liver to process. However I was prescribed hydrocodone (Vicodin) after my LAR resection (rectal surgery). The rectal surgery was 7 weeks before the liver resection.

    Leslie
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #5
    lesvanb said:

    Liver pain
    After I had my liver resection, my surgeon prescribed Dilaudid (which had very few narctoic side effects for me by the way), because it was easier on my liver. Vicodin or hydrocodone contains acetaminophen which he wanted to avoid because its harder on the liver to process. However I was prescribed hydrocodone (Vicodin) after my LAR resection (rectal surgery). The rectal surgery was 7 weeks before the liver resection.

    Leslie

    Drugs
    My onc. just changed me from Vicodin to Oxycodone because the Oxy does not have the acetaminophen like all the other ones have. I asked him if it was adictive and he said they all are if taken socially and not just for pain. I have a hernia from my resection and port pain which is what I take mine for. They knock me out

    Jennie
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #6
    Vicodin
    I still take it 5 months post surgery. I am allergic to many drugs, especially pain killers, and this is the only one I can take. They do monitor my liver levels, as it is mostly acetaminophen, but said I can continue as needed.

    Good vibes for her scans....Vicki

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