Update on Best Friends Husband and all

Jan Trinks
Jan Trinks Member Posts: 477
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi all:

 

Beki's husband Steve has finished treatment but did spend last Mon-Fri in hospital as he was very dehydrated and not eating or drinking much.  Also want to ask y'all.  They have given Steve morphine pills for throat pain and I have kinda wondered about that at this point.  Now part of the idea I understand is to take it and within 30 minutes eat.  I think their thinking is maybe it numbs the throat and it's easier for him to swallow.  Charlie never had morphine until that last 7 weeks and his radiation was directly at  his throat.  Now Charlie was 20 years younger than Steve at time of treatment and I guess age plays a part in it too and Charlie didn't have the other problems Steve has.  Anyway they are doing well at putting their lives back together after the fire and death of her Daddy.  It's still pretty rough but they're getting there.  Beki's making a lot of changes to her Daddy's house and cleaning out and throwing out stuff and now says it's beginning to feel like home.  They are going to rebuild where they were and will talking to some builders this week I think.  I will just be so glad when they get to bulldoze that house down and start over.  It's so awful looking.  I was able to copy and paste y'all's comment and e-mail them to her and she said, "These people are so amazing and truly do understand what I'm going thru."  She said to thank y'all for your prayer and continued prayers. Now, pray that Steve realizes he has to eat and drink like it or not.  He's kinda of confused right now what with his pain meds.  and all but does perk up and I keep telling him it will get better, I promise!  He finished his rads last Friday so hopefully in a week or two he'll start to feel better and recover from that.  Considering all he's been thru it's a miracle he's walking around!  As I have said, please continue to pray for them, they are so precious to me and such a big part of my life even 120 miles away.  I was so upset when he got his dx and I so hate Beki has to go thru this and now with the death of her father from the fire and losing the house; she's got a lot on her plate but is coping well with it and I just pray Steve will begin to feel better soon and be able to help out with all the decisions they have to make concerning the house fire and rebuilding.  Fortunately, her younger son (who is the firefighter) lives in Chatt. and has been going the rubble trying to salvage anything he can for them; but I think he's thru with that now.  Honestly, there is so much rubble and that house is nothing but a shell.  Anyway gotta run.  Love y'all and as always God Bless!

 

Jan (Basketcase)

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Mornin Jan...

    Hi Jan...

    I had the liquid morphine (roxanol), couldn't stand or tolerate it. I went back to crushed percocet for pain relief during eating.

    From what I experienced, and understand. The morphine wouldn't really have nothing to do with numbing his throat. It would be more for pain relief, or to block out, or take the edge off of any pain associated with eating/swallowing.

    I would be more inclined to recommend the magic mouthwash for actual numbing enough to get calories and water in, then follow-up with something like the morhine.. But with the morrphine being solid form, it's going to take like you said, probably 20 - 30 minutes to kick in... I'd take that before eating in the hopes by the time I was at the point of eating I'd be pain free to include awhile after also...

    I liked the liquid forms of meds for numbing and pain relief..., liquid oxycotin, hydrocodon...

    Best, give Chargee a hug for me please...

    John

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
    jan, glad steve has finished

    jan, glad steve has finished his trmtns.  glad they are about ready to bulldoze the house and begin rebuilding.  i will continue to keep them in my prayers.

    God bless,

    debbiejeanne

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #4
    Jan
    I was going to say much the same as John. The morphine won't actually numb the throat but will help to block the pain in general. The magic mouthwash is the thing that would truly numb the throat. While he knows he needs to eat, these next 3 weeks will likely be his worst 3 weeks. At least for most of us, the first few weeks after treatment were our worst. For me I had absolutely no energy, the burns were the worst and my throat was so sore and the mucus....ugh! It would literally take me over an hour to eat a little container of yogurt! Nothing tasted good at all. I only tell you this so if the same thing happens to him he won't feel like something is wrong. He may be one of the lucky ones who doesn't experience this.
    If he is going to take the morphine he needs to watch for constipation because that will just add to him being uncomfortable. I ended up needing fentanyl patches with liquid dilaudid for break thru pain because I found out I'm allergic to morphine. During treatment is not the best time for an allergic reaction, I don't recommend it!
    Anyway, tell him we are so happy that his treatments are over and he us on the road to recovery....good job!!!
    Now he needs to rest(trust me it won't be a problem) drink and eat! And if he can muster up the strength he should take even the shortest walk daily. Sometimes for me that meant simply walking to the end of my driveway and back , which isn't far at all but it was all I could manage at times.
    Take care,
    Billie

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