kimblanchard Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 Hi friends, Bill has been feeling just terrible since his last round of chemo last Wednesday. His pain is worse and he can't stand food - only Ensure. The onc suggested that he add some additional meds this morning - some steriods to go with his Zofran (anti-nausea) and Oxycontin for his pain. Do any of you have experience with these drugs? He is taking so many now that I hate to see him add more with no benefit. Thanks to you all, Peg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Cheryl- Posted August 5, 2003 Share Posted August 5, 2003 Peg, I have no experience with those meds. I pray Bill's the meds help with his pain. He has to eat to keep up his strength. Everyone that I know on steriods takes them to reduce inflamation/swelling, and all gain weight from! Have you tried megace yet for his appetite? Will he eat soups at all? Whole Foods has protein powder made with vegetable prteins which is easier to digest. Maybe you could add some to his ensure, well everything- including water, to prevent muscle mass breakdown. I am sure that you probably already know these things. I wish I were more help. Prayers to you both, Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 Peg, Lucie takes MS Contin, which I think is a relative of Oxycontin, both morphine based. It has definitely taken away her pain. We are moving now to cut down on the dosage. She took steroids for a few days each time she has chemo, for nausea and it seemed to help. But she has not taken steroids over a period of time == I am leery of taking steroids for too long. Our modus is to be sure we understand what the med is for, agree that is a target, and then see if it works. If not, out it goes. Of course, side effects are a factor with any med. Is the benefit greater than the problems that might come up from it? Good luck. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candy Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 Hi Peg, Hugh took oxycontin for pain and for us it was a wonder drug. With his excrutiating pain from his back mets which percoset suddenly stopped controlling the oxycontin (20mgs 2x/day) started working after a couple of days and he didn't even need the percoset for breakthrough pain. He had no side effects, no drug haziness. Early on he took prednesone on a couple of different occasions and both times it was great. He felt good, his energy and appetite increased. NOW he is on decedron (sp?) and that is a different story. He is a mess. He is either overly nice or extremely angry and you just never know what will set him off. I think the overly nice is him trying to ward off the angry. His speech isn't quite right and though it more resembles an narcotic high to me, that could be from the brain mets which made the entire side of his face numb. The radiation Dr. told us his symptoms would get worse from the radiation before they got better. His stomach is a mess and he is also depressed. He also complains that his head just isn't clear, but again is that from the steroid or a combination of blood thinners, radiation and steroids? I don't know. Good luck, I hope the oxycontin at least works as well for you as it did for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrie Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 Peg- Don't have any info on the drugs - however, will continue to pray for Bill to start feeling better real soon. Terrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted August 7, 2003 Author Share Posted August 7, 2003 Thanks to all who responded. Bill has been on oxycontin for 2 days and just really seems out of it. It is all I can do to get him to drink Ensure Plus 3 times a day. No food. The rest of the time he is in a daze or just sleeping. We held off on the steriods for now. We see the oncologist again next week. The following week I am supposed to go back to work (teaching) and I just don't know how I will leave him. Hopefully this horrid chemo fog will lift before then............ Blessings to you all, Peg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted August 7, 2003 Share Posted August 7, 2003 Morphine can definitely cause a fog. You may have to experiment on the dosage level -- enough to cover the pain, but not enough to cause the fog. I had to do that with Lucie. Blessings. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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