Wow
how great is this place. Just being able to get all that stuff off my chest made me feel like a different person this morning.I think i realised that no one expects more from Robin than he does of himself,and he sees this illness as a sign of weakness.Robin hasnt seen a Doctor for 15 years and unfortunately our GP has decided that now he has him between the cross hairs he will take the opportunity to catch up on some over due maintenance .I think i have worked out for myself that with a diagnosis like his ,that he has enough to take on board for now,and our GP telling him he has hypertension,high cholestrol and needs to stop smoking ,is perhaps too much all at once.Starting Rob on meds for these problems all at the same time when he previously has never taken tablets for anything i think is overload.
I have taken the unilateral decision that we should concentrate on the cancer and the treatment for now and put the meds away till after his radiotherapy.As for the smoking he has managed to go for 4 weeks but his stress levels are so massive that i think he should be allowed the odd crisis point cigarette till after his treatment.
The pain he is in has been caused by surgical damage to his trigeminal nerve,causing trigeminal neuralgia a condition i recognise as being one of the most excruciatingly painful things that you can experience.The hospital have started him on amitryptilline 10mg nightly but the effect in relief of chronic pain is cumulative and may take up to two weeks to kick in.(at first he chucked the meds in the bin because he read that they are for use in depression i had to go online and show him that very small doses are used in the relief of chronc pain management).So today i will research all possible ways to relieve this terrible pain and see what i can do to help.
In answer to a question asked in the above replies,Robin is a typical stereotype hard working hard drinking working man .The only thing i think you have in america that might compare is your phrase "Red Neck" (if i have used the wrong analogy i apologise).But inside he is a frightened little boy and i need to keep focussing on that.Thank you so much for having this wonderful place to come to .I am sure i will need it on many occasions over the next couple of months
god Bless