I must say I agree with Nelie that the insurance company would have the audacity to tell anyone how much pain meds they could have. I would contact a lawyer and sue their asses for all their worth. Talk about a claim for pain and suffering - I am sure you could get a lawyer to take it pro bono. Who is your insurer - we need to know this!?!?!!? DO they have an omsbudsman? Pain meds aren't all that expensive I might add. The high ticket drugs are the Cisplatin and the anti-emetic SRI types like Zofran.

The salt water rinse is a great idea unless you have open sores then your pain threshold will go right through the roof so be careful -proceed with caution. Club soda may be a little easier to take.