Vaping medicine? A thought for the day.

[philh]

Hi,
Those of you who have noticed will know that I am having chemo but as well as that I have severe arthritis. This means that I have to take fairly hefty doses of pain killers.
The problem I have is that I am limited to 4 doses a day but they only work for 3 or 4 hours. This means that I am in agony for at least 2 hours out of every 6.
When I was having my first chemo session they gave me some painkillers through a drip before the hard drugs started. I asked the nurse what it was and she said, "a painkiller dissolved in glycerine".
I didn't think any more about it at the time but now I'm wondering if I could dissolve my tablets and stretch the doses out through the whole day with no blanks.
It would probably taste horrible but some menthol crystals could make it palatable.

The other big advantage is that no one would dare tell me that I couldn't take my meds without looking a real fool.

Any thoughts.
Phil

[Karma]

Have you ever been referred to the pain clinic philh ? They are really good at coming up with strategies to enable you to be in lesser pain

hope the chemo is going ok for you with not too many side effects

[philh]

Hi Karma,
I did go to the pain clinic at my Docs but it was a waste of time. Once my name was on the list all they wanted to do was drink tea. I walked out and never went back.
No side effects with the chemo but the steroids keep me awake half the night.
Phil

Edit,
I've also had physio and hydrotherapy at my local hospital but I have to be honest and say that I felt worse after treatment than before.

[Karma]

are you taking the steroids at the right times philh ? From what I know they should be taken morning and lunchtime?

I know someone who got a bit confuddled with all the post chemo meds, most of the meds were morning and evening, so they were taking the steroids to late in the day.

Sounds like it was a 'pain support group' you went to Talk to your GP about your pain and say what you said above, surely there are meds and ways of administrating them that could help keep you more comfortable!

[philh]

Hi Karma,
Thanks for you suggestions but it is osteo arthritis I suffer with. In other words, My joints are worn out and no amount of therapy will replace what is lost. I am resigned to being in pain but keeping it under some sort of control with drugs.
Right, lets get back on track, vaping medicine, good idea or not.

[fiddles]

I think what you are asking, nobody will be able to give a definitive answer as unless they know what effects heating & vaporising a certain pain killer will have, it will only be guess work. My advice would be unless you can get definitive answer from someone in medical / research capacity is not to do it, better safe than sorry.

[Blownupdolly]

Hi phil
Have you considered skin patch pain relief? I have spine problems and get a morphine patch put on my back which lasts three days at a time.

[geoffthechef]

Phil i have been up to 1200 mg morphine per day(yes that's correct) and phentonol patches and liquid oramorph.
I attended what is considered one of the best best pain management courses in the uk at the walton centre in liverpool..
It saved my life and a few years down the line after intense cbt sessions and many other professionals help i am Morphine and phentonol free after a very long journey from dependance through need.
One thing i learned many years ago was you have to fight your way through the nhs and demand treatment at times..I have had nine brain ops but at the moment feel a million dollars due to good pain management that does not involve doping me up with morphine and forgetting about me as happened in the past decade.
But please do not mess with your meds...But if you are in pain let them know and tell them that this should not be the case..Pain means someone is not doing their job correctly..Good luck mate..

[rich64]

Wish i could help with your question Phil but its way above my pay grade,but just to wish you all the best

[phiant101]

Hi Phil, I would recommend getting your analgesia reviewed - your pain relief should be working much better than it is. Go back to your doctor and insist on better pain control.

Opiates are known to depress the respiratory system, vaping them directly might prove disastrous. I really wouldn't experiment.

Good luck, I hope you get pain free soon.