Lou (lbh24) is a young man in our BFAC family who is losing a most important member of his real-world family…his mom. She has colo-rectal cancer and has just entered hospice. Please take a moment to support him and if you can, give him some words of love and strength. He’s been doing everything possible to help his mom and it breaks my heart to think of what a sad, hard part of the journey he and his mom are now walking. Thanks, guys. Love to all of you as well.

Posted on February 17, 2012 at 9:38:50 AM by Ann (Help support a young man in a tough position..Lou (lbh24), 6 comments, 363 views)

Cathy, Lou like this.

Ann, I’m going to search for him…if you have his page would you show the link…thanks

Posted on February 17, 2012 at 11:13:14 AM by Private User

http://lbh24.blogforacure.com/weblog

Thanks, Marshall!

Posted on February 17, 2012 at 12:36:59 PM by Ann

Hi Ann – I left him a message this morning after I saw his recent post. I’ll keep checking in to see how he’s doing… I can’t say I know exactly what he’s going through, because everyone’s grief is different, but I can certainly empathize with his situation having lost my own mother to brain cancer.

Posted on February 17, 2012 at 5:40:53 PM by Danni Malone

Such a sweet angel you are Ann; Lou’s blog now has 22 supporters.
May we also now call you a “Task Mistress of Love”?
My oh my, did we ever imagine there was going to be so much love and support to be spreading around?
You made my day.

Posted on February 18, 2012 at 10:34:37 PM by Nicole (Lady Of The Larynx)

Will do :)

Posted on February 19, 2012 at 5:34:26 PM by Tami

I Just Took My Last Pain Pill!

After being on Vicodin for nearly a year, for various surgery- and chemo-related pains, I officially took my last 1/2 pill today. Took three weeks of tapering, and I’ve felt like crap, but now I’m done. Still feel like I have the flu but hopefully that will subside in a few days. Pain meds are great when you need them, but a serious pain in the butt to ditch when you don’t (kind of like some guys I’ve dated). Will be going to get my teeth cleaned this afternoon, wonder if it would be cheating to ask for a little something to “calm mah nerves”. Just kidding…I may miss my white wine and vicodin cocktail hours, but there’s no going back now. Might very well need these meds in the future, gotta keep my level of tolerance somewhere below “full-on junkie”. Besides, I’ve now checked “become drug addict and sell children’s most precious toys to support addiction” off my bucket list, so it’s all good. Hugs and strength to ya’ll. Ann

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:09:32 PM by Ann (I Just Took My Last Pain Pill!, 23 comments, 563 views)

5 people like this.

Bill Curry sent you a hug.

I never got any good drugs. Just tylenol w/codeine, just as well. Good luck at the dentist!

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:16:03 PM by Laurie

I hope it goes well for you Ann and that you get to feeling better soon – but do you have to give up the white wine too? Gosh, I hope not!

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:37:11 PM by John's Wife

No giving up the wine…that’s my legit drug! In moderation, of course…ahem.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:28:53 AM by Ann

Great job! Enjoy the dentist.

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 1:55:23 PM by Private User

Good for you! I might try to get off the red wine…no probably not! :)

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 4:59:03 PM by Jana

ahhh…sh**...there goes my chance to see you on celebrity rehab! Good for you! (you make me laugh) :)

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 5:29:43 PM by Rachel

Well, this is really a lot like Celebrity Rehab, if the celebrity was a slightly overweight, middle-aged librarian that no one had ever heard of…

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:48:53 AM by Ann

Ouu those are the ones who make the best episodes; the junkies no one ever suspects.
(“The dedicated librarian with the overdue prescription”.)

Posted on January 29, 2012 at 12:07:00 AM by Nicole (Lady Of The Larynx)

Congratulations for no more pain meds.

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 6:11:23 PM by Paul

Hi Ann!

That’s great news and you sound determined to not go back. I’m sure it’s been difficult, but you are doing great!

