Re: Can't take much more....

[Guest guest]

Andre,

There really isn't much more that I could say that hasn't already been said by

someone

else. We surely are here to listen to you during the worst times of your

depression and

want to do whatever we can to help you get through the despair you feel from

dealing with

the pain, day in and day out.

After so many unsuccessful surgeries I can understand your reluctance to go for

it again,

but I would like to urge you, as others have, to contact Dr. Sutherland and see

what he can

tell you about your chances of success with the TP/ICT. It's my understanding

that he's a

very straightforward type of person, and after meeting him at the Symposium last

year, I

found him to be very honest. I think he would be up-front with you about

telling you

whether or not he felt they could help you. After such a glowing report from

Joey's

mother, about the tremendous change it's brought to that young boy's life, it

surely

wouldn't hurt for you to find out what you can. It will always be your decision

whether or

not to have the surgery, yet I feel you should give yourself a chance for a

better quality of

life.

Another thing you said that bothered me was that you said your new PM doctor had

taken

you off the duragesic, MS Contin and MSIR in favor of methadone, which has

proven to be

less effective. When you go to see this doctor tomorrow, (Monday), can't you

discuss this

with him and see if he will consider putting you back on the medication that was

more

effective? I don't understand why the doctor's try to change things around,

especially

when one regimen works better than another. If you went to him originally with

complaints that the other medications weren't working, and he started you on the

methadone as a change that he thought would help, then okay, that's

understandable. But

you could say that after considerable evaluation, you've found the methadone to

be

unsuitable.

I had to go through something similar to this several months ago, when my 50 mg.

duragesic didn't seem to be working that well. The docs tried Oxycontin, MSIR,

Morphine,

etc., several different meds at different doses, until we found that all I

really needed was

an increase in the duragesic and a different BT med. Since then my coverage has

worked

very satisfactorily.

I just wanted to let you know that your venting is always understood here. Let

us know

how we can help. Good luck with your PM appointment, I hope that doc will work

something out for you that will bring you more relief.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology.htm#Heidi

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All information or advice is personal opinion only, and should not be

substituted for

professional medical consultation.

[Guest guest]

> Andre,

>

> There really isn't much more that I could say that hasn't already

been said by someone

> else. We surely are here to listen to you during the worst times

of your depression and

> want to do whatever we can to help you get through the despair you

feel from dealing with

> the pain, day in and day out.

>

> After so many unsuccessful surgeries I can understand your

reluctance to go for it again,

> but I would like to urge you, as others have, to contact Dr.

Sutherland and see what he can

> tell you about your chances of success with the TP/ICT. It's my

understanding that he's a

> very straightforward type of person, and after meeting him at the

Symposium last year, I

> found him to be very honest. I think he would be up-front with you

about telling you

> whether or not he felt they could help you. After such a glowing

report from Joey's

> mother, about the tremendous change it's brought to that young

boy's life, it surely

> wouldn't hurt for you to find out what you can. It will always be

your decision whether or

> not to have the surgery, yet I feel you should give yourself a

chance for a better quality of

> life.

>

> Another thing you said that bothered me was that you said your new

PM doctor had taken

> you off the duragesic, MS Contin and MSIR in favor of methadone,

which has proven to be

> less effective. When you go to see this doctor tomorrow, (Monday),

can't you discuss this

> with him and see if he will consider putting you back on the

medication that was more

> effective? I don't understand why the doctor's try to change

things around, especially

> when one regimen works better than another. If you went to him

originally with

> complaints that the other medications weren't working, and he

started you on the

> methadone as a change that he thought would help, then okay, that's

understandable. But

> you could say that after considerable evaluation, you've found the

methadone to be

> unsuitable.

>

> I had to go through something similar to this several months ago,

when my 50 mg.

> duragesic didn't seem to be working that well. The docs tried

Oxycontin, MSIR, Morphine,

> etc., several different meds at different doses, until we found

that all I really needed was

> an increase in the duragesic and a different BT med. Since then my

coverage has worked

> very satisfactorily.

>

> I just wanted to let you know that your venting is always

understood here. Let us know

> how we can help. Good luck with your PM appointment, I hope that

doc will work

> something out for you that will bring you more relief.

>

> With love, hope and prayers,

> Heidi

>

> Heidi H. Griffeth

> www.pancassociation.org/anthology.htm#Heidi

> South Carolina

> SC & SE Regional Rep.

> PAI

>

> Note: All information or advice is personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for

> professional medical consultation.

Thanks Heidi. Yes, my pain doc did finally hear me (or heard the

desperation in my voice) and immediately placed me back on MS Contin

and MSIRand I'm already feeling the benefits of these drugs. I know

why he did what he did originally even if I diagree with his

reasoning. he waqs concerned about addiction but, when you are in

constant pain, the last thing you are concerned with is

addiction. 'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Right now it's

all about finding out what works best forme and prescribing it.

Thank you for your words of kindness. You guys certainly are great

with uplifting a persons spirits especially when they are at the

point of desperation, as I most definitely am right now. Since I

already addressed most of your questions for me and the concerns you

have, I won't burden you with a repeat of my previous posts.

However, I did want to respond to your message to let you know that I

will once more begin to start taking controll of my healthcare.

Also, I will be seeing my gastroenterologist and letting him know

that I will be contacting Dr Sutherland for his opinion concerning

whether or not he feels the TP/ICT surgery would be feasible for

someone who has had as many surgeries as I have and whether he thinks

I will have enough Islet Cells left for him to " farm " . Depending on

his responces to my questions, I will decide whether or not to pursue

this course a bit further or to just continue on as I am until,

hopefully, either I die or my pancreas does.

Thanks again for yourkind wordsof concern. You have always been

there forme and, believe me it is appreciated.

Andre'