The Oncologist

The Oncologist was quite happy w/ how I'm doing. He's pretty impressed w/ my getting 90-100 hrs 13 of the last 14 patches (The one that was less was 89 hrs). But, we're not going to mess w/ anything new. He and I figure, why mess w/ a med that's working so well.
I've begun having pretty rough back aches, w/ no apparent cause, just below my mid-back. They started in my sleep Mon. or Tues. night and made breathing painful. The gels & creams do nothing. An hour or so w/ a heating pad eases or relieves them. Doc said not to worry unless they continue for an extended period (Folks have been paralyzed by ECD involvement around their spine/vertebrae). They have continued. But, I'm going to wait a month before calling him back about 'em. I'm going in May 11th for an MRI of the brain, anyway.
He also said not to worry about ECD in my jaw unless I begin having unusual pain in that area.

Long Time

Well, Christmas went very nicely. I didn't have any bad episodes, and my wife and I enjoyed a relaxed family Holiday very much.
I do find that the drive back to my wife's and my home after such a trip leaves me absolutely exhausted for several days. Could be the schedule change, the excitement, the expectation. Who knows? But, aside from being bothersome, it's no biggie. I recover from those after few days, and I'm the same old me, again.
I have ever improving news about my Fentanyl patch. I've moved to 96 hrs on a 72 hr patch w/ no big problems. As I approach the 96th hr, I get fairly sleepy. Other than that, I pull off 4 days w/out a hitch. That also means a 30 day prescription lasts pretty close to 40 days. Saves a little moolah over time. :-)