Just a little more information as I also saw my Palliative Care Specialist today, as well.

My MO will check the final results of the CT when radiology reads it. She didn't see any evidence of residual thrush. I'm relieved. I will see her in 6 months with a CT of the neck and chest; also CBC for white blood count.

As far as the pain goes, I have been followed by Palliative Care Specialists at the Cancer Center since I was in treatment. We have been trying to reduce the narcotics and she wants me to take ibuprofen 600 mg, 3x/day for 2 weeks. This will hopefully break the inflammation cycle.

She also said that at this point, the narcotics might be working against me in that my nerves have gone into overdrive. She thinks that I have residual inflammation from the infection, even though it's cleared.

My MO said that I have a lot of scar tissue where the pain is; it's where the tongue (partial glossectomy site) is tethered to the floor of my mouth. She said since scar tissue doesn't heal up like the normal surrounding tissue and the radiation damage just makes things worse. Of course, scar tissue doesn't stretch or have blood supply.

So, the plan is to gradually decrease the narcotics again, as I had begun just prior to the onset of the infection. It will likely be a slow process due to the extended length of time that I have been taking them, but I know that I am in good hands with my team at the MGH Cancer Center.

Thanks, all!

Love in OCF,
Kerri