| | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 |
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Angelia,
Now that you are nearing the end of that tunnel or may in fact already be out of it don't expect your recovery, which can take up to 2 years, to be a constant daily improvement. You will have bad days mixed in with good days for a period of time before the bad days slowly disappear pretty much for ever. General overall weakness is a part of our recovery process. It was months and months before I could lift a water bottle and put into a water cooler. Take it easy, it's not like you are recovering from a bad cold you know!! Also be on the lookout for some mood swings. A lot of us tend to get depressed in the early stages of recovery and just like everything else connected to this crap, we all can be different. I know we have had some that even consulted with a professional so just be aware that it is something that may pop up in the future. Also stay on top of your TSH levels as thyroid damage usually shows it's symptoms later on down the road.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | I do tal with a professionl who told me to get on zoloft. I was on that for awhile, but then stopped taking it when I could no longer swallow, and I have noticed a huge difference. I no longer want to get out of bed in the mornings. I am also trying to force myself to swallow, but it still hurts like you would not believe. Would that be the muscles or would thast be the pain in the throat fomr radiation itself? The mucous is still pretty bad, but I think i am starting to get used to it and finding a system that works. As to weekness, I can be sitting a chair and just fall asleep. The pure exhaustion comes out of now where. Wonder what I am going to do when I have to go back to work in 3 weeks? I have to go back, because I have exhausted all my days and FMLA has all been used up.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Angelia,
I think I said this earlier. We all become cave dwellers for a few weeks after radiation, at least I did.
I think you are in a normal yet very crappy place. It gets better.
Kelly
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Angelia,
You are ONLY 9 days post rad!!!!
Most don't even walk out of their tunnel until the 3rd week post so relax and don't put to much pressure on yourself. I will guarantee that in 3 more weeks you will be better than you are today but I doubt you will be up to working a full 8 hrs. See if you can work a part time schedule until you regain some strength.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Angelia, it all takes time.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,168 Posts196,924 Members13,103 | | Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020 | | |
|
