Hey out there, Ted here, I am scared and I cant sleep very much, It seems that my oncologist is a smug bastard, and I dont like him much. I was told friday that the pt scan indicated that the cancer was still in my lymph nodes and that the next thing would be a neck surgery...to remove my lymph nodes. I wonder if I should have the operation? should I or should I not? any advice from anybody who has gone through it would be welcome. I have been on pain medication for many years now due to back injury, it seems that people sure like to judge one because one is using morphine daily. My latest incident with this drug involved not being able to swallow after 5 days of chemo, so I was unable to swallow my usual dose of maintenance pain meds. Well my Doctor was out of town so I asked my oncologist to write a script for liquid morphine so I could insert it into my peg until my throat let me swallow again. So, my doctor who normally writes the pain meds dropped me as a patient because I asked my oncologist to write a script. Then my insurance wouldn't pay for meds anymore because my oncologist contacted whoever and said I was using more than one doctor to write pain meds... doesn't seem fair to me but on top of everything else, now I have to convince everyone (that is my doctors, and insurance company) that I am not abusing my meds and I am just trying to get by as my circumstances changed so drastically and my Doctor was on vacation. What a bitch! so now not only do I have to deal with the cancer bullshit, I have to deal with the medication issue. I wish people would just respect the fact that I am doing the best I can with the shitty hand I have been dealt! Tell me am I being unreasonable?

Hi Ted ~ me again!
There is one glitch with this web site and that's the fact that the majority of members like to sleep in, really really late! Due to the time difference you probably feel as though no-one is listening to you but believe me they will all shake the sleep from their eyes soon and you will have lots of replies.
For the life of me I just don't understand the medical/insurance situation in the USA. It (US)is supposed to be everything and a bit more as a leader of the world and yet the citizens seem to have to go through so much bs, pain and suffering to get health care. It seems very, very wrong to me. Trevor (my husband) has had the very best care throughout his ordeal and we might have had to pay about $50 tops (we don't have private health cover, so everything has been done through the public system).
Did your oncy understand why you had asked him to write you a script? Seems as though there has been a communication problem with pretty serious consequences. Hang in there, try to stay calm (and positive). You don't want any more grief than what you have at present.
Cheers
Deborah

Once again Ted i have to say that regards support for your welfare and treatment,this site is second to none,for USA related insurance matters you may be better to ask theses questions on oralcancerfoundation.org which is american based,and much more clued up on your particular problem.

I use both sites because between them you will get a complete package.

Deborah ---cheeky mare i have been up since 6am and answered teds first post by pm!!! lol. its 11 am on a bank holiday here,always a lean time on the boards.

liz