Chrissy : practical points/flying etc.

February 9, 2004

Hi Chrissy,

Good to see you posting. Don't overdo it with that pain. I forgot to

add about flying that they are excellent if anyone is ill or needs

extra help. You would definitely be looked after. I expect you saw

the post about special arrangements and angel flights. It was really

useful info and I don't know anything about it myself. You might

feel nervous about flying itself? I fly quite happily even though I

wouldn't dare go on the simplest ride in the funfair!! I have a

friend who is now 69 who suffers badly from claustrophobia. She

didn't fly once till she was over 60! Try stopping her now! Once

she retired she didn't want to lose out on special holiday deals

(especially in term time so she can gloat over us back at school!!)

and she flies without a thought to-day. If you do happen to be

nervous (you didn't mention that aspect) I'll talk to you more about

it.

I'm horribly ignorant about how those tubes work which you have. I'm

sorry they're so uncomfortable. I WISH you didn't need them.

I do remember Bert saying how fantastic the treatment was in the

wing he was in for his TP in Cincin. hospital.

Anyway, there's a lot to go through first, isn't there, before you

get to that stage? You'll want to reflect on the situation with your

docs, for one thing. You want to get that second opinion also. But

also think of Shirley and Crystal talking about how wonderful it is

to be pain-free after what they went through before.

You kindly asked how I was. (Typical of you Chrissy, even in the

midst of your own pain.) I'm OK generally. I have bad days but I'm

lucky in having a lot of pain-free time as well, just at the moment.

It seems to be the Creon that helps. I do take my codeine pretty

regularly (is it the same name in the US? Not sure. Thought it was

generic but don't remember seeing it mentioned) although not every

day and sometimes just one dose if the pain rears its head. Only on

a bad day do I take 2 - 4 doses. I take the lowest dose I can get

away with as I have it in two strengths, 8mg and 30mg. I've never

taken 2 x 30mg. I try to take 2 x 8mgs or, when bad, 1 x 30mgs.

I'm still working full-time but the lure of retirement is definitely

there! BTW, remember Sue is back nursing now.

Take care and I wish everything good for you.

With love,

Fliss

Recommended Posts