No More Trips to Boston, Pain is Managed and I'm Feeling Good...

Hi All,

It's been a busy week with lots of changes. Today I am at a brand new Dana Farber facility just outside of Boston proper. It certainly makes traveling from home in Plymouth easier for Amy, who has to do all the driving, and for me since I suffer from a bit of motion sickness when in the car and I'm not driving (hmm … is there a little control issue here!?).

Since the last update, I had a telemedicine call with the Celiac Plexis Block doctor last Tuesday. We concluded that a second shot was not advisable at this time since we couldn't be sure the block was working or not. We decided that a planned schedule of reducing some pain medication (the OxyContin) to see the effect would be a more prudent approach. I've cut my 5mg OxyContin dosage from every 3 hours to every 4 hours during the day. So, here at day seven, there is still no pain, so I would say it's all good!

On Wednesday, I went in for a Hydration Infusion at my local hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Plymouth (BIDH-Plymouth). I didn't feel particularly dehydrated, but no harm, no foul, as they say, and given the hospital is just 10 minutes away, why not?

Thursday was another big day ... meeting with Dr. James Matthew Koomey, the oncologist at BIDH-Plymouth, about getting the chemo treatments there, making getting the treatments much more manageable. And more importantly, I'll be able to sleep in my own bed every night ... YES!

After reviewing all these changes' pros and cons, we decided that going to Florida wasn't worth the additional risk right now. So, I'll just need to grit my teeth and deal with the New England cold. I'll console myself by taking more trips to Martha's Vineyard and hanging with my friends there. Life is so tough!

With no pain, more energy and clearer thinking, I've been able to get back to some of my USTA and NSMTA work. The next stop step is to put on some weight and get back on the tennis court!

Keep those cards, letters and emails coming. They are great! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Best Funny of the Week
What to do with your bills ...

With much thanks and gratitude,
Mas

Mas Kimball
508-560-6111

“If we go into the differences in philosophy and argue with and criticize each other, it is useless. There will be endless argument; the result will mainly be that we irritate each other, accomplishing nothing. Better to look at the purpose of the philosophies and to see what is shared: an emphasis on love, compassion, and respect for a higher force.” - The Dalai Lama


If you would like to receive my medical updates via email, please email me and I’ll add you to the list.