The most common side effect
experienced after a mesothelioma surgery is pain at the incision site. All
procedures can cause discomfort where the knife or tube was inserted into the
patient's body. This discomfort may be dull and tingling or more intense. For
some patients, the pain will occur when they get up, sit down, walk around or
try to perform daily activities. But for others, the pain may occur even at
rest.
Quick tip: Mesothelioma patients
with a chest or abdominal incision can benefit from placing a pillow over their
incision when they cough to reduce extra pain caused by the motion.
What to tell your doctor when
developing a pain management plan:
• What
pain you felt recently and how you managed it
• How
intense your current pain levels are
• What
pain medications you have taken recently
• What
vitamins or other supplements you are taking
• Other
prescription medications you are taking
• Allergic
or negative reactions to any other medications
`
Things to ask your doctor about
pain medications:
• What
are the side effects?
• What
is the dose and how often should I take it?
• Can
I take an extra dose if I am still in pain?
• What,
if any, non-prescription medications, vitamins or other supplements I should
avoid while taking this?
• Why
are you choosing this particular drug over others?
Your surgeon can help you develop
a pain management plan to cope with pain you might experience after your
mesothelioma surgery. Before you leave the hospital your doctor will most
likely provide prescriptions for general nerve blockers or oral pain relievers.
These can include prescriptions for narcotics like Morphine for severe pain, or
Vicodin for moderate pain, just to name a few. Or your doctor may advise you to
take over-the counter (OTC) medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen
(Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) to relieve mild pain. Any OTC medications should
not be taken after surgery without specific instructions from your doctor.
Fast Fact: Make sure to get your
prescriptions before or immediately after being discharged from the hospital so
that you have them available at the first sign of post-operative pain.