Late night edition

Tonight brought to you from The Bradenton Hospice House. Like a nice hotel but better.

I’m checked in for a day or two so we can work with the medical team in real time to discover a workable drug routine to control my pain.

Hans and have really tried but when nausea came to play, we were out of our league. As I’m sure you remember, I am a non puker (quickly losing my status) so this new symptom was doubtless from our drug regimen. Once we got Hospice involved, things have moved swiftly.

The room, btw, is huge! Like 450 square feet. I have a private outdoor area, visitation is 24/7 and pets are allowed to visit if they bring along their proof of shots. Oh and I can ask for therapeutic messages.

I am settled in one of those recliners that can stand me up if needed. The nurse, Laura, had gone home for the night. Before she left, she gave me morphine then dilaudid.

Dilaudid is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain symptoms. Due to its high potential for addiction, Dilaudid is usually reserved for short-term therapeutic use. Despite this, while it is roughly 10 times more potent than morphine, Dilaudid is still only about one-tenth as strong as fentanyl.

Apparently, controlled, fentanyl could be my DoC. (Drug of Choice). We have to make sure I can handle it though and how much. Stay tuned.

I’m being tucked in by the night nurse. She is insistent that I don’t get out of bed by myself. I just have to press the lighted call button. Tomorrow is another day.