Dear all-
I don't know if it is okay to post a website but I read about the biotene products and changes and then found out about Oral7 from Australia. I found through their website that there is a US distributor. We found out that rad/chemo will be the treatment plan - no surgery. So next week is PEG and Port. appts, hearing test etc. I want to anticipate needs so hope to get necessary items. I would suspect the oral hygiene/dry mouth products will be needed in due time. Any one have experience with this product and company? any other recommendations ? I have a list of things to get ( helpful hints from other members here. thank you) humidifier, hospital emesis bags, flannel rubberized sheets for chairs or bed, ... skin lotion?? is aquaphor the best recommendation . Has anyone used food grade aloe vera gel for mouth sores etc? is there a product list for helpful things going into chemo and radiation here? THANK YOU ... wishing you all peace and wellness

I've used distilled organic 100% aloe Vera juice to swish and swallow, and also used virgin organic coconut oil, besides the old warm salt water baking soda rinse, do not swallow that. You can add the juices to that if you wish, but I would test the the juices out in small amount at first, as the aloe juice worked so well in smoothing my swallowing, it caused concerning choking when swallowing, can be laxative, so I cut it back, Cut the salt if it burns. Others have used Manuka honey, but that too expensive for my taste, plus being relabeled by inteputable dealers. Organic honey is supposed to work just as well, but the sugar in it burned my mouth.

Don't eat food that's too spicy, acidic. hot, sharp textured as not to injure the mouth.

Used aquaphor and cetaphil for skin care after radiation, not before, showered with liquid dove and Aveeno soap for dry sensitive skin, not too hot water, patted dry my neck, not rub, wore loose clothing as not to rub neck.

My radiation oncologist had your mouth sprayed daily by a saline solution, I think, to decontimate it, and that helped greatly reduce mucocitis and thrush. Too bad, NeutrSal was having distribution trouble since that helped with dry mouth and mucocitus. A similar product is SalivaMax, which I have not used.

When swallowing became difficult due to mucocitus, thrush, Magic mouthwash, pain meds like oxycodone, fetynal patch, and Nystatin for thrush or other systemic antifungal, microbacterials like chlorhexidine when prescribed.

I sleep own an incline bed in an electric bed. Helps with reducing fluid buildup, sleep apnea, but a wedge can help or raising the head of bed by blocks. I always have water at my side. Used other OTC gels, tablets to help with dry mouth.

Some type of wrapt around mesh or Clip for the peg tube.

Medications for constipaton, especially opioids induced such as comace, senocot, spelling, and others.

Maybe you mentioned a dental exam previously? Prescription Fluoride, dental trays are very important or fluoride varnish, and some mouth guards due any metallic fillings.

Speech and Swallow Pathologist evaluation and exercises.

In regards to Oral7, Uptown just made a recent post about it, if you look at that. A soft or baby toothbrush, soften with warm water before use, floss, but not if causes bleeding.

These are just some items off the top of my head.

Paul... thank YOU!
am emailing to self to include items in the list.
again. peace and thank you

I just posted all the information needed to get free samples of Oral Seven products.

I have also been evaluating OraSoothe for flora balancing and dry mouth. It is all natural and fair but it is really developed for tissue repair and stomatitis relief should really be good. I have a sample if you want to try it during treatment. Send me an address via private message if you want to try it. I have 3 bottles left.

The best thing I can tell you is to read as much as possible on this forum and absorb the info. Even with your medical background there are so many little things you can learn from our site to make things easier for your husband and also yourself.

If you can line up some helpers that would make this much easier for you both. Even if you get 2 people to each take a day of the week and help by driving your husband to his treatments it helps take alot off your shoulders.

Christine...
our original plan was just that... we had a whole crew to help and share driving, caring , whatevering. That all changed when the oncologist recommended that we have the treatments at the main CCC rather than at a free standing off shoot center of the main CCC. He said, there is research to indicate it would be better for him.. all the speech, medical, etc team under one roof. So now, we will be at our home- much more isolated in the rural country and with no other sources of help. I had a minor panic attack with that, but will do whatever is in his best interest but am quite honestly, scared and worried about this very responsible burden alone. we are in a rural setting . thankfully not far from a CCC. but all the adult kids live at minimum an hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours away and all work. sigh.

In addition to the fantastic list above I'll add a couple things.

My husband HATES the Aquaphor (think applying vaseline to your skin ruining every shirt you own and feeling sticky/goopy) and he's used it because it is a must, but a friend mentioned Jeans Cream (order online) which he uses during the day and his the Aquaphor at night. It has been a much better balance for him and his skin looks GREAT.

His other recommended product is a Water Pik. He uses only the gentle mode but he says it helps to clean gently.

He also says to keep your focus on the last day of treatment. It will help to keep you going. This coming from my hubby who just this week hit the 50% off the way through his tx.

Best to you!

Talking about Aquaphor and other ointments...

I didnt care for aquaphor either. I was given prescription betaVal cream. When applying the cream or ointment to sensitive skin that is red from rads, pat it on gently, never rub it in. If the skin has open oozing sores you can still continue to pat the cream or ointment on after rads and cover with a piece of gauze. Im sorry I cant remember which type of gauze I used but my neck had lots of open oozing sores from rads. Surprisingly, my neck didnt scar even with all those open sores. When applying the ointment or cream, never put it on before going into rads as it could interfere with the treatment. Its ok to reapply several times daily by patting it on. If using betaVal cream, pat on only a very thin layer of it. Also when showering with a sore red, raw neck do not let the shower run on full speed on those areas. Its better to slowly pour warm water over the "sunburned" areas. To wash that area, pat a soapy washcloth gently on the area and rinse by gently pouring warm water over the area.

We found Glaxo-Base very good. After removing the non-stick dressing that we used to cover the sores, I would give John a saline soak (medical saline is used to soak a J-cloth, then cover the sores with the J-cloth for a few minutes), then I applied the cream. It would really well for us. We would do this three or four times a day.

Julie, Christine and Gmcraft. thank you for the info.. truly sooo appreciate them. GMcraft. what is a j-cloth. I am unfamiliar with that.
As for the other ointments- okay. good to know. I did purchase an aquaphor no-touch tube, but will look into the others.
Non-adhesive gauze is critical for sensitive skin wounds.
Will get some of those and hope for none.

waterpik - got it. What about pure aloe on the skin?

Julie... for your husband. yay, for hitting the half way mark. May it be as gentle and curative as possible. Sending you both strength as you go along this journey

Thank you MrsW. Strength to you as well!