Hugs—
Martha

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 6:16:21 PM by Private User

Good for you, good luck stayin’ clean…I haven’t taken a dose of morphine in 3 days, and feel ok except my throat hurts more, and the salivary glands have kicked in full time saliva production…don’t know if that’s a side effect or what…I still have a fentanyl patch on tho, so not the same thing…go Annie!

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 8:22:39 PM by Ed M

Hey Ed-you are still in the thick of things, so take those meds if they help you to be more comfortable! I took mine until I was absolutely sure I wasn’t having pain anymore, and then I took them for a while longer just to be on the “safe side”, and then I realized I was having way too much fun and had to quit. You’re not quite there yet, bud.

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 8:34:11 PM by Ann

LOL Ann. So glad you got off the Vicodin. I weaned off Oxycontin and Vicodin (not at the same time) and it is NOT easy. Congrats that you don’t have to sell your children’s toys! Ha ha.

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 8:56:04 PM by Rainy

I took oxycodone last summer and that stuff was horrible! Got addicted in about six hours. Only really got off it when i landed in the ER for emergency surgery and a lengthy hospital stay. By the time I got out, I wasn’t addicted anymore. I’m impressed you got off that stuff without some major intervention.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:27:42 AM by Ann

YOU GO ANN!
I know taking that painkiller breakup is difficult, and Vicodin is one of the hardest to walk away from.
Dang, I relate to your outline for stepping down; and I was only weaning off Tylenol 3s.
Class act Ann; class act! It will get easier.
Hope you get to feel better soon.
Hugs to you dear, Nicole

Posted on January 26, 2012 at 10:56:50 PM by Nicole (Lady Of The Larynx)

Thanks, Nicole! I think the 3s have codeine in them too? It’s just such addictive stuff. My dad was a heavy drinker until he fell off a roof one day, hurt his back and got prescribed Tylenol with codeine. He quit drinking after that and I really think it was the opiates that allowed him to get off the sauce. A reasonable trade, I guess…at least he quit chasing my stepmom around with a shotgun (unloaded! So OK!) on a regular basis.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 6:55:03 PM by Ann

Yea, the T3s have codeine, hard to leave behind.

Oh wow, dad with a shotgun & on the sauce? Even unloaded …scary. I can see how codeine would be the safer of the two.

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 11:45:20 PM by Nicole (Lady Of The Larynx)

Way safer…and he actually became a much more reasonable human being for the last thirty years of his life.

Posted on January 29, 2012 at 3:01:42 PM by Ann

Way to go, you’re so strong. Any chance you can replace the pain meds with weekly massages? That I’d never give up! Good job!

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 6:26:23 AM by MIchelle

That’s kind of funny-I actually had a massage scheduled for this week, but I canceled because I hurt too much to be touched! Rescheduled for next week, hoping that things won’t be quite so ouchy by then.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:51:47 AM by Ann

Sheesh, Ann – that tag line has a rather alarming ring. I hurried over here. But I see it is for VERY good reason – you’re not in pain and getting better! Yes! Weekly massages might be a good short-term reward for taking this step. Was the tapering schedule an official one by the doc, or one you figured would work out ok?

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:11:19 AM by 1 Very Palpable Hit

Huh….thought the cheery exclamation point would set the tone but guess I forgot it could also indicate alarm! I hate my doc so much I didn’t talk to him, called the consulting nurse for my HMO instead, got asked if I needed “inpatient” help (Celebrity Rehab-YES!), gave up and posted on a colon cancer forum, immediately got help there on how to do it. Score one for the WWW.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:25:25 AM by Ann

Hey Ann. Glad you were able to get off the Vicodin. If you are still anxious at times, get something to help with that. Don’t ever feel you need to be the trooper. If you need something, you need something. I still take Oxycontin 2x a day. It really helps take the edge off for the peripheral neuropahty. Kids are not as likely to take a wider birth around me when I am taking those. Just kidding. I have been too leary about becoming addicted because of the line of work I’m in. Docs keep close tabs on me though so it should never be an issue. Take care of yourself Ann. Keith…

