Gary and Eric,
I had a good laugh when I read your posts. Felt like the little kid who passes gas in church and can't stop laughing about it, lol.
I don't know why I handled the pain as well as I did, my mom said it was the Indian blood in me........same reason I had 7 babies, drug free, without so much as a whimper I guess. I remember when my dad had a horrible attack of kidney stones and his doctor told him to think of the agony if instead of a small stone it had been a 7 pound baby.........he told my dad to go home and hug his wife (my mother)!
Ok, I'm off subject. Eric, patience is the key. It took me forever to learn that one, I'm a pusher. But, I know that it will take me lots more time to reach the top of my "new normal". You are just starting out and there will be lots of speed bumps. Your body will tell you what to do if you listen to it.

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.