The Big C! RIP Kim, see pg. 218

[accidental_buckaroo]

[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;n10133367]
Kim, drugs that fall under the “controlled substance” category (don’t ask me how to find that out, it’s above my pay grade ) in most states require that a written scrip is given to the patient and if you fill at your local pharmacy they are supposed to ask for photo ID on every refill.

In my state, Dr cannot submit controlled substance scripts electronically to the mail order pharmacy. I have to get the written scrip and snail mail to the 90-day. USPS/UPS cannot leave the meds by the door, I have to sign for them.

PITA but it is the way it is…

Hope the morphine works for you. Being pain free can make a huge difference!![/QUOT]

@Where’sMyWhite

good to bring up. You have to get actual script from Dr. Office in written form. I know because I just have a script for xanax which is refilled every 9 to 12 months. I had to get new doc in my practice and while I was there, trying to save future excursion, asked for one. He gave it to me because it had been 10 months since last refill. I took to CVS on Sunday, they were out, said be ready on Tuesday.

I am not going to be able to pick up until this weekend, so I called and told them. They said good. We got a letter from DEA saying we had reached our limit, so your timing is great. Why did not someone tell me that in Sunday.

Is UBER in your area? Maybe certs for that?
​​​​​​​Sorry to be Debbie downer. Really.

[shiloh]

I’m glad they gave you a script for morphine. Despite all the “bad Press” it is still by far and away one the best pain control meds out there. Be aware though that it can make you nauseous - even up to the point of barfing. But hey, if you have enough on board you won’t care! It’s also an opioid so if you get any grief about how much you get and when, your doc can write you the reason so you can give it to the pharmacy and they should back off.

And I, too, would be glad to chip in and help you with some little thing. I can’t do a whole bunch (being unemployed and all) but I still want to help.

And tomatoes love hot weather! Mine have blossoms on them so hopefully I will get some soon - if only weather here would make up it’s mind! Cold at night, warm during the day - no, wait, foggy and cloudy during the day - aaarrgghh! Oh, well I guess I can just say it’s California’s OTHER season. We only have two out here - brown and green. It’s brown now.

[accidental_buckaroo]

The point of my tale, which I oft forget to get across, is even if you are not taking them very often, refill the script. You don’t want to run up against a DEA limit, when you really need.

[Zu_Zu]

You’ve Got Friends !!!

[Where_sMyWhite]

@shiloh

And tomatoes love hot weather!

As long as it isn’t too hot

Tomatoes will no longer set fruit once daytime temps reach 95… and no, giving 'maters morphine won’t help

Kim, let us know if the morphine helps with the pain. If so, that will be huge! {{kim}}

[stryder]

Kim, morphine is a wonderful drug, and can really help with pain. Don’t try to tough it out, but try to stay ahead of it because you can take smaller doses. Once behind the pain curve, you’re miserable and people often end up taking more meds.

Morphine is an opioid and can cause constipation. Talk to the wonderful Rachelle about dealing with that, because it’s more than adding a little fiber to your diet.

I’m relieved you’re getting the port as it will make things easier for you.

And, yup, this has become a huge thread. We may not be close enough to help you weed or drive you to appointments, but there are a lot of prayers being lifted for you. We are holding space.

[Mara]

@anon40672407

Yeah. Me, too. Don’t apologize for it being an important thread. What could be more important than sharing and caring for one of our own?

I post rarely. But I think of you often and open the thread often. I want to know how you are doing, not just with your illness, but with the other circumstances of your life as well. You are a complete person, not merely a disease. We know that and value that about you.

YES!

And it sucks mightily that circumstances are what they are, but I for one have enjoyed getting to know you a bit better.

[Sannois]

@seabreeze

Question for you, Kim, and you can choose not to answer if you don’t wish to. Not sure how much you’re able to do around your house. Do you need your yard mowed or any cleaning done or…whatever else? Is there someone you trust that you would hire to do those things that some of us could pitch in to help pay for if you needed it? Many of us aren’t near you but we might be able to help in th
at way. Don’t be shy about accepting help. It could be any one of us, and it would be our privilege, I’m sure.

I can still do it all, thankfully it is not a huge yard. I am a minimalist so Mostly grass and trees and some shade perennials.
I did use a lawn service when I first bought this house before I had a mower, the place was a jungle, and he was a good reliable guy. But I need to keep moving, If I cannot do the things I still enjoy, I would rather die.
Seabreeze than you so much for the kindness.

[Sannois]

@Where'sMyWhite

As long as it isn’t too hot

Tomatoes will no longer set fruit once daytime temps reach 95… and no, giving 'maters morphine won’t help

Kim, let us know if the morphine helps with the pain. If so, that will be huge! {{kim}}

From my experience Maters like warm days and warm humid nights,
But sadly I have a menace. I killed 2 2 years ago, GROUNDHOG!!! Back under my pole barn.
Just discovered him or rather the 100 lbs of sand he dug out from under it piled up by the garden.
AND the maters and cukes are destroyed. Bastards. one thing I hate more than anything is woodchucks/groundhogs.
Now hopefully this will not offend, but I had great success catching the 2 menaces a few summers ago. And saved my garden. This bastard is smart, I set a conibear trap, small one. right at the entrance to his hole he had no other hole.
The shit sprung it and did not get trapped, so I set it again, and covered it with grass he stayed in there for 24 hours.
then yesterday he dug out next to it. He knows what it is now, and I will probably not get him.
I shovelled all the sand back in and tool large cinder blocks and put them all along the back wall.
AGHHHH!

[Sannois]

@Irish Ei's

Yes, I`m also following and praying but my numerous experiences with Cancer go back 15 years.

I am verklempt. Too verklempt to serve as a positive contributer.
My heart and prayers surround you, but my words must remain unsaid.

You know I hope you all do not think I am so fragile I cannot take a bad story or some thoughts that you all are having or experiences, This is not all rainbows and daisies And I know that. I can handle anything. It helps to hear everything.
Don’t be afraid to be negative. this situation is negative.
So glad you are around Irish!

[BAC]

Well I am glad he got away! I’m sorry about your tomatoes and cukes but his life is more important than a few veggies. Very clever of him to figure out a new escape hatch haha, how can you not admire that?

[Sannois]

@shiloh

I’m glad they gave you a script for morphine. Despite all the “bad Press” it is still by far and away one the best pain control meds out there. Be aware though that it can make you nauseous - even up to the point of barfing. But hey, if you have enough on board you won’t care! It’s also an opioid so if you get any grief about how much you get and when, your doc can write you the reason so you can give it to the pharmacy and they should back off.

And I, too, would be glad to chip in and help you with some little thing. I can’t do a whole bunch (being unemployed and all) but I still want to help.

And tomatoes love hot weather! Mine have blossoms on them so hopefully I will get some soon - if only weather here would make up it’s mind! Cold at night, warm during the day - no, wait, foggy and cloudy during the day - aaarrgghh! Oh, well I guess I can just say it’s California’s OTHER season. We only have two out here - brown and green. It’s brown now.

Now see, THAT is what you guys do not know about me, I tell very few people.
I have an unnatural fear and phobia of Throwing up.
I WONT do it. and if anything might make me sick I will not take it.
That is why I asked all the people about Foflox starting with the surgeon. he and everyone one of the nurses at the cancer center said it is not a main side effect.
Truthfully guys, HAve been this way my whole life. Insane, yes but truth.

[mswillie]

@Sannois

Now see, THAT is what you guys do not know about me, I tell very few people.
I have an unnatural fear and phobia of Throwing up.
I WONT do it. and if anything might make me sick I will not take it.
That is why I asked all the people about Foflox starting with the surgeon. he and everyone one of the nurses at the cancer center said it is not a main side effect.
Truthfully guys, HAve been this way my whole life. Insane, yes but truth.

If you can cut the pills in half try taking a smaller dose at first and see how it makes you feel. Years ago I needed percocet for bad cramps. A whole tablet made me nauseated, but half a pill took the pain away wonderfully and didn’t make me sick at all. Also there are other medications that reduce nausea, tell the doctor about your fear and ask if you can get a prescription to have a few of those on hand just in case you need them.

[lilitiger2]

Well, you’re not alone with hating to throw up! I hate it too!!! But they can give you something for that–DH took Zofran (ondansatron) for nausea which really helped (he got it without asking for it from the palliative care people.) And yes to exactly what Stryder was saying–opioids can bind one up! DH also took Senokot-S for that which kept things moving. I still felt his palliative care folks did the best job of managing the meds–knowing which would help with nausea/constipation/drowsiness (so what time of day to take) and so on so he could do his life but that likely varies by doc.

I am hopeless with gardens, but I am very good at managing my manure pile (and the generators!!!) so I have top quality stuff for the fields and for peoples’ (other peoples’ ) gardens!

[Bluey]

@Sannois

Now see, THAT is what you guys do not know about me, I tell very few people.
I have an unnatural fear and phobia of Throwing up.
I WONT do it. and if anything might make me sick I will not take it.
That is why I asked all the people about Foflox starting with the surgeon. he and everyone one of the nurses at the cancer center said it is not a main side effect.
Truthfully guys, HAve been this way my whole life. Insane, yes but truth.

One positive side effect of morphine is that it takes the edge out of anxiety.
You won’t be wary of things like trowing up if you have to.

[Zu_Zu]

Morning !

You’ve Got Friends !!!

[Willy_Von_Whompers]

I check this thread every day too and send you the best healing wishes from Ontario. I’m afraid of saying something dumb so I won’t say much…but you do have people who care very much so don’t feel bad about a long thread. It means we are all involved in a healing circle.

[rubygirl1968]

I hope the morphine doesn’t make you throw up. Luckily I have the stomach like cast iron and most medications don’t bother me that way, but I sure hope it doesn’t make you queasy. I forgot who recommended halving or quartering it but that’s what I’d do to start.

Maybe half will be good enough for you and if not you should be able to tell if it will make you feel nauseous. There are other options out there too, if morphine doesn’t do it. My mom had a pain patch that worked quite well - I think it was duragesic. I’m not sure, it was 1995.

[Bluey]

Some of today’s medications are formulated to release over time, be careful about breaking any up.
Those that can be safely broken in half or quarters are scored for that.
Those that are not scored, read the inserts carefully to be sure it is ok to break them and only take part of one.

Taking a broken pill may dump too much of that substance at once.

The morphine we had under hospice was a liquid, that could be used directly under the tongue.
If pills cause problems, may ask for that?

[Mango20]

Don’t feel selfish about this being a big thread! Think of it as a public service. We all learn a lot from experiences like yours and Litiger’s, and what you’re going through now is very likely to help someone else in the future. Also, everyone really cares about you and wants the best for you.

When my son was about 11 and I took him to the ER for intense abdominal pain, they actually put him on morphine. I was shocked, thinking it was an old fashioned and highly potent drug. But, it turns out it’s the best pain reliever for pediatric patients. I had no idea. (he was fine, it just turned out to be a blockage).

My tomatoes were planted late, and are sitting in a heavy fog so far today (with lots of rain in the forecast), so I think I won’t be eating any tomatoes for a while. All the things I planted last week are coming up - watermelon, yellow squash, cucumbers, three types of beans, carrots, and more spring onions. My broccoli didn’t do well this spring, but kale and lettuce did.