New Back Pain...

Woke up Saturday morning with terrible back pain. Very much like the pain I experienced when I got the shot of Nuelasta every week after my chemo infusion. With the Nuelasta my bones screamed at me for nearly the entire 6 months of treatment. My hips and spine especially.

Saturday morning I felt the same bones screaming all of a sudden. I didn't like taking pain meds when I had the pain I did have during chemo...I didn't immediately take anything for it Saturday or Sunday.

On Monday after some 72 odd hours of dealing with it I finally took some Tylenol. It didn't work. Today I phoned my Oncologist after Googling my problem and found possible links to late term side effects of both Chemo and the Nuelasta shot itself.

Dr L. told me flat it out it is not cancer...we established that on my last visit that I am clean. But he didn't make a connection to any side effects from any treatment I received. Maybe that's just Oncology and Hematology policy...don't admit the side effects will last longer than the treatment.

He advised me to take Motrin...(which has long been off my meds list because I only have one kidney) and I scheduled a visit with my Primary Care Physician instead.

Saw Dr.K and she scolded me for taking too many Advil/Motrin/whatever was in the Zee Medical cabinet at work this afternoon...I am limited to 2 Advil/Motrin etc twice a day...she examined me and wrote a script for a muscle relaxer and ordered an X-ray...

She wants to look for arthritic changes in my bones. (lovely) and then the topic turned to my over due physical...

Last October I had a full lipid panel done but failed to keep my appointment for the physical. For this she scolded me again..."the cancer is gone, lets tune up the rest of you" she said.

She noted that my lipid panel from October had some abnormalities in it...mostly Cholesterol issues and possibly Diabetes. (terrific)

So I walked out of there with plans for an X-ray to see whats going on (or not) with my back and hips and to run blood again.

I have to reschedule my physical for next week.

Can't wait.

My wife often says...I made a terrific cancer patient but a terrible everything else patient (and she's 100% right) everything else gets pushed aside...I have to take care of the rest now. There is no excuse.

Here comes 40...hard and fast and with baggage.


I sense dietary changes in my future.



Be well