Started tube feeding yesterday (Monday) evening, and was really lazy by not eating anything by mouth. Made up for it by drinking a thick tasty beverage in the form of a chocolate complan shake (its about as good as it gets!). Stomach gurgled throughout the night. Despite being given the morphine yesterday, after reading the side effects (nausea etc.) I decided to see if I could manage another night on just strong cocodomol. The ccd dosage had been giving 3-4 hours sleep at a time (one before bed and one about 3am did the trick). Not last night though as things took another turn for the worse and my resilience was tested once again. The first dose lasted 3 hours till 2am the second only 2 hours and I woke just before 5 with 'hot needles' every time I swallowed (aaagh! worst pain ever and on par with day after tonsillectomy back in October). Tried to grizz it out and fall back asleep but had to resign to getting up and getting a third dose of cocodamol down me. 30 mins later and pain relented, back on an even playing field once again. Now 5.30am and going to get some sleep, safe in the knowledge that the morphine and my willpower to win will see me straight until this battle is over.
Didn't get much more sleep but got down to Southampton for blood tests and next round of treatment without incident. Arrived home just in time for the delivery of my food pump ( for overnight feeds) and loads of liquid food to help me get through the next 6 weeks or so. Managed half a can of tomato soup and mushed up bread (1 slice - little and often?) and then had time for an afternoon sleep. Will save the first hit of morphine until my visitor has gone home later this evening...
FormerMember
Hello Dave ... sorry that you had a disturbed night, afraid it may now be time for the morphine ! To be honest, I didn't find the Oramorph nauseating when taking it at home so you may be okay - it was in hospital with the ' heavy artillery ' of painkillers and RT when the effects finally got me, but there are anti-sickness meds that you can take if necessary.
Just a little warning about tomato soup ... as my mouth got burnt by the radiation it ' turned ' into battery acid and became unbearable. According to the RT Consultant it was one of the worse things I could have tried to eat ... along with mashed bananas, argh ! So please do be careful and try cream of chicken instead.
Hope that you get a better sleep tonight, Dave, take care ...
thanks for the advice joycee, will avoid the tommy soup from now on. with regards to the morphine it has worked to a degree that is to say that so long as i don't swallow pain is numbed. was told one dose every 6 hours, 4 hours in and throat raging, have taken some more which feels like burning sensation as swallow it! my next blog will tell all, just wondered if the 6 hour rule was 'gospel' dave
Morning Dave ... towards the end of RT my mouth and throat were so bad that I had to be admitted to a Ward and as well as morphine they gave me Fentanyl patches ( heavy artillery ) The patches were changed every two days or so ... see how you get on, but don't put up with pain. I can't remember the dosage for Oramorph now as it was five years ago, but ask your GP about possibly upping it.
