STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER
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Lita, good to hear from you. I am hoping with the opioid crisis the FDA might be more inclined to get safer pain relief out there. Unfortunately there are political dinosaurs out there that have comprehensive skills comparable to a turnip. I don't think there is any compassion for those who suffer.
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lita,
The biggest obstacle, IMO, to the medical establishment “being behind the times”is not the pharma companies ( yes, they have some part in it, but that’s not the biggest stumbling block) but the fact that cannabis is illegal on the federal level. This severely limits research funding, and in a nutshell, that’s a huge problem. No science based studies equals lack of data showing the positive aspects of cannabis. Yes, limited studies and mountains of anecdotes exist, but until it is no longer federally illegal, research will be limited.
You and I are fortunate in that we live in a legal state, both medicinal and recreational. I do a lot of experimenting with different products, dosing and levels of CBD vs. THC and, of course, different strains. After two years of trial and error, I’m feeling pretty confident (most of the time 😜).
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That's useful to know Whirlaway. There is some kind of pain clinic at my Cancer Center. I see a Social Worker next week who is supposedly also staff at the Pain Clinic, so maybe she'll know more about how to obtain a prescription for CBD oil or other options. Ever since my core biopsy on the collarbone area my lymphedema has been more painful, and then I have several other sources of chronic pain.
Thanks for the info Lita. I am glad cannabis is bringing you some relief. My heart goes out to you. I cannot imagine how difficult this is for you, and you have a great attitude. Sending love and compassion your way.
Right now in Ontario Cannabis is allowed under prescription as a third-line treatment, meaning more traditional methods like all those awful narcotics have to be used first. I think opioids are more dangerous than MJ for pete's sake !
Amica
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Amica, starting with your social worker is a good idea! I did have to try the synthetic form first as required under Canadian protocol. Can't remember the drug name right now but I had a very bad reaction to it. I was just in the low percentage to be very sensitive. I have been taking the CBD oil since Feb. Good luck!
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thanks Whirlaway
And why would they try synthetic when there is natural available? I think a natural substance, something that was actually growing in the good earth, is almost always going to be better.
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And now for a Rant on my favorite object of frustration, Ontario's threadbare healthcare system.
My initial appointment with my oncologist was precisely 30 minutes. Her nurse later told me that I had delayed the doctor and taken up too much time, so that the doc's schedule was off for the rest of the morning (inappropriate for her to even say that to me.)
So what's that supposed to mean? If only 15 or 20 minutes was scheduled for an initial oncology appointment, then the Ontario cancer care system is truly f*d up. An initial appointment with an oncologist should be at least 30 to 45 minutes in my opinion.
I'm already stressing about my next oncologist appointment on August 23rd, because I have even more questions than before. First question I am going to ask is: "How long is this appointment?" And if she says "20 minutes" or God forbid less, I will say, "Not long enough. Please book me for a follow-up 20 minute appointment over the next few days so I can actually ask questions, and not be going through life-and-death issues in a breathless rush." If she won't do that or is offended I honestly feel like getting a new onc, or is this just the way it is in Ontario.
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Amica, I'm so sorry for what you're going through in your MO office.
That nurse is out of line. If you have questions, they should be answered.
I wouldn't even ask how long your appointment is scheduled to be. That might make them head for the door.
Instead, make a list of your questions, and prioritize them if you want. Then just go through the list.
I bring two copies of my list of questions, and hand one to the doctor. Doctor would look over list and answer them, usually in order. I'd make notes on my copy. Some doctors would even make notes on their copy and had the list back to me.
Best wishes, Mominator
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thanks Mominator
Yes I do the same thing, with the two copies, only I didn't do it for the first visit with this onc.
I think the nurse thought she was being helpful, which is even worse, like giving me a heads up. SMH.
Why do you think they will head for the door if I ask them how long the appt is scheduled for? It's better that I know so I don't go over. If they are thinking 10 minutes, and I expect 30 minutes, someone is going to end up unhappy.
