<p>Sunrise,</p>
<p>So glad you are seeing a pain specialist. If you know an anesthesiologist that you can talk to before hand I would suggest you do it. Speaking to a family friend (anesthesiologist) before speaking with the pain experts was really helpful to me. Mostly because he really encouraged me to believe my daughter should get appropriate pain meds. It is hard to heal when one is in pain. Good luck.</p>
<p>Used to be my motto - sleep is sacred. I’m glad you had a better night!</p>
<p>I’m so glad you had a better night, sunrise, and that the appointment with the pain specialist is almost here. Thank you so much for keeping us posted!</p>
<p>So glad you had a better night. Here’s to many more and a good appointment tomorrow.
Thanks for taking the time and energy to fill us in on how things are going.</p>
<p>Good luck tomorrow, Sunrise! So glad you had a better evening and I hope you sleep well tonight! Take care!</p>
<p>Someone on here recommended ScandiShake. It’s powder that you mix with 8 oz of whole mile for 600 calories. They will send you a free can of vanilla to try if you ask. They have a lactose free version and a chocolate one. This can be mixed with other foods/liquids to make a smoothie. A cancer patient I know blends with ice cream and fruit to pick-up additional calories and make a shake/smoothie type of drink. That’s a lot of calories in a relatively small amount of liquid. I have an unopened can that I ordered for a friend. They are diabetic and so I ordered the type made with aspartame. We are not using it. If you will send me a pm with your address, I would be happy to send this to you to try.</p>
<p>Sunrise, so happy you are back in chemo, feeling stronger, and healing. Thank you for keeping us informed of your progress.</p>
<p>The first 24 hour period in months without pain or severe discomfort! I feel like I stepped into an alternate universe.</p>
<p>The pain doctors know what they are doing. So grateful… My experience with all aspects of MSKCC has been so positive they should use me in their commercial. In the midst of all this, I feel so fortunate that I am being taken care of by such competent and caring professionals in a top notch institution. This is why I never had the nerve to complain about what I am dealing with. There are so many other patients going through what I am going through without the benefit of resources I have and access to the world’s best medical facilities. I am humbled by others’ valiant struggles in the absence of all that was given to me. </p>
<p>It’s been 4 days since I started on the new chemo protocol. This is a harsh one, so women who started without any existing problems like mine get bent out of shape with severe nausea and other problems. I have always handled chemo very well, but this time i was not sure because my body has been so compromised all summer. Luckily, I find that I can still handle chemo very well. OK. Not as well as the first time. I am more tired, and I really don’t have an appetite, but this is nothing compared with what others experience. </p>
<p>I feel that the worst is over. I am hopeful that the new treatment can put me in a stable condition. </p>
<p>Last, not the least, I am so grateful for all the kind words and encouragement from this community. You don’t know me, yet, you pamper me with compassion and generosity that I did not earn. Please know that I don’t take any of your kindness for granted. Thank you.</p>
<p>So very glad to read you’ve found pain relief!</p>
<p>And of course you deserve all the pampering we can give you. We’d all be banging on your door with casseroles if we knew where to find you!</p>
<p>sunrise, I am overjoyed to hear that the pain management folks have given you effective relief. I share your gratitude for excellent health care coverage – just got the EOBs for my defibrillator surgery. Wow.</p>
<p>Best of all, with the pain under control, you body can focus on healing and making the most of this new round of chemo. Hope you can get outside and enjoy this glorious fall weather.</p>
<p>Your recovery from Pain Purgatory made my Sunday a day for gratitude. Blessings to the doctors and nurses who work tirelessly to keep us from useless, random, and unrelenting pain. Sunrise East needs her strength and peace of mind to get through this round of chemo and to have the energy to resume her life with her dear husband and children. Thanks for letting us know, and hang in there, Sunrise. </p>
<p>fellow parent in SW Virginia</p>
<p>^ What she said. Great news to start the week!</p>
<p>How wonderful to hear that your pain has been resolved and that you are tackling the chemo with your typical resolve and grace. You are an inspiration, Sunrise.</p>
<p>Yes, your good news has bolstered a lot of people. Your simple gratitude is beautiful. Thank you.</p>
<p>Hooray for feeling better!! Great news.</p>
<p>Dear Sunrise, </p>
<p>I am someone who doesn’t post often but has followed your journey faithfully. I am so glad you are finding moments (and even a whole day!) free of pain. I am constantly amazed by your eloquence in the face of tremendous challenge and your ability to share your progress (and sometimes lack thereof) has been inspiring. Please know that while you are grateful for our kind words and encouragement, I would state that all your followers and supporters get much more from you. The gratitude you have demonstrated is a model for the rest of us to follow in our lives. Wishing a pain-free week ahead for you.</p>
<p>I am so glad that your pain is being managed…now you can focus your indomitable strength on beating your cancer in to complete submission.</p>
<p>Thank you for the update, sunrise, and I am so glad you have found pain relief. I have been pondering the idea of “pain management specialist” as a job…it would take quite a special person.</p>
<p>Really happy to hear this wonderful news, sunriseeast! It is true that you are blessed to live in an area of the country which has some of the finest medical facilities, but you are also your own best advocate and this is to be commended. I wish you many more pain free days and the additional wish that the current protocol is finally the one which will bring long-term remission.</p>
<p>Reading that you finally had a relatively painless day has given me goosebumps of joy. May there be many more good days ahead.</p>
<p>wishing you a good week</p>