Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#44678 03-14-2005 04:40 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17
ChrisS Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17
Lost most of my sense of taste last week and mouth is getting sore. Would like to find something I can eat and get some pleasure from - nearest at the moment is fish and chips.Nausea under control with meds. Pain meds (Codeine Phosphate) causing constipation which I have not yet found out how to shift!

#44679 03-14-2005 07:34 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
Chris,
you will need to experiment. All of out taste buds respond differently to treatment (as well as everything else). I found that I could taste coffee the whole time so I made a lot of coffee flavored milk shakes.

Constipation is a major problem. I would start out with the over the counter stuff (laxatives - like Colace), talk to the nutritionist and have the doctors manage it if that fails. This issue caused me more misery than anything else (well the mouth sores were pretty bad).


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#44680 03-14-2005 10:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 116
Gold Member (100+ posts)
Offline
Gold Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 116
Agree with Gary get a hold on the constipation by getting the nutritionist or Doc advice. The taste at this point is anoying but the burning and soreness will get more prominent that the taste probably won't matter much. You may also want to check with your doc to give you some mouth deadning cocktails to reduce the pain to allow easier eating.


SCC R-Tonsil T2 NO MO Dec 2003. Completed IMRT Radiation only to tonsils(72Gy) and neck(55Gy)March 04. Detected at age 50.
#44681 03-14-2005 11:17 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
ChrisS, the taste thing is different for all of us. Lots of folks get their taste back within weeks or months, some of us are still hoping after a year. Oh well, one day at a time.

The constipation you have to get a handle on. Writhing in pain on the bathroom floor is undignified. I found a 7 oz. can of prune juice per day via my peg did the trick for me. A couple of times I needed to use a stool softener, but that was rare. Of course, it took me a few weeks to remember prunes and other fruit juices, but once on them they pretty much took care of the problem. I eat peaches, pears, and apricots from the can now and that seems to keep me semi-regular. Good luck.


Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
#44682 03-14-2005 01:05 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 928
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 928
Chris
In the UK I believe the stool softener is Lactolose.
Remember, you must try to keep your weight up at the moment, eat lots of that good fresh cream . My hubby used to eat cans of Ambrosia rice pudding with heavy cream, easy to eat and lots of calories.
Where in the UK are you? I am from Scotland and my hubby Liverpool.
Good luck to you Chris.
Marica


Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
#44683 03-14-2005 02:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,163
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,163
Hello Chris,

I don't have much to offer in advice differnt than the posters above me. I can let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. It may seem distant to you now but believe me you will get there. Wishing you the best,

Danny Boy


Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.

Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06

Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
#44684 03-15-2005 07:12 AM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 218
Gold Member (200+ posts)
Offline
Gold Member (200+ posts)

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 218
Chris,

Matzo Ball Soup was one of the only things I could enjoy. Give it a try. Also, Scrambled eggs with a little cheese and oatmeal.

I lived on that and Ensure. I lost 47lbs doing it but I was/am a lard ass and could stand to loose it.

Constipation was a drag but stool softeners do work. Try to drink as much water as you can.

Take it easy. Drop me a line if you have any other questions.
Robert

Give it a try


SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
#44685 03-15-2005 10:35 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 642
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 642
Robert,
I still live on matzo ball soup and milkshakes, along with lots of Boost, and cereal with bananas in the morning. The soup and milkshakes taste pretty darn good these days, even though I usually eat the same soup twice a day.

Danny G.


Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
#44686 03-15-2005 03:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 663
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 663
My husband completely quit eating 7 weeks ago. He has almost nothing for the last 2 weeks and finally the doc made the PEG a mandatory thing.

Please don't follow in his footsteps. He is weak and doesn't hardly get out of bed. Give it every effort you have, even when you don't feel like it.

You will be glad in the long run. Even if you just drink enough of the boost drinks a day you can keep the rest of your body as healthy as possible.

My husband is proof positive that there is nothing to be gained by being hardheaded.... but there is everything to lose. Hang in there and listen to what these guys and gals are telling you. They know and they can arm you with the best advice, It is up to you to follow it through and try everything that you can.

Good Luck.

Cindy


Caregiver to ex-husband Harry. Dx 12/10/04 SCC stg 3, BOT with 2 nodes left side. No surg/chemo x4 /rad.x37(rad comp. 03/29/05)Cisplatin/5FU(comp. 05/07/05)-T1N2M0-(cancer free 06/14/05)-(12/10/06) 2 yr. Survivor!!!
#44687 03-15-2005 03:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 89
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Offline
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 89
Cans of Ensure, yogurt, and soy milk got me through the roughest rad days.

Also oatmeal, milkshakes and ice cream and whip cream. I would thin a lot of food with a can of chicken broth - dinners like chicken and mashed potatoes. Also adding butter and whip cream, or sour cream. It adds the calories and helps the food slide down.
good luck!


History of leukoplakia <2001-2004. SCC lateral tongue 9/03; left radical neck dissection & hemiglosectomy 10/03, T2-3,N0M0; 28 IMRT radiation completed 12/03. 30 HBO dives Oct-Nov 04 for infections and bone necrosis