My previous treatment for BC was in the U.S. There is no medical system in which the patient is in control, but in Canada, that is even more so. Hopefully a medical system at least takes the patient's needs into account. But so far I have not found that to be the case in Canada. This system is all about saving money; both the doctors and patients get squeezed.
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This is good for a chuckle. I'm in Ontario Canada. I tried to book with my Ps who I seen at the beginning of my dx, I wanted to see about doing some reconstruction and the earliest appt he had was in July 2020. Frustrating beyond words.
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that's utterly disgusting. I am so sorry that is something you should not have to worry about! Wow I'm speechless. I know I am going to be bankrupt from medical bills I cannot pay. But atleast they don't refuse us treatment, or put such ridiculous time to wait. Honestly I have never heard anything so unbelievable... I really don't even have words. Honestly
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Amica, I think they will head for the door when you ask them how long the appt is because the power of suggestion. Oh no, she's planning on taking a lot of time. I would just ask all the questions on my list. I've never had a medical doctor tell me that we've run out of time. (Counselors and therapists are different. But you can pick up next week.)
Maybe I'm just lucky with my doctors, or my country.
I think you should have the right to ask all your questions without some nurse telling you you've run overtime.
I think doctor appointments are booked for the average number of patients a doctor can see per hour. Some patients take less, others take more. I don't think the nurse should make you feel rushed because you have more questions.
Also, I live in USA not Canada.
Good luck with your next appointments.
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JJOntario
That's horrible.
My Dad's elderly companion was in an Ontario hospital for about 5 weeks, ill with undiagnosed cancer, in excrutiating pain. It took them forever to get her off of simple Tylenol and provide appropriate pain meds because it took them a couple of weeks to diagnose the cancer. She died BEFORE EVER SEEING AN ONCOLOGIST. Not even once! They say this doesn't happen---only it does. I don't know if it would have made a difference since she was deathly ill, but at least she would have suffered less. Before that she spent about 8 months seeing a gasteroenterologist who was treating her with antacids for stomach pain and they were too cheap to do the proper imaging to discover she had pancreatic cancer.
And guess who pays most (85%) of the doctor's liability insurance costs in Canada? The government--meaning the people. lol
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Oh my gosh at my HOT FLASHES! (They don’t flash off, they seem to last forever, but they sure flash on!
Is it really something that I'm going to have to deal with as long as I am on my meds? Someone please tell me it gets better. I am miserable most of the night from then and I'm embarrassed for dripping sweat when I'm around other people. They understand, but dangit! I am so over this SE!!!!!
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TaRenee
You have my sympathy. Did you go into chemo-induced menopause?
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Amica, Tamoxifen induced menopause. Such fun. I just keep telling myself that if this is what it takes to remain cancer free I can deal with it. But lately it’s taken an upswing and I’m miserable
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I'm in the same (sweaty!) boat, TaRenee! Ever since starting exemestane, I am experiencing one long heat wave. While I'd love to see it end, it's still better than the never-ending muscle pain & fatigue I had on anastrozole. All I can do is pray for an early winter! The things we have to go through ...
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Meow, sorry not to answer sooner. Regarding the CBD oil, how did I take it? A capsule, I was supposed to take 4 a day. But I rarely do what I'm supposed to do so I took 2. Did it help with joint pain? At the time I was taking it I had not started tamoxifen and did not have joint pain (those were the days!). By the time I started tamox and having joint pain I had long since quit taking the CBD oil. So I really can't say if it would help with joint pain.
Why does everything "expert" have to be in the hands of the medical establishment? As someone else said, there are all sorts of people out there who know their pot inside out. What will get you high, what won't, how much to smoke or eat for a buzz of how long, or no buzz. This should not even be left up to doctors but should be a whole new industry of Stoner Stoics, pot breeders, hash distillers who Know Their Shit. Doctors will never be as up to speed with any of this as the people who make a lifestyle out of knowing the weed. This idea that you can be an 'expert' on something just by studying it is mostly bullshit. Like when I hear of some 'parenting expert' who has never raised a child, giving advice to people who ARE raising kids. Oh my god, flock off with that shit! My Grandma who gave birth to 15 babies and raised 14 of them to adulthood, now SHE was a parenting expert! Not some dipshit from university who sat in a classroom as opposed to having shit under her fingernails and puke in her hair. Spare me. Same with dope experts. Forget the guy in the tie and white coat. You want to find the guy with red eyes and a bag of popcorn and who thinks everything is funny, HE is your expert!
