Question about combining pain meds

lyrl · New User Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Midwest

The oncology nurse who started me on the Neupogen shots said she always sees the pain in young women - other demographics don't seem as susceptible to it.

For me, the pain level seems related to my white blood cell count. They like to give the shots before the nadir to get them in your system - so when first starting the shots, WBC goes above normal, and that seems to be the most painful. I get the shots for nine days, and hurt the most on days four and five. Knowing the pain will start to get better after day five really helps me get through it.

My oncologist said a neutrophil count of 4-10 is normal. My second cycle, my WBC was 29 before I got my third shot; the following day I'm sure it was higher because of the amount of pain I was in. The nurse said I should talk to the doctor about lowering my dose of Neupogen. Have you brought up this possibility with your daughter's oncologist?

In my case, we ended up increasing the dose of chemo drugs instead, which worked out - in my third cycle, my WBC was "only" 14 before I got the third shot, and my pain was much less.

On my worst days, I took two Tylenol 3 every four hours at night so I could sleep. My chemo makes me constipated, though, and I wanted to limit my use of opiates for fear they'd make that worse. So I took a lot of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) and largely suffered through it during the day.

Can you combine the prescription pain reliever your daughter is on with over the counter pain relievers? That may help her use less of the prescription while still providing adequate pain relief.
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Karieileen · New User Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 9

I had an awful experience with Neupogen. I always had growing pains when I was younger (so bad that they X-rayed my legs to make sure I wasn't walking around on a broken bone), and when I was on the Neupogen shots, that pain just returned. The shots stimulate bone growth, in the sense that the bone rapidly produces blood cells (not the kind of growth that makes you taller). However, it felt like growing pains to me.

What bothers me about what you are saying is that the docs don't want her on pain meds? A good doctor should be comfortable relieving the pain of their patients; they should even insist on it. If the docs give you trouble, push them. It's your daughter, don't let her suffer.

As for her fear of morphine, the fact that it makes you loopy is nothing to worry about. Sure she might say something weird, but the relief is worth it. However, there are plenty of other options for pain relief. There are other narcotics and some non-narcotics your daughter could take. If one form of pain relief doesn't work for her, try another. If they make her feel sick, have her lie down and make sure she takes the pills with plenty of water, and on an empty/full stomach as described on the medicine instructions. That can make all the difference.

I hope you find a way to help her feel better.
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Kari Eileen -- Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor and representative of maddoxoncology.com

brainman

lyrl, I know you were replying to someone else's question. I split your reply off and started a new topic because that topic is very old (stated in 2007 and last posted to over a year ago). I do not even know if those members are still active. But your topic is too important not to deserve its own thread.

I did not do this because you did anything wrong just to highlight this issue of combining pain meds and pain treatment by doctors. I agree about your concern. I think one of the often overlooked issues by many doctors is the issue of pain control.
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Quinroxann

Thanks a lot for the information guys! I am looking forward for your complete healing.
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