Xofigo treatments, pain management

[chascri]

First Xofigo treatment scheduled for May 23. Any tips or advice and what to expect from those who have been through Xofigo treatments  would be appreciated. Thanks.

Now doing taking 2mg of Hydromorphone every 2 hours to control the pain. Keeps it at about level 2 or 3 most of the time. When taking it every 3 hours pain would reach level 5 or 7 before time for next dose. 30 ml of Milk of Magnesia (cherry flavored) taken at bed time each night is controlling the constipation pretty. Experiencing stomach pain which I think is caused by the Hydromorphone. Going to try taking each dose with food or milk to see if this helps. Any suggestions on this?

[JoelT]

The treatment itself is painless and you should obtain pain relief caused by the mets after two to three treatments.

Joel

[WinnipesaukeeBob in reply to JoelT]

Xofigo is easy to take and tolerate. You may need a calcium supplement to keep your calcium level up. I use New Chapter bone strength. I finished Xofigo in May 2015 and it stopped bone pain and reduced the number of bone mets visible on scans.

Before Xofigo, I had a lot of bone pain in my neck which hydromorphone could not help much. Prednisone and Advil finally did the trick for me. All the best....Bob

[CERICWIN]

I'm surprised that your doctors don't have you on better pain control. But then, I'm under palliative care, which is mainly pain control.

I have extended release MS Contin (morphine) and take 60 mg in the morning, for the most active part of the day, and then 8 hours later, 30 mg morphine, and again 8 hours later, another 30 mg morphine. And also they gave me hydromorphone (Dilaudid) for breakthrough pain, and I can take up to 6 mg every three hours, even going up to 8mg when it's especially severe.

I only have had stomach pain when taking pain meds when I didn't drink sufficient water with them. I have to take so many pills, and water is extremely important when taking medications. The directions on the hydromorphone state that it can be taken "with or without food."

I suggest that you ask your doctor about an extended release pain med---and it's important to take them regularly.

I didn't like being put on such strong narcotics---I'd never taken addictive drugs--but they are necessary at this point. When I told my palliative nurse that I was surprised that I didn't get any feeling of euphoria or mental fuzziness from the morphine, she said, "That's good. It shows that it's going to the pain receptors."

My doctors get upset when I mention the word "addiction," and say that I have a drug dependence, not addiction.

There is no reason that you should have to suffer pain, and I feel that your doctors should be more sensitive to your pain control needs.

CERICWIN