It's that time again. Came up fast. He is seeing me every two months now instead of three. I can't say for sure, but he may order a PSA test, as I haven't had one since December. If he doesn't, no longer matters to me, I don't really feel a need to watch it continue to climb in particular.
It will be at the newly opened Gibbs Cancer Center outside of Spartanburg. Will be my first visit to the new facilty. It is suppose to be a cutting edge place, kind of excited to see it.
Got a long list (as usual) of written questions to go over with him.
I want a final answer, if one is not provided tomorrow, about being referred to the CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) specialist in Greenville. If not, I want to see if I can make an appointment on my own.
In this two month period of time, my pain area is still increasing. The past 2 weeks have been a living hell, with extreme pain reaching from my right hip all the way down to my toes. That's on the good days. On the bad days, its the same on both side, though the right side is always worse in intensity. I am limping more and more, and any kind of walking or standing on my feet is enough to trigger it. It can hurt for hours, even laying down, the weight of one leg being on top of the other can be intense. I can't sleep on my back, and with my stoma, I have no choice but to lay on my left side constantly, so I don't have too many options to get comfortable.
Also, I want an answer or update about seeing the surgical/urological expert at Duke, I knew it would take time to arrange, but again, its been two months since we talked about it.
I am hoping he will surprise with arrangements having been made on my behalf when I talk to him.
Got some other issues, but will bring them up with him. The bladder spasms never change, and those are additional pain above and beyond my normal chronic pain. I average 2 dozen a day easily. They range from mild and annoying to the ones that can drop me to my knees in utter panic. Thank God they all pass eventually, but I swear at times, I feel like I am exploding inside my bladder. Makes no sense with a non-functioning and disconnected bladder.
Hopefully I will have something positive to report out of this visit. Will post when I do.
david in sc