Well, Its my last update in this particular forum (hopefully ever!)

I have 2 more Rad Tx to go, don't think there are going to be any huge changes. Not having chemo today was a nice change. Still managed to make myself throw up because I fed too fast on the formula bag or the mucus build up while I was feeding, I'm not too entirely sure which it was. But I will only do one can of formula at a time now, even if I have to feed every hour.

Got so bad that it there was some straight blood coming up, yum. Throat is all kinda raw right now.

All weekend I have been fighting sputum/mucus in my lower throat. I have to cough up a huge gob of it every 20-30 minutes it seems when ever I am inactive/reading whatever. In the AM its very thick and often tinged with blood. As the day goes on, it lightens up a little but remains yellow.

Doc says not to worry unless it starts to turn green or brown or have a nasty smell.

Sleeping in a sitting position doesn't offer much relief.

Skin is red as hell in the throat area, but I have no chafing/cracking as of yet, been trading my wife foot rubs for Aquaphor =)

Anyone have any advice on the sputum/mucus balls? Mucinex doesn't touch it. If I constantly eat ice chips all day it seems to keep it at bay. But since I wrecked my throat this AM the ice is agitating and making me cough.

So far I have lost about 20 lbs over all from 220 starting. My ideal weight is 185 so I still have some spare. No way I could have done it without the PEG, but man do I hate hate hate that farking tube. I cannot wait to start eating orally again. I know not to rush it, but I will be pushing myself slightly to soft foods hopefully in a week from end of Tx or two weeks.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I have news for you... tomorrow will be the same or worse... hate to burst the bubble. Usually radiation (its cumulative) continues to worsen for around two weeks after it finishes. It sucks but those are the two worst weeks of treatment.

Re the gunk... I have said this so many times I am certain the company owes me money - WATERPIK. If you have one great - use it - if you don't try to get one. The deluxe model. IT has this handy dandy little tongue scraper. If you fill the chamber with water, and maybe add a bit of mild non alcoholic mouth wash, this will clean up the gunk, and freshen. Use it with luke warm water and the tongue scraper end (the pointy ends hurt like hell - because they focus the spray) the tongue scraper looks like a spoon and kinda just shoots water all the way around. It is good because it can clear out any food particles. It's also great once you've healed as you can use it like dental floss - hopefully this will help stave off any dental issues (assuming you have teeth..)
anyway good luck finishing. hugs

Brian, you are really doing amazingly well, believe it or not. Your vomiting is yet another sign of the nasties coursing through your veins and body. The color of your sputum indicates your epithelial cells that were destroyed are sloughing off and the body wants it out. You could ask for a nebulizer and some Mucomist although the supply has become scarce. You could get a suction device so you can pull it out easier. The mucinex is trying to help thin it and even with a lot of extra water, it still doesn't slide on out and the hard coughing is most likely the source of the blood splatter in the sputum. Suctioning it out will reduce the coughing spells but especially the junk sliding down the back causing the gag reflex.

Keep a watchful eye on the goo and as it slowly turns clear you know extra good things are just around the corner. The ice chips are one form of hydration. Gatorade or pedialyte might give a better bang for the buck and as you already noticed, the hydration keeps things at bay.

Keep pushing in any ways you can. The soft food will keep you swallow working so keep that up. Getting a bit more activity at this point will help, too, as you begin the recovery phase. Bright lights and smooth sailing are just ahead!