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Other symptoms managed by palliative care
By Eden Ali | June 15, 2007
Dry mouth:
Dry mouth, or known as xerostoma, is also a symptom taken care of in palliative care. Causes could be depression, dehydration or anxiety, or could even be the side effect of medications such as antidepressants, pain relievers, tranquilizers, or diuretics. Chemotherapy treatment of mesothelioma or radiotherapy could also cause dry mouth.
Dry mouth can be relieved often times by the following:
1. Mesothelioma patients should drinking a lot of fluids;
2. Sucking on ice chips or Vitamin C tablets;
3. Chewing some sugarless gum;
4. Maintaining a good oral hygiene;
5. Alos providing moisten air.
Gastrointestinal problems:
Gastrointestinal problems may be related to the disease stages, or development itself, or as a side effect of treatment of mesothelioma, or medications mesothelioma patients are undergoing. Which include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.
As earlier mentioned, there are medications for assisting with vomiting and nausea. Doctor or nutritionist can also help to provide dietary hints and/or particular diets designed to fit the patient’s individual needs.
Fatigue:
Fatigue caused be mesothelioma cancers may be as a result of the overall process of the mesothelioma cancers, the side effects of other medications, or the post-effects of treatment of mesothelioma cancers such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. These are symptoms related with fatigue:
1. Decreased energy level unequal to activity;
2. Decreased activity related with physical or performance;
3. Absence of interest in normal activities;
4. Weariness, apathy, or sluggishness;
5. Overall tiredness;
6. Abnormalities wit sleeping;
7. Petulance, impatience, or mood changes in mesothelioma patients.
The treatment of fatigue depends on identifying, and managing the cause of the fatigue. After achieving these, techniques such as exercise, medication, nutrition and stress management then used.
Topics: Mesothelioma symptoms |