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 7:15:05 AM by Keith

I am a firm believer in better living through drugs, especially as a cancer patient! I mean, it’s like those things were made with us in mind. If I still had the pain, I would absolutely still be taking the pain meds. And I do still have Ativan, which I take at bedtime so I can get some sleep. Not planning on giving those up anytime soon.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 9:56:43 AM by Ann

LOVE your commet about the guys you dated!

Try some white wine w/o vicodin and visualize that it’s working!

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 5:50:16 PM by Private User

Definitely not giving up the booze-have to keep at least one vice in my life! Haven’t seen you over at the Warriors for a while, hope everything is good your way.

Posted on January 27, 2012 at 6:50:16 PM by Ann

I was out in the Internet-free Big Bend country! A great trip but glad to be back..

Don’t forget that red wine has that resveratrol that helps keep heart troubles at bay…maybe you can alternate!

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 8:39:17 AM by Private User

Congrats to you! Stll on the oxy, but hoping and praying it won’t be for long. At least now you can have a nice glass of white wine without falling over after finishing it! (smile)...:) Again, congratulations and good luck at the dentist!

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 2:05:54 AM by Linda

Thanks, Linda, and welcome to BFAC! I had to take oxycodone last summer and got dependent on it in about five minutes. Only got off of it after I landed in the hospital for emergency surgery and a lengthy stay. But I really believe that there is no reason to suffer pain when there are meds made to combat it. I just didn’t have the pain anymore, so it was time for a break.

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 10:36:35 AM by Ann

Yay Ann! Good for you! You will be finding other things in no time that make you feel as good as the cocktails were ;) Ok so maybe not AS good, but close anyway lol Congrats!

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 8:33:49 AM by Shannon

It is great news that you feel well enough not to need the pain medicine. Jenny

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 10:17:14 AM by Private User

I’m so happy your long journey of pain meds have come to an end…good luck with your new road of life.
Take care,
Doreen

Posted on January 28, 2012 at 8:21:17 PM by Doreen

Thanks, Doreen! I suspect I’ll be needing them again at some point, as this journey isn’t quite over, but it’s sure nice to have a break.

Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:23:04 AM by Ann

I just love reading your posts, and learning about your progress, and that wonderful sense of humor of yours…it is fabulous! Thanks for sharing it with us (all) Hugs

Posted on January 30, 2012 at 6:40:53 PM by Deborah

Hey Deborah-haven’t seen you around for a while! I hope you and your daughter are doing well. Hugs to both of you-Ann

Posted on January 31, 2012 at 9:24:06 AM by Ann

I have one lone Tylonal 3 in my underware drawer. Don’t know what I’m saving it for! Congrats on the weaning, so many people don’t…

Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:02:57 AM by Lois

Hi Ann:

You still feel like you have the Flu. My goodness—you probably have to take other drugs to mask the flu like symptoms! It does seem like these drugs are a never ending cycle. Kudos to you for kicking the hardest one of all.

Hugs

Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:36:39 PM by Cathy

Hang in there Ann. I wish I had something witty to say, but my thoughts dull in comparison to yours! :O

Posted on February 1, 2012 at 6:17:19 PM by Carol

That’s very nice of you to suggest I have any wit, Carol, given that my brain is basically broken! Surgeries, chemo, pain pills-all not good for clarity of thought…

Posted on February 2, 2012 at 9:54:21 AM by Ann

Boy are you a funny gal. I would never ditch the white wine. Pills for pain do serious bowel reconstruction in my opinion. However every now and then if I have an overwhelming body spasm of aches, I will reach for the Tylenol. I wouldn’t know one pain drug from another if it’s behind the counter. Maybe I should start investigating for the future. hmmmmm