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I’ve tried regular (not medical) marijuana, but it didn’t help with my joint pain. I sure slept good though! a co-worker if my husbands sent some CBD oil to me, but I’m scared to try it. Will it help with the pain??
As for the ridiculous cost of healthcare... I just received a statement from my radiation oncologist. I had 5 rounds of radiation recently to help with pain in my pectoral muscle. Each one cost $28219.00! That’s not including the simulation set up which was $6490.00 or the doctor consult which was $947.00. It just makes me sick to my stomach!
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I think my husband is addicted to laundry. He left for work and as usual I could hear the washing machine. I just went to put clothes in dryer and it is literally his pajamas, underwear and towel from his shower!
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Shelia- send him to my house next please!!😀
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I sweat now, and I'm not even on AI's or Tomoxifen.
What I hate the most is I sweat UNDER my chin on my neck. When I went thru "natural" menopause in my early 50's, I never got that.
What gives? Then it spreads around to the back of my neck. I have to use a baby wash cloth to wipe it down. I still get the sweating under the boobs, too...but my boobs have shrunk so much since cancer.
Just somthin' we gotta live w/I guess :>{
L
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Lita
I get the sweating under the chin too!
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I keep ice packs in the freezer all the time and will put one on my head and anywhere else I need it to cool down fast. I use the "softer ones" so they will conform. In the grocery store I'm not opposed to sticking my head into the freezer section if I need to either! I do carry a hand fan now all the time too.
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I think I posted this before, so FWIW:
Bed, Bath & Beyond or Amazon. Works great when you’re out and about.
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Hi Sheila Marie,
I too struggled with how to tell people who would not give me the kind of support that I would need.
I chose to keep my BC news away from those people (which include many family members). So my husband is the only person I have shared my BC news with. I knew that he would be calm and positive and he was all of that and more; he handled everything well and instinctively knew all the right things to say.
But my family? No...No...No. So many of them suffer from negative thoughts and anxiety. I would never want to tell them, the news would create mentally disabling trauma for them, which I don't want to happen. Also it would create endless questions, negative EMAILs, and phone calls to me. This is also NOT what I want. Also when their anxiety kicks in they start giving me "strong advice" which feels bossy and I absolutely cannot tolerate this. I want to make my own decisions and when I need input I will ask my husband.
I am totally happy with my decision to not discuss it with them.
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your fam sounds similar to mine avibaby. They don't know either. Mental sanity preserved...
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I told my mother, and she said “I don't want to hear about that you're fine and that's all I want to hear". Slam. Talk about slamming the door in my face. My twenty one year old son talks to me more openly than she does! My one brother texts me and asks me how I am.... (the only one I talk to anyway. My one sister and One brother I am estranged from). So I say. “I'm in living hell, I cant feel my feet and i can't taste a damn thing. I have scans every six months and blood work all the time. I hate going to the doctors, I worry all the time". Next text. From brother. “Look if you want to have a relationship with me you have to stop being so negative when we talk". Excuse me what did you just say? Did you just threaten a stage four cancer patient with love.? Did you actually just say that to me? Ok ✅! Mental note made. What a jerk. Hurt my feelings. Whatever is left of them. The only person that listens is my DH. People are just simply amazing.
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Micmel, stick with the supportive people in your life. Distance yourself from the others. Now is the time for you to take care of yourself. Unfortunately, many of us have experienced what you have. Really hard when it's your mother or brother though. My mom can't handle the mention of my cancer and it is hard for me to listen to her health complaints. I just want to be happy and feel ok. So many of us know how you feel.
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that phone powered fan is the bomb. They have them at Dick’s Sporting Goids too!
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I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last week following a biopsy. I'm so angry, I don't know how to handle it. I'm a person of faith but even that's not helping right now. Does the anger ever go away?
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