Hi BeeBee
My heart goes out to you - it's so distressing to see someone you care about in pain not being able to do anything about it. But on the basis that the squeakiest wheel gets the most oil, I do recommend you start making a fuss because it is possible for the medical team to make things at least a bit better. My OH is on Abi and has had several bone pain flare-ups, plus fatigue, sickness, dizziness and depression - maybe in part caused by the Abi but also by the cancer itself and by the various other treatments he is on. We've got a really good hospice team, and a good but overworked onco but even so I have had to keep phoning and nagging.
The pain is one aspect and the increase in the slow release morphine should begin to help within a few days. If it doesn't, the GP or Macmillan nurse needs to be told so that they can increase it again. Meanwhile your dad should have been told to also take 2xParacetemol four times a day (and at night if needed) and Ibruprofen 3 times a day if there's any sign of inflammation. Plus he should have been given Oromorph or similar and should take that as soon as the pain starts to increase (if it does). Once the pain relief regime has established itself things should calm down on that front and hopefully he won't need the Oromorph except occasionally. If there are acute flare-ups he can ask for an injection of Diclofenac - my OH has had that three times and it was wonderfully effective.
My OH also had one dose of RT to deal with an inflammation on the spine (where he has mets) and is now on monthly infusions of Zometa to strengthen the bones and help deal with pain. Do ask about those options when you see the consultant. Bottom line is they can sort this out for your dad.
Re the lack of appetite: we've got vast quantities of a food supplement from the GP, 600 calories a glass and comes in strawberry, vanilla and banana. Not too bad if you keep them in the fridge. My OH has two of those spread out across the day and tries to snack on foods that are high in iron (nuts, dried fruit, pulses, greens, meat and fish) since anemia goes with the territory. Ditto potassium deficiency which leads to dizziness, tiredness and breathlessness. Hopefully they will test for those things at the next hospital visit. Finally, might be worth asking them to check the levels of calcium in the blood. That can be a cause of pain too. The Zometa infusion helps to clear the blood of extra calcium and helps avoid pain that way too.
It can get better I promise you. Do hope you get the help you need from the medical team. Let us know how you get on.
Take care
Eleanor
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