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Thanks for your reply.
I have for the moment adopted a wait-and-give-the-current-regimen-a-chance approach, since my current oncologist is very responsive to communications through MyChart. I have two more Chemo Infusions scheduled in the coming couple of weeks, after which he plans to repeat imaging studies, since the end-goal is still improvement or lack-of-progression of disease.
So far, he has not insisted on piling meds on top of each other - this is consistent with my wishes; he is also open to trying other approaches. An example is that instead of instantly prescribing gabapentin, he has recommended applying Dove Dry Skin Relief / Expert Repairing Balm to the area affected by venous stasis. (I am also doing some walking, mostly indoors lately since our weather continues to be mostly too inclement for outdoor walking).
I have learned so much from the experiences shared by other patients here and I've used that information to guide my own searches for whatever pertinent studies have been published.
This is my own approach to not throwing out what western medicine has to offer, and yet remaining open to other possibilities.
I have not yet asked for palliative care, since I feel that puts me in a defeatist position from the get-go, and I don't think that is good for my mental health. I am already leading a very isolated life where I have to make a real effort to persuade far-flung family and friends to come for visits and a hug or three.
Replies to "Thanks for your reply. I have for the moment adopted a wait-and-give-the-current-regimen-a-chance approach, since my current..."
I hear you re the palliative care. I don't want to give up either! Palliative care was explained to me as I listed above--it's designed to help manage symptoms and side effects. I was told that in my medical system, the palliative doc and the oncologist work as a team. The oncologist prescribes and manages the treatments; the palliative doc helps you deal with nerve damage, loss of appetite, weight loss, reduced mobility, or whatever develops during those treatments. I currently have very few symptoms, but I already have seen a palliative MD. So far, we've had a long initial consult, and he wrote a prescription to boost my appetite. This also gets me on his books for if/when I'll need more help later (for example, I'm told he's the one who'll write the pain management plan). It may be that your oncologist can do all of the palliative stuff for you, in which case that's great--one less MD to manage. (wink, wink!) Glad your online system allows you to keep in touch with your MD; that helps a lot.
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Thank you for sharing your difficult story. I can't travel and my family can only visit rarely. Zoom, calls from friends, walks with friends when weather permits have helped to reduce social isolation. Palliative care is not just end of life care, it is geared up for improvement in quality of life. It might help you to talk to a person involved and ask about the services that are provided. My minister has served as chaplain for a palliative care team and I think it might have a lot to offer. You can always stop if it doesn't.