UTI

Morning all,

My Dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer and likely on his spine. We are waiting for a call this to know the staging and treatment plans. He had a liver biopsy just over a week ago. 
 

He has been on painkillers for weeks now, started with Paracetomol, Co-Codamol and Pregabulin (for leg pain) and now Codeine and Paracetomol desperately as he pretty much an overdose of Co-codomol on Monday. This morning, my Mum had to call an Ambulance for him as again he seemed confused, Paramedics think it's a UTI as he has a temperature and cannot wee properly.

I understand the GP is trying to manage his pain, but I'm not happy with the contact prescription of painkillers until we know the full story, surely all those painkillers, even Paracetomol and Codeine together 4 times a day, as well as a nerve painkiller, is no good for him. If he needs treatment on his Liver, which he likely will, they need to keep his liver as healthy as possible for treatment. 
 

In general, he isn't sleeping all night and just catching naps here and there because of the leg pain, he is eating, he was at golf last week but his leg is getting him down so much now he's fed up. I don't think the painkillers are helping with his mood also but other than that, he is as well as can be at the moment, no obvious weight loss.

Is it possible all the painkillers have caused the UTI? Paramedic said he's very dehydrated and he must drink more throughout the day and space his painkillers over 24hrs.

Thank you all

xx

  • Hi. Sorry to hear of your Dad's situation.

    I suggest you contact the lung cancer nurses to get some better advice about pain relief. They are experts. My GP has not really been involved.

    UTIs can cause confusion and a lot of pain and distress so that needs to be tested. I don't think pain meds cause it directly, but codeine and co-codamol are terrible for constipation, and I've found that can lead to urine infection.

    Bear in mind Co-codamol also contains paracetamol so you have to be careful taking both. There are other options.

    I'm not medically trained so this is just my personal experience which I hope might help. I have lung cancer (never-smoker) with spread to lymph system, spine, ribs etc.. I've just started immunotherapy.  I've never been one to take pills, but pain relief is a huge part of the treatment, also helps with breathing, so well worth getting good advice.

    Very best wishes.

  • Hi

    Thank you for your reply. He is much better today, slept well and feels better, he has to take a urine sample to the GP this morning. A nurse came out to see him, we are still waiting for treatment plan and full results so hasn't been put under anybody as yet, but the nurse said he needs to get off those painkillers if he can. 
     

    Hopefully today or tomorrow we will hear from the Oncology Consultant.

    Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, I hope treatment will be kind to you and all the best

    xx 

  • I'm very glad to hear he is feeling better.

    Thanks for the update.