My husband is only on his 16th rad treatment and through is second Eribtux treatment. He says his throat feels really tight and he has basically lost his voice except for a whisper. Is this all typical so early and what can we do to alleviate some of this? THANKS! Teresa

I lost my voice during my 5th week of tx, it lasted for 3 to 4 weeks. I was only able to whisper--it was like something out of the Godfather trilogy. My swallowing was also affected, the only thing I was able to do was KEEP SWALLOWING...and it does help to SWALLOW TWICE(swallow then swallow again before putting anything in your mouth) with everything--food and water. I did not have a PEG so I had no choice but to swallow. He has to push himself to swallow.

Remember everyone is different and let your RO/MO & nursing team know every little detail of what's happening.

Thanks for the reply Ray. Do you have any taste back yet?

I'm happy to report that food does not taste putrid anymore. Presently, I have about 40 to 50% of my taste buds back. It's a very slow process.

Make sure that your husband keeps up his nutrition. Push for 3000 calories a day and at minimum of 48oz of liquid a day. Dehydration put me in the hospital for 9 or 10 days.

If your husband doesn't have the PEG get him some Carnation VHC through Amazon.com. It has 560 calories per can.

Teresa,

I lost my voice around the last week of Tx and I had a bell and a note pad. Remember each of us can respond differently to the same Tx. Forget taste issues and forget voice issues and focus on the next 7 weeks or so that will likely be very intense for both of you.

I never lost my voice or the ability to swallow. I lost all taste and saliva. I might not get either back but will live. I have trouble swallowing at night while in bed. Nothing there to swallow but the urge and I have to cough a little , sit up and then it works. Hummm?? Weird things can occur. I remember waking up after my 1st surgery at OHIO State James CCC and the nurse filling a needle with some thing. I ask her what she was doing. She told me I have to put this in thru this tube because you can't swallow. I told her to put it in my mouth and give me water. It went down , no problem..That was the begining of my beingt told I am 1 of a kind. I wish. might be true seeing as I am scheduled for a 2nd aortic anneurysm surgery the 21st and monday to see the surgeon about my tongue jaw and throat hurting very bad when I try to eat. Anneurysm is 1 in a million chnace of returing. Wish I was like that with the Lotto. LOL

Please check with the doctor. If your husband is having any problems swallowing, is his breathing ok? Everyone is different and radiation is individualized to each person's cancer location, but it seems a little early for that problem.

I lost my voice for about 3 weeks towards the end of my treatments. What helps me to soothe my throat and opens things up is a warm cup of tea or hot chocolate.

I have to correct myself...my throat became very sore in week 5 but I did not have voice problems until week 6, from that point on it was gone for 3/4 weeks. It got to a point that my family thought I didn't want to talk to them...LOL

Like David said...Don't worry about speech or taste buds. Just concentrate on getting through these treatments. Keep your husband hydrated and full of nutrition. I wish I can say it will get easier but it's going to get harder before that happens. And try to keep him swallowing...it will help.

Btw, I was jumping the gun too on the taste issue...I was delusional and I thought I would be eating steak after my txs were over...Well, I finished txs on 11-4-2008 and I'm still not eating steak. Most of my calories are still acquired through liquids. But it's getting better...slowly.

One day at a time...We get thru this by taking baby-steps. If you look too far into the future you'll presently depress yourself. Stay hydrated, get nutrition, finish txs and then it's on to recovery and feeling better.

Teresa

Good advice from all the posters. For reassurance purposes, I lost my voice about the same time as your husband (I also had radiation and Erbitux). It was extremely frustrating as well as scary. It lasted about a month. At the same time my throat was so sore and tight that I could no longer eat any solid foods at all. No PEG so I had to drink Ensure Plus (VHC was only when I got desperate at the end due to its chalkiness and hassle ordering online as opposed to just picking up at grocery stores)
As for Alleviation , for me what worked wonders on soothing my throat and disolving the mucous was canned SELTZER water. I used it as a mouth rinse all throughout the day. The fizz cleaned out my mouth and cut thru the mucous. I did not drink much of each can, maybe a few swallows, the rest was swish and spit. Good Luck.

Teresa, lost my voice on more than one ocassion. Combination of mouth blistering and throat constriction sent me to the Peg after 12 or so tx. It was the only way for me to have gotten down calories, nutrition and MEDS. Taste - don't even think about that until weeks post tx. He'll get through this but it's a rough road. Deal with each day and forget planning ahead for now. Best to you both.