Painkillers

Hi Turi it all depends I started around week 3 of treatment and in recovery from week 7 started a slow withdrawal. If you’re on opiates you mustn’t just stop. By the 3 month stage I was on no medication. 
Hazel x

On morphine by mid week 4 ........ 12 weeks plus a two week withdrawal.

BUT.... pay little attention to it. We are all different and for heavens sake don't imagine you have failed in any way if you are on opiates longer and even more importantly start them when you need them 

Thanks Hazel and Dani,

I realise everyone is different.No don't worry if they help I'll be taking them.I know you said Dani they made a big difference.I take it there will be no arguments if I feel I need them I get them......hopefully ! Is it Oramorph you get ?

Turi

Hi I had no issues my oncologist and radiotherapy team constantly monitored my pain levels. I started in 30 mg co codomol then went on to add oramorph  into the mix. Just remember you’ll need stool softeners once you start laxido or movicol. I started on movicol day 1 of treatment as radiotherapy can effect your bowel movements. Don’t iver think everything take it all one day at a time. 
Hazel x

Hi Turi. Your radiographers are in touch daily and they are you conduit to the rest of the team. I had oramorph which is liquid morphine you can drink or take via stomach tube. I started with soluble effervescent paracetamol tablets which quickly became ineffective and painful to swallow. There is a liquid paracetamol which is what I swapped to. Co codomol didn’t agree with me but lots of people do find it works ( it’s paracetamol and codeine which is a mild opiate) 

I alternated paracetamol with oramorph every two hours but when I was waking in the night to top the oramorph up I was given long acting morphine granules which I dissolved in water to get down my NG tube. It’s called MST Continuum. THAT was the game changer. 
Don’t worry. You’ll get what you need. 

RadioactiveRaz said:

ust remember you’ll need stool softeners once you start laxido or movicol.

 Turi 

You’ll get these routinely with your morphine with instructions to take them without fail. 
Opiates slow down peristalsis ( the movement of your intestines) so you need a laxative to kick the bowel working again. I took two laxido a day and had absolutely no issues with constipation. 

Hi Turi

I was on Oramorph early on, and alternatating Paracetamol and Ibruprofen every two hrs. 

I'm now on Oramorph, Slow release morhine patches, Zomorph, Paracetamol & Ibruprfen and will be for the foreseable future.

When i find i'm getting bunged up i take a sachet of Stigol for a couple of days or so to help things get moving again. It obviously depends on which laxative you take and how strong they are. But as i said, i only take them to get things moving again, because, as i was told by a couple of people, that if you take them all the time, eventually it can make the bowel lazy and it won't work properly by it's self, so try not to over do them.

I've hated having to take any type of medication, let alone what i am taking now. But being pain free important, so don't be put off taking it when you need it.

Cat x

Thank you all for your help and advice.I have a notebook that sits beside PC and I note all the names of meds,mouthwashes etc etc.I'll get there.

Thanks again

Turi

Hi Turi, I was started on MST (Morphine Sulphate Tablets) twice a day (they're slow release) when I was seen by my Oncologist in February, I was also taking Paracetamol x 4 times per day. Treatment started in March and the dosage was increased & Oramorph was added. Dosages were increased through Tr, & at 4wks post Chemoradiation it was suggested I start to reduce. I've started that & I'm happy enough. I was told I must have a very high threshold for pain as I was on relatively low doses, so everyone is different. Only you can say you have pain & say how severe it is, don't be afraid to. All the best

Tina

Thanks Tina for info.Everyone does seem to be so different.Two weeks to go till i start treatment.

Turi