My oncologist put me on the Fentanyl patch today; when Patty and I first went to the oncologist he promised they would not leave me in pain, he didn’t say anything about me being opioid dependent after this is all over. Knowing what I do about my Doctors and since one doctor recommended it and another prescribed it, I have to believe that it the correct thing. The last few days have been fairly easy, my tongue still hurts as the patch takes 14 hours to start kicking in but once it does, I think of it is an E Ticket ride.
Fentanyl is one of the most powerful opioid analgesics with a potency approximately 81 times that of morphine. It is also a highly abused drug, as a result being categorized as a Schedule II drug in the United States.
Mark Twain said “Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place”. There is really no humor in this disease but having a sense of humor and a wife whose sense of humor is one of her best assets, when she laughs people laugh, her laugh is infectious and that is one of the things that keeps me going.
I am so worried about becoming some drugged out old hippie who counts the hours until I get the new patch, or the next what ever, but of course I will tell you the pain is real, very real and the balance will be a challenge.
I want to write all of this down so when someone else goes through this, maybe they can find it and read about the human side of this. Nothing has prepared me for all of this and I have read books, literature from the doctors. I actually read those long things that come inside the prescriptions and make Patty sit and listen while I do it. I have read Chemo and Radiation for Dummy’s, 100 questions about head and neck cancer. I have read so much I can communicate with the doctors and understand why the decisions are being made and how. For now I am done reading about treatment. It is time to focus on recovery and prevention; this will be my next reading assignments I hope my mind will be clear enough to take it all in.
It has been a week of no treatment, but we actually spent a lot time with my entire set of oncologist this week, including my surgeon. One thing I did l learn is that Surgery is not the easy way out in fact the pain of the recovery from the surgery is as bad or mare painful than radiation, everyone talks about chemo being bad but for me it seems like the radiation is what is wearing me out, although my radiation is scheduled for 8 weeks and the chemo 6 weeks. I ask my medial oncologist about this and he said I would only get the week 7 and 8 chemo if I could handle it, like he knows what he is talking about, LOL. I get chemo this Tuesday so we will see how I do after that.
November 4th 2008 is the general election I have chemo and radiation that day and I plan on voting I hope you do to. Please vote, let’s make this the biggest turn out ever. I do not care who you vote for, what proposition or cause you’re interested in and please do not turn this into a political debate, just vote. Please do not make me regret asking you to vote and use a reply to this as a way get your political point of view out there. Thank for understanding and thanks for voting.
Congratulations to the Phillies go Sox as always be well and I choose to Fight ON.
Michael
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When I hear about Fentanyl for some reason I think of the Stepphenwolf song " Magic Carpet Ride" One I like the song but two because I had morphine twice for a migraine and it kick my ass for three days. So I feel for you.
I now have five people in my life that have cancer. You, My Uncle Jay with Prostate cancer that went into his feemer bone and they remove that and is know in his kemo treatments. My very dear friend Layla with Breast cancer stage 4 and who just found out it is spreading. My cousin Regina only 45 with breast cancer and finally my aunt with cancer as well. It's very strange to think that so many I love and that I am close to have cancer.
I have to tell you tho, uncle Mike you looked great yesterday and to see your smile on that adorable teddy bear face was the best ever.
I always enjoy when we are all together and Patty makes great food and family comes over it's just always fun.
And of course I will vote!
Keep up the fight and I will keep up the prayers.
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