Prescription Medications

There aren't too many procedures performed at a hospital that don't require at least some kind of medication before, during and/or after the procedure.

With my cancer (malignant neoplasm, floor of mouth), extensive dissection and reconstruction of my mouth was required during the 8 hour procedure. Parts were harvested from my arm and leg to help with the reconstruction. A tracestomy and PEG Tube were implanted, all of my lower teeth were removed, part of my tongue was cut off and replaced with part of my arm and leg and the cancer tumors had to be removed. Mouth pain is something that has always been a 'sore' area for me.

While I was in the hospital, I was on morphine, although I don't know how much or how often. What I do know is that pain was seemingly well-controlled. I also remember, however, that there was a lot I did not remember.

Then, seven days after surgery, I was released and was given two pints of liquid Hyrdrocodone (I had the PEG-Tube and was unable to use my mouth for any purpose).

Throughout the course of the recovery, I was prescribed many drugs. Some were for various, basic maintenance but others were narcotic pain relievers. These included:

• Hydromorphone
• Oxycodone
• Tramadol
• Fentanyl (patch)
• Gabapentin

We had to keep track of all medications taken throughout the day to make sure they were taken and also to make sure I did not take any over the prescribed dosage.

When the medical team was having difficulty determining why pain was still an issue, one suggested that I might have to find a pain level I am comfortable living with. That did not sound too promising.

Sometime I would take over-the-counter pain relievers to supplement what was prescribed, but I had to be careful since all of those come with precautions such as the possibility of liver or stomach damage.

I began to watch closely the efforts of John Morgan and the United for Care, People United for Medical Marijuana, campaign.

According to the United for Care website, there were two reasons why Morgan
supports this measure:

"The two reasons behind his vocal support of the medical marijuana legalization effort in Florida, he says, started when he saw how medical cannabis helped his father, who had been diagnosed with emphysema and esophageal cancer, relive his pain.

The second reason, according to Morgan, stems from the damage he’s seen caused by the high-powered prescription pain medications his clients are often given by a doctor following an injury.

Also, 'as a personal injury attorney,' Morgan said, 'I’ve seen people in pain who end up on oxycodone. And 16,000 people die from that every year. It’s highly addictive.'”

Honestly, I cannot say if prescribed medical marijuana would have been beneficial to me in controlling pain. I was never given the chance. But I do see the support comes from some very prominent and influential people in Florida.

I will continue to watch this campaign very closely. The State of Florida has the "Constitutional Amendment X, Section 29 Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions" on the November 4 ballot.

Again, I am not sure if medical marijuana would have helped me nor do I know if my condition would have qualified me for a medical marijuana prescription, but based on the difficulty the doctors are having controlling my pain, I remain open to any alternatives.