OBSTACLES TO PAIN RELIEF – CONCLUSION
Your doctor may respond by saying that what has been prescribed ‘should’ be enough. Such a reply implies that the poor pain relief is somehow your fault. Don’t let your doctor make you feel guilty because you are still in pain. If you are still in pain, it is because you are not getting enough of a strong enough painkiller often enough—simple as that. It is your doctor’s responsibility and duty to correct that situation and if he or she does not do so you have every right to complain and ask for immediate referral to another doctor. The fault does not lie with you.
Some doctors will refuse to increase, or will even reduce your dose of painkiller if they decide it is making you too drowsy. They may do this even though your pain is not controlled. I believe that you have the right to have enough painkiller to control your pain, especially if your cancer cannot be cured and the cause of your pain cannot be corrected. You should decide whether you would prefer to be more alert and in more pain or drowsier and in less pain, even though the decision to be drowsier could mean that you don’t live quite as long as you would have otherwise. Your wishes in this regard are more likely to be respected if you talk to trusted family members or friends and your doctors about them before the situation ever arises. You could even put them in writing if you want to be as sure as possible that your last days will be as you want.
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