Still Alive

[Guest guest]

I'm writing this because I know a lot of you have been worried. I'm too

tired (from the pain) to reply to every message individually. To those who

are worried, I'm still struggling, but I'm alive.

I'm still without Actiq, but I have " just enough oxycodone to keep me from

getting sick " , but I'm still vomiting from breakthrough pain. And, the

oxycodone is crap. I took six 30mg pills for the episode yesterday and it

was worthless. I got NO relief. The only time oxycodone does anything for

me is when it is combined with a high fat meal. Unfortunately, it isn't

exactly easy to eat when you're keeled over in pain and vomiting your guts

out.

I'm not sure how, but I think the breakthrough pain actually triggered

withdrawal symptoms. The patch was only 36 hours old, so it shouldn't have

been the issue, but I replaced it just in case.

Thanks to everyone who sent me messages, both on and off group. I really do

appreciate each and every message. As for the various suggestions, most of

them I have already tried, but there are a few that I haven't and I'm going

to give those a try in the next few days.

I'll update you guys when there's more to say. I'm going to beg my

Radiation Oncologist for Actiq if I can get him on the phone tomorrow.

I'm also visiting my Neurosurgeon on the 13th, but I'm not getting my hopes

up, he refused to even consider managing a morphine pump for me the last

couple of times we discussed it. He admits that I need one and will happily

implant it, but he doesn't like to manage them anymore. He's more than

qualified and he knows what he's doing. He just doesn't want to. In every

other aspect, he is a magnificent doctor, but he doesn't want to do

anything except surgery, consultations, and tumor monitoring. I'm guessing

there isn't much money in pump refills.

Wish me luck!

Steve M in PA