Good afternoon everyone, hope you are all coping with your treatments and enjoying your day.
I still havent seen oncologist as Im still under the neurosurgeon and so dont know what treatments they will offer me yet and in what order. My original dx was her+ and the secondary is in S1/S2.
When I had my biopsy on Tuesday the neurosurgeon put me on oramorph 5ml every 6 hours but this is still not helping with the pain, I also take paracetamol and diclofenic.
The pain is getting me down now and my mobility is suffering because of it. I am also getting constipated and I have ready that when starting Oramorph it is recommended to take laxative/stool softeners from the start, which I havent. Can any of you please give me some advice what you have used to solve this problem as I dont want to let it go on much longer.
Many thanks to you all for keeping posting it really does help me get through
love Ann B
The amount of oromorph you are taking is very low. I am not surprised it isn’t helping with the pain. I don’t take oromorph but oxynorm which is similar and the amount I am on is equal to 40mgs twice a day but have been told I can take more, plus the slow release = to 80mgs day and night. I sometimes think it is a miracle I stay awake!!! My mets are all in my bones. When you say S1/S2 do you mean the sacro-iliac region? Can you have some rads to the area to help with the pain? The trouble with all these strong opiate pain meds is the side effects and constipation is one you really want to keep on top of. I don’t have too much trouble. If I have a day when I havent gone then I take 1 senokot at night and movicol during the day. I am fortunate I suppose that I only need to do this maybe once a month. Milpar is another one the macmillan nurse recommends. I think it is important not to let it build up, but I wouldnt myself take it regularly but then we are all different.
Hi Anne, I have no personal experience, but as a nurse I know you MUST take some sort of laxative every day, with oramorph to prevent constipation. Treating constipation is much more difficult than prevention. I’m sorry to hear it is not helping enough with the pain, you must talk to your doc about that asap. Not much point in being constipated and in pain.
Good luck and look after yourself
Hugs Maria
I too have bone mets and take Oramorph but I can take 10 mls every four hours if required – I am also on MX30 – 24 hour slow release morphine and Gabapanteine for nerve pain. I too found that 5mls of oramorph made no difference. I was struggling with the pain for some time when Dawn encouraged me to seek specialist help and I got a referral to the ‘pain doctor’ as I like to call him at the hospice. GP previously had me on dihydrochlorine which wasn’t helping. If I were you I would ask GP for a referral to hospice doctor – I know it is a bit frightening but they are they really are the experts at pain relief and honestly it has made such a difference to my life to get pain under control. I so feel for you as you can do nothing when in that sort of pain.
Like Dawn I occasionally get constipated but take Movicol – just phone GP and ask for a prescription. I know people find senna good as well. I try and anticipate when I need it so don’t get too bad.
I do hope you get this sorted out soon but please don’t put up with it there are many drugs out there to help and I fully understand how the pain just starts to dominate your life and stop you doing anything. Perhaps phoning GP on Monday to discuss the situation and get a referral.
Thanks ladies for all your advice. I read on one of the other threads to get in touch with Docs secretary to see about increasing dosage and on Friday I phoned my neurosurgeons secretary to ask if I could increase the Oramorph she said she would check and phone me back but she didnt.
Anyway Ive taken it upon myself to take the stuff every 4 hours instead of 6 to see if that helps.
Once I get to see Oncologist I will insist on being referred to my local Hospice as I was under one where I used to live after I had recurrence and found their support wonderful. The one in this area helped when my Mum was ill with fibrosing alveolitus and the MacMillan Nurse that used to visit my mum was lovely too.
I have some senna in so I will have a go at that but at the moment I am yearning a madras curry and you never know that might work too.lol.
Madras curry sounds great. I think you were quite right to increase the doze as I say I can take 10ml every four hours if required. Like you I found the hospice staff excellent and they really are the experts.
I was on Zomorph for pain and had the most awful constipation ever. In fact the constipation actually became a bigger problem for me than the pain.
I was put on Movicol, but didnt really find it very effective, some nights I would take 4 of them in the hope that relief would come the following day, but all it did was give me awful belly ache all night. I tried every laxative I could lay my hands on and the best one for me was called Bisacodyl, which you can buy in any chemist. You could also try Glycerin suppositories, which again you can buy at the chemist.
Good luck
xxx
I’m sorry you’re having these problems.
I also used to be a nurse and although no experience of taking oromorph I currently suffer with terrible constipation as a side effect of taking lansoprazole.
There are lots of different things to take for constipation so it’s a case of finding what works for you. Movicol seems popular but there are others. I actually find syrup of figs is the best thing for me provided I take it every night as it makes me go each day without the terrible stomach gripes I get with movicol.
You can get plain syrup of figs (Califig) and there are other makes that add in senna. Again senna works but can be harsh and cause griping.
I hope upping your oromorph works for you. It does sound like you need to see someone who is expert in pain control and hopefully that will be soon.
I have found the best and most pleasant relief for morphine-induced constipation… a bar of Wispa choc at bedtime!!
It is a serious matter when the constipation becomes as frightening an issue as the pain. I take MST and cocodamol, with Oramorph as required, and I got to the point of wanting to come off all my meds, until I discovered my choc remedy! I know we are all meant to be eating heathily etc, etc, and I do try. I make my own vegetable juices and plenty of fresh fruit during the day, but I really find my little ‘choc medicine’ works. worth a try? I have been on some kind of morphine, including patches for over 2 yrs now, so I know how awful this can be.
Best wishes,
Jax
Just to say thanks to all on this thread. No stranger to constipation but a newby where Oramorph is concerned - all your ideas have eased my weekend considerably (!) with added pleasure of a Flake taken for medicinal purposes - how cool is that!
Excellent!! There has to be some pleasure derived from this awful journey, and if a bar of your favorite choc eases the path, so be it!
Best wishes,
Jax