Further discussion re laxido, morphine etc

Hi Jester 

Sorry to jump in here, but I wanted to echo Irene’s post that addiction to morphine isn’t a risk for those taking small doses for pain relief-it’s a completely different scenario to those taking it for a high. I have had it after surgery in small doses to help with pain, and was sent home with some to take if needed. I have a colostomy, but I could still get constipated, although I never did. My personal thinking is that it’s not reasonable to put up with a large amount of unbearable pain when there is something which can help.

While anyone can have their own opinion on this, it is not supported by medical advice. So if it helps, that’s surely a good thing? I hope you continue to improve, and I’m a big advocate of prunes! 

Sarah xx

Bee, I am horrified that the hospital treating were so cavalier in their drug management of people when they are at their most vulnerable.  I just hope yours is an isolated case.  When I went as an inpatient a week after my radiotherapy ended and had to stay for a couple of nights, I had to tell the kindly but strict nurse where my pain level was on a scale of 1 - 10 before she would give me a dose!

I replied to the post to reassure those who need the morphine prescribed at the end of treatment that it certainly isn't a path to addiction, and it says something that the constipation it caused was enough for me to stop cold turkey!

 Em44 - thank you for your most informative post, unfortunately for me and some others the holy grail is finding an effective stool softener; a year out and my norm is pencil-thin stools and constipation is to be avoided at all costs.  

Bee, so glad that things are improving for you.

Irene xx

Oh yes, prunes (or prune juice) work big time!!

I took oxycodone every 8, then 6, then 4 hours when the pain was at its worst. By then the oxy wasn't doing much, but it's the only thing that gave me the slightest smidgeon of relief. I had a lot of  trouble getting it at one point when I was desperate (a SNAFU between a disinterested nurse and my pharmacist) but at no point did anyone suggest I might become addicted or did I worry about it. 

No one was more relieved than I when I didn't need it any more. 

Terrible pain needs a strong response. Having medications that exist to suppress that sort of pain and refusing to prescribe them would be insane. And unbelievably cruel.

Suz

I was pressing the pain pump like a maniac possessed when I came round after surgery, secure in the knowledge that i couldn’t possibly have too much. But I think that was more in anticipation of pain than anything else. I do completely agree that a strong response is needed-I was worn down with relentless pain waiting for my surgery and it is so debilitating. 

There’s no prizes for being a martyr to pain in my opinion-if you need relief, that’s what it’s there for. 

Sarah xx

Thank you Bee, I did wonder if I should have reacted like I did but felt a bit attacked by Simon’s response. I think Simon had not had anal cancer but liver cancer which I know nothing about regarding pain from the actual treatment. It is shocking that your care seems rather neglected and hope in some way this is dealt with. I can only say that my treatment aftercare was brilliant and a dedicated team wanting to do the best for you and always at the end of the phone for advice. I am so glad you are find solutions to your bowel issues and may things continue to improve 

Thank you Irene. I feel afraid to say things might be improving because every time I do, it all goes pear-shaped again. My stools are quite soft now, not runny, but easy to pass, tg. The pain now isn't passing them, the pain is afterwards and gradually builds up, so this morning for instance I took 3ml morphine and am waiting to see if I need to take any brufen. I hate taking painkillers unless it's absolutely necessary, because that way they work more effectively I think. What I do use now is children's Nurofen liquid. It comes with a syringe and for a 12 year old they say 15ml, so that's what I take and being liquid I think it works more quickly.

Thanks Jaycee, all my help, advice and support has come from this group. TG I found you. Bee Xx

Hi Jester, I felt the same way most of my life, but the anal cancer ordeal taught me to take the meds as prescribed and stay ahead of the pain instead of expecting them to overcome a tsunami from waiting too long. Might just be me, but something to think about!

Hugs

Suz

Hi Suz

I was told to keep on top of it by letting the medication build up in your system rather than trying to stop pain once it started. It kind of went against my natural thinking, but I tried this on my recent hospital admission last month and have to say it was a successful approach! 

Sarah xx