OT REEPLY the fentanyl/duragesic saga, plus happy things

October 18, 2001

Hi Cheryl, see there are still wonderful people in this world! I am glad you

have great family and friends to help you!

Take Good Care

Sheri

the fentanyl/duragesic saga, plus happy things

...or, how I lost three pounds in one day.

Three weeks ago, I went on the Duragesic patch. After a week of nausea

(and loosing a pound each day), I seemed to adjust to the patch. My

pain levels were less, when I wasn't having a strange fatigue headeache.

But my friends were noticing more and more odd behavior from me:

specifically, I was much foggier than usual. I did manage to gain back

about three pounds.

Yesterday, I saw my primary care doctor and he took me off of the patch

right there in the office. (He's sending me to a pain clinic to get

a different painkiller.)

Since then, my pain levels have been getting worse and worse. I had to

take several breaks to finish this e-mail, for example.

This morning, I spent many hours having crampy constipation, running in

and out of the bathroom. This evening, I weighed myself. I've lost three

pounds since yesterday.

I don't know if this is possible, but I think my GI system was backed up

three pounds worth. Yikes.

Enough of that. Let's think of happy things...

One of my dear friends insists that I'm coming to the Halloween party at

her house, even if she has to drive me the four blocks there and set me up

to hold court from her bed. Isn't that sweet? Two other friends are making

me frozen dinners for when I can't fix my own meals. I'm so blessed with

friends. And my mom is getting me the lightest Medic Alert bracelet they

have available.

Cheryl in Seattle

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