Sundance Huffed & Puffed...And Finally...

Sundanceh
Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
edited September 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1

Well, I'm going in for yet another surgery for a pain relief test to see what happens.  This will mark my 6th surgery this year (what a whip) and my 14th surgery to date.

My trial people are letting me down and can't find any candidates (supposedly) to operate on and so I WAIT....and wait.....and wait some more.  I'm in line for the surgery again but have to follow someone else.  Trial protocols are so prohibitive.

So, in the meantime, I've got a new pain mgmt doc as my other doc just left the practice and went onto something else.  The new doc is nice and she seems knowledgeable.  She graduated Stanford and it seems that is a good school for pain as my first doc graduated there also. 

Now, if the new procedure works....what we are gonna' do is inject morphine directly into the spinal canal.  This is funny because I was watching The Knick on tv and on one episode they were injecting cocaine into his spinal canal.....and the did a bowel resection with no anasthesia......in the early 1900's even.  So maybe I will get some temporary relief. If it works, our next step will to be go in for still another surgery.

They would install an inter-catheral pump inside my body that would regulate and pump morphine to my spine.

This might buy me time for the Saporin surgery whenever it opens....doesn't look anytime soon.  This surgery looks to be more maintenance for me than a permanent surgery......but I was mainly off the dilaudud and doing better with dizziness and such.  You don't have to wear any internal or external devices....reduced pain medicine taken with the Saporin drug.

So, more surgeries will be a-coming....I'm just so tired anymore of all the hills I must climb and all the rigaramo we have to wade through as a team.  But back into battle I go again.....just looking for a soft place to land.

I have begged every medical professional to help me somehow.....it looks that finally help might be arriving for me.  It's about time!
I told them after all I've done to help this hospital...and now that you're done with me, you throw me aside like a bag of garbage.  I feel betrayed sort of...

i've had a bad bladder infection the past month (just for grins) and it happened after chemo treatments.  So, I delayed treatment until this upcoming Friday.  we'll do a couple more treatments and then scan and see how much they've grown.

I'm having the nurses find a bed for me whenever I go to the cancer center.  I have to lay down before, during

and after every appt.  They are not always available and that is miserable waiting in the lobby area.  It's a blessing when they can accomodate me....

You know how I have a way with the ladies:)

My continued support to you.  Take my love for you - with you:)

-Craig

Comments

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #2
    Dear Craig

    You have always been the one to be on the leading edge of surgeries and treatments, blazing the way for others. 

    Your courage cannot be surpassed.

    While I will always associate the lion with you I think you deserve the title Dragon Slayer.

    You have faced the dragon head on again and again.

    You remain in my prayers, not only for lasting pain relief, but for forward movement in your fight.

    Love and hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #3
    Craig its good to hear from

    Craig its good to hear from you but i wish it was under better circumstances. I hope this next surgery buys you more relief.

    I know how you feel about your hospital betraying you. That is exactly what i have been going through with the NCI hospital where i had my 3 liver surgeries. They seem to keep coming up with excuses not to help me. I went to another hospital to get y90 done. They saw all the work i did a the NCI hospital and were surprised they werent treating me. That is why i am going for second opinions AGAIN. Now i am having insurance issues for the first time after nine years.

    It seems that at some point long term stage IV survivors like us become a neusense for the hospitals. It should be the opposite. They should be embracing for our sheer will power to survive.

    Anyway you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #4
    janderson1964 said:

    Craig its good to hear from

    Craig its good to hear from you but i wish it was under better circumstances. I hope this next surgery buys you more relief.

    I know how you feel about your hospital betraying you. That is exactly what i have been going through with the NCI hospital where i had my 3 liver surgeries. They seem to keep coming up with excuses not to help me. I went to another hospital to get y90 done. They saw all the work i did a the NCI hospital and were surprised they werent treating me. That is why i am going for second opinions AGAIN. Now i am having insurance issues for the first time after nine years.

    It seems that at some point long term stage IV survivors like us become a neusense for the hospitals. It should be the opposite. They should be embracing for our sheer will power to survive.

    Anyway you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

    Keep at em. Always in my

    Keep at em. Always in my prYers. 

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    #5
    Hope this next one works!

    Craig - You are an inspiration, trailblazer and everything else folks say about you.  I hope that you get some long-term pain relief so that you can continue with the other battle.  Stay strong my friend.  Traci

  • Yolllmbs
    Yolllmbs Member Posts: 360 Member
    #6
    traci43 said:

    Hope this next one works!

    Craig - You are an inspiration, trailblazer and everything else folks say about you.  I hope that you get some long-term pain relief so that you can continue with the other battle.  Stay strong my friend.  Traci

    Prayers

    And good thoughts. You are such a survivor!  You are an inspiration. Good luck and take all the cyber hugs, prayers and good wishes with you.

     

    Yolanda

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #7
    Straight...

    Morphine to the spine! Wow that sounds pretty good to me. I know a really good Cabernet that'll go well with that : ) You

    keep on taking those ladies to bed or uh whatever you said! lol I'm pulling for you!

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #8
    My dear Craig,You have been

    My dear Craig,

    You have been through so much over the years, especially during this past one, so I truly hope that this latest surgery will put an end to your constant pain.  :(   Stay strong our dear Lion, you can get through this!!!

    Hugs (())

    Cynthia

  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #9
    Inspiration

    Craig,

    Your determinstion and persistence are truly inspirstional. Thank you for enduring and fighting and sharing. You are a role model for me. I am learning how to manage this marathon from your examples. 

    And know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm cheering and yelling as I see you pushing on and through the pain. Blazing trails that others will likely follow...  And surly others will find their way a little easier, experiencing a little less pain, BECAUSE of you. Because of your lessons shared and your showing the way.

    Blessings to you tonight.

    Sincerely,

    Philip

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #10
    That sounds like a hopeful procedure, Craig...

    it's interesting that something similar was being used so many years ago.  I would think if a resection could be done like that, it may be very effective at deadening pain in general.  I sure hope so.  I know you need something to help.

    Let us know when it's happening, so we can send our good thoughts and prayers to give you a little lift!

    Lots o' love~AA

     

    PS  Looks like that tablet is working pretty good!

  • christinecarl
    christinecarl Member Posts: 543 Member
    #11
    Prayers

    I hope the Drs are able to find a way to keep you pain free.  I think about you often and hope there is something that can be done to help you.

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #12
    Dear Craig,

    I hope this next step will give you more relief.

    You write about the most horrific things in such a beautiful way.

    Your spirit shines through every word. Thank you for being an inspiration in so many ways.

    Laz

  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #13
    Darn!

    I was hoping you'd get some relief. You've been such a fighter.

    I hope you start feeling better. I think about you often. 

    Keep up the fight.

    Lin

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #14
    Dear Craig

    I realized when I went to the cardiologist (I now have tachycardia) and had to fill out the past surgery history, first I realized they only had space for three surgeries HARDEE HAR HAR, and second I couldn't remember all my surgeries theses past 4 + years, I do know though you are way ahead of me in that area and I admire your fortitude and strength.

    My brother had a morphine pump for about a year a few years ago, it helped him immensely until they finally did surgery and fixed the problem, I hope if you get it, it does the same for you.

    I'm glad you're able to get a bed for chemo, they don't have them at my infusion center but they have kind of lazy boy chairs, that'll stretch out.

    Heres to your pain being severely lessened and better times.  I think of you every day, and glad you're in our lives.

    Hugs,

    Winter Marie

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #15
    Hey Craig, as my mom would

    Hey Craig, as my mom would say you're a trooper.  I'm glad you're getting morphine, morphine is your friend.  You really do have a way with the ladies, that line made me smile.   I hope the next email says let see how much they're shrunk.  It's so great how life just threw a bladder infection in for kicks, isn't it?  Here I know you're down so  . . . .  Always the way.  Looking forward to hearing that the morphine is helping and that you're finding that soft place.  Helen

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #16
    My dear gentleman cowboy....I, too, watch the Knick!!!

    I am putting my arms around you, dearest....and sending all my love...

     

    Hugs, Kathi

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #17
    Thinking of you

    I hope this does the trick for you.  Thinking of you, always. 

  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #18
    Amazing

    Amazing dear friend, simply amazing.   I hope and pray you get relief from the pain.

     

    Sending you aloha.

    Kathleen

  • UncleBuddy
    UncleBuddy Member Posts: 1,019 Member
    #19
    Craig

    How are you feeling this week? I am hoping you've gotten some relief from the pain.

    Lin

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