Ovarian cancer

hmass01

Well following my battle against colon cancer 2 years ago. The game has begun again. I have now been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Unfortunately I yet again had to fight to get a basic test, after feeling very rough, & sooooo tired.

Now I'm waiting for an operation hopefully sometime soon, my biggest issue is the incredible pain I'm in every day. I have currently been prescribed many painkillers, & nerve blockers & none are stopping the pain. I usually have a very high pain threshold, but this pain is unbearable. I'm just about ready to throw in the towel, everyday is so hard.

Bluebell21

Hi @hmass01 I am so very sorry that you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Everything is such a fight to get the treatment you need. I hope you do not have to wait too long for your operation.

Macmillan might be able to offer some advise about what you can do about the pain you are in. Could you speak to your GP and tell them nothing is helping with the pain and is there something else you could try.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk

I am sorry everything is so challenging for you.

Be kind to yourself.

hmass01

I've just been discharged from hospital, as was in for 4 nights with the pain. I don't believe there's anything else I can get or can be done. It's just waiting now

JennieWren

I’m so sorry to hear this. Pain is such a drain, especially when there’s no relief - just side effects of the meds and sleep is elusive. Had some post surgical issues and staff just not willing to listen. It makes you feel invisible and almost like you’re going crazy. You’re not invisible here. We’re here for you on this journey and ready to listen and empathise, even if there’s not much else we can do. Bless you.

Holly_Scope

Morning @hmass01 I'm really sorry to hear that you're facing this again. It must be a lot to take in and I can't imagine how draining this all is for you, in many ways. You've beaten this before though, and you have the strength to do it again. I hope you've got a network of support during this time. 💛 Is there any possibility to have your medication reviewed in the interim if you're in so much pain?

hmass01

I met a doctor whilst on the ward to evaluate my medication for ultimate benefit to me. He was a great doctor who very happily told me I'm in terrible shape for a woman my age.... I'm sure he didn't mean it as it comes across but certainly wasn't the right time.

figraspberry41

@hmass01,

I am so sorry that you are suffering with such awful pain that does not seem to be better controlled. The previous responses are good places to start, particularly if you already have a MacMillan Nurse Specialist assigned to you. In my experience (retired nurse) who has had a significant amount of time liaising with MacMillan Nurse for patients, they are usually excellent and often would be my first port of call for advise, so probably a 'good' place to start.

May I enquire, if the pain is constant or 'in waves', the reason for asking is that I wonder if you might benefit from a strong opiate that works quickly but has a shorter 'half life'. That is to say once you take it it works very quickly but leaves your system in a shorter period of time than oral tablet medications. Although I was a Qualified Nurse for many years (before retirement) and have some personal experience of Cancer pain (just coming to the end of Radiotherapy), each individual feels pain differently and it would not really be surprising that you feel that your pain threshold is not what you have experienced before. I am by no means an expert but I can sympathise and to a certain extent empathise with you as regards the severity of pain.

I hope that you are able to get adequate relief soon and hope that you get the surgical procedure very soon.

hmass01

Thank you all for your responses, I don't have a Macmillan nurse, our local hub is phone/email only. I'm on some strong stuff already, tramadol, oramorph, gabapantin & nortriptyline. So all should tap it out. I'll strive on.

mrsBB

Hi hmass01 I see you are on Oramorph but are you on an extended release equivalent too ? I am on Oxycontin slow release,12 hourly but top up with Oxynorm liquid up to 4 times a day which is basically the same as Oramorph. Just wondering why they seem to have omitted the slow release if they have 😊

hmass01

No I may actually ask about that as it may help