May 24
Today I visited the Oncologist again. I had an appointment also last Thursday.
I renewed my prescriptions. I had planned on canceling all pain medication, as I had not used any in months.
Then the weekend happened. I had terrible PLP. It felt like my left foot (the missing one) was nailed to the floor. I took more pain pills on Saturday and Sunday than I have this year total.
I don't know the cause of the PLP, and am afraid it might return. Today I got a prescription for more pain pills.
I also got my normal Celebrex and Avodart prescriptions.
We decided to have the open sores behind my ears removed and sent for testing. I don't think they are Angiosarcoma, but I do know that AS likes the scalp, and likes areas of the body that are stressed. These sores fit both of those possibilities. I see a surgeon on Monday. She will look at them.
That skin is very thin behind the ears on that bony part. I don't know how to remove a sore from there. I bet it will hurt, and I'll wish I had more pain pills.
The good thing is I'll stop having blood on my pillows in the mornings. I have been wrapping gauze around my head, and then wearing a balaclava over that to keep the blood off the linen.
We decided to go ahead and start the PET scan procedure. So today the Oncologist ordered the PET scan. Next will be Medical aid approval, then the ordering of the radioactive goo that goes into me, then the PET scan place will call and make sure I stick to a strict diet before the scan.
My prosthesist is building a new socket for me. This one is way too big, and I shove lots of foam between my stump and the socket every day. As my stump shrinks, the foam moves around and some comes out the top and some collects at the bottom.
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May 29 2017
I just visited the surgeon. She looked at the sores behind my ears, and she said they should be removed and sent for lab tests. I asked her what she thought it was. She said it was probably basil cell cancer, and not malignant.
I asked when she thinks would be a good time to schedule surgery, and she said " Tomorrow morning."
She said that I would be the first operation scheduled, so should be back in the ward, recovering by about 9:30. If all goes well with the anesthetic, I should be released by noon. I shouldn't drive for 24 hours after the surgery, as it will be a general anesthetic.
My release would be on the condition that someone was there to drive me home.
At home I found my main computer to be "unresponsive". I suspect the CPU temp is to high. Probably needs cleaning of the cooling fans.
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May 30 2017
I'm just back from the hospital after the surgery.
The hospital suggested that I only use crutches, instead of the prosthesis on the day of surgery, so it won't get stolen while I am in theater.
My buddy offered to collect me after I am released, but asking him to be at the hospital by 06:00 to drop me off, was to much to ask. So I drove myself there, and planned on driving back after I felt good enough, hopefully before dark.
I went into the theater at 07:00 and woke up about 10:00. I was very groggy. They say there are a few conditions set by the doctor, that were necessary for my release.
I had to eat a meal, pee at least half a liter, and have someone collect me in the ward.
I ate breakfast, but was still drowsy, and fell asleep. I woke up just in time for lunch. I then peed the required 500 ml.
I then fell asleep again, and only woke around 13:30.
They said I could leave as soon as my driver arrived. I told them I wanted a cup of good coffee and a piece of chocolate cake while my buddy was driving to get me. So they released me to go sit in the cafe until my "fictitious driver" collected me.
I drank coffee and had some more lunch. I still did not feel 100%, so I had another cup.
I finally felt better at 15:30, and I drove home. No problems.
Now I sit at home with pain behind both ears. Pain behind ears is not a very "noble, or dignified" pain. But then I guess having pain in a missing foot also isn't a pain to be "proud" of.
The Doctor was going to prescribe pain pills, but said that the pills I already have are much stronger than anything she would prescribe for my newest, aches. I will now take a few pain pills, and see if I can sleep.
The bandages will make any laying on my side a bad thing, as it will put pressure on the stitches. I think I'll just sit up all night for a few nights.
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May 31
I slept ok, sitting up right all night. The pain pills work very well on real (versus phantom) pain.
I think today will be a sit in the wheelchair day. My head hurts. But compared to PLP, this pain is easy.
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