Don-

I really hope your RO is right and you make it through without any trouble! How awesome!!!!!! I can't believe they told you not to swallow solid foods for a few weeks, but awesome, keep swallowing the liquids then. My RO was all about me swallowing as much as I could, whenever I could, and whatever I could. I heard a story the other day about a guy who had no tongue and my RO was still adamant about him swallowing - how does that work! But my RO was OCD about two things - keeping on the weight and swallowing, you can pretty much ask anyone in the hospital about him and they will tell you that. He has a reputation.

I haven't had any food dreams but dang it I have been craving Whataburger and Dr. Pepper since my surgery!!!! Don't think the Dr. Pepper will be too good for my teeth now, but as soon as it doesn't burn my tongue anymore I'm going to have to get one (it's one of the few things that still bothers my tongue)!

Wow Stephanie,
This is a great list and some of this I still have around the house, but had stopped eating when it got to tasting bad.

I am going to start experimenting tomorrow since that will be my first "boost" session day and they won't intentionally be zapping any taste-buds.

I never had the mucositis, or, I guess, never had it to any significant extent.

I notice on you blog you also had TomoTherapy. How is your saliva?
Everyone is different, depending on the target I guess, but my medical team is really convinced that for H&N Tomo has some avantages and helps in keeping good saliva.
Mine is good so I certainly can't complain

I did have Tomo, 32 zaps on it and then I did one last treatment on the Novalis machine which was only targeted at my tongue. My saliva is not quite like it was, it's a little slimy from time to time (mostly just at night and it depends on what side I sleep on, weird I know but if I sleep on the side the flap is on my mouth gets a little dryer and slimier) but I still have plenty. I remember it being really messed up after my surgery (I had to use a suction machine, mostly because I wasn't really allowed to swallow until my tongue healed more) but it fixed itself and then the radiation made it a little off. It's getting better though, I think I still just get mucus in it from time to time and that's what makes it slimy. I noticed that milk makes it a little thicker, so I avoid dairy later in the day and apple juice makes it slimier as well (but it always had). So, no complaints here, for what I've been through, I'm quite happy and I can tell it's still getting better.

Another thing to add to your list that I ate a TON of - canned peaches! They are really easy to eat! Happy experimenting!

Today I came home and hung up my Mask -- It was my last zap
Radiation Road is behind me.

I did have a slight set back late last week and over Labor Day week-end. I developed bad Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea. This led to some dehydration, so Tuesday after weigh-in, I spent most the day on an IV

They prescribed generic Zofran for the nausea and I was shocked that it cost $250 for a little 50ml bottle of the stuff (Liquid Gold)! My prescription was for six bottles. Fortunately my insurance covered it.

No luck on eating. The taste-buds are fried
But I am nausea free and back to drinking juice (dark Grape & Blackberry) and water.

My voice is back, no mouth sores, very little mucous and the neck is starting to peel, but in one piece.

They said I really did extremely well and sent me home mask in hand with a "Congratulations Certificate" signed by all my RT team

So it is goodbye to the "Currently in Treatment" forum and hello to the "After Treatment Issues" -- Slowing Moving on

Yeah Don!!!!!


Congrats on finishing your treatments! You have about 2 more weeks to get thru before you start feeling a little better. It will take time to heal so try your best to keep the fluids and calories up, it will make a huge difference. Sorry to hear about yuor setback. Alot of us, myself included had some problems with the last few treatments.

Hang in there very soon you will feel more human

WOOHOO!!! Welcome to the world of finishing treatment! I hope your tastebuds return fast! And zofran was definitely my friend at the beginning of my treatments when I had issues with nausea. Congrats on making it through! Next comes your "all-clear" PET scan!

Congratulations, Don!! What're you going to do with your mask?

I too, am sorry to hear about your troubles over Labor Day. That must have been discouraging but it sounds like your team fixed you up pretty well.

Hang in there, my friend, and don't be surprised if over the next couple of weeks you slide backwards a bit. I'm rooting for you

Don,

I know that feeling and it's quite a relief but watch out for the little bit of depression that can creep in a few days out as you may miss, believe it or not, your daily routine. This also comes at a time when most of us suffered the most in the 2 to 3 weeks post Tx, but the end of that tunnel is very near and when you walk out, it just keeps getting better and more normal.

Congrats Don...walking out after that last treatment is a really good feeling. Brace for the worst for a couple of weeks but have a little hope that it won't be too awful...we only went uphill from the last treatment. Bill didn't experience worsening, in fact each day post treatment saw improvement in all areas and he was eating totally by mouth the second week after.

Hope you have a good recovery, Deb