Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A Little Pain

All last week, I kept telling the doctors that I feel fabulous and that I would never have known the cancer was back. Feeling really good made it sort of hard to believe all this was happening. How could it be back -- in five places -- when I feel wonderful?

Well, since Sunday, I have been feeling less than fabulous. I started feeling a dull, achy, minor pain in my lower back. Luckily, Advil and Tylenol are enough to handle it. And last night, it also started in my mid-back and lungs, a minor unpleasant ache when I take a deep breath. Again, Advil and Tylenol are working.

I left a message for the oncologist this morning to inform him of this change and see what he suggests. I think I had better get someone to tell me if it is a good idea to be taking both Advil and Tylenol. When Lou was in excruciating pain, our primary care physician told him he could take both ibuprophen and acetaminophen because they don't interact because they work completely differently from each other.

When I was feeling good, I was already pretty anxious to get the Cyber Knife started as soon as possible, but now I am even more motivated. My MRI appointment tonight cannot come fast enough!

Oh, but it turns out that since this is an abdominal MRI, I cannot eat or drink for six hours before the MRI appointment. I found that out when I called over there yesterday to make sure I didn't need to do anything special in preparation for the MRI. Good thing I called! The plan had been to go out to dinner before the MRI. If I had done so, then I wouldn't have had the MRI, which is required for my appointments tomorrow!

One final note: Interesting how a little pain dims the cheerfulness. I started to wonder about the grumpy people I run into in my daily life. Sure they can be a pain in the neck -- but maybe they're actually in pain.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Karen - there isn't much good about physical pain and it probably does make people quite Grumpy, I know I get very grumpy when I am not feeling well! So in case someone has not already told you it is perfectly ok for you to be grumpy, good and grumpy, and boy would we not be human if we never got grumpy!!
I hope the MRI goes really well tomorrow and leads to the next best right thing for you.

Carla

Kat said...

Hey, Karen,

Even though pain is our bodies' way of providing feedback that "something" is happening (so we pay attention & potentially "do" something), obviously none of us--neither I nor anyone else on "the bus" nor anyone else supporting you at this time--wishes any on you at any time.

Best of luck with your appointment tonight, & we all look forward to a time when all of this is so very far behind you! :-)

Kat

Anonymous said...

Hang in there Karen and know that I am sending prayers up to Heaven for you. Love, CQ

Jane said...

I'm experiencing some of these same 'issues' with my mom again right now so I can relate. Thinking of you today & hoping the MRI, appt. goes well...we miss you!
Jane

Jacqui said...

Karen, I had no idea. I was just trying to find you on fb and came across your blog. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I will keep you in my prayers.

Love, Jacqui

Drake said...

Karen--What can I say...except I hope you are going out to dinner AFTER the MRI. Let yourself be grumpy, really grumpy, and then you will feel better I can almost promise. Get it all out. If you want to be grumpy to someone come on by and see me. You can unload on me! Love you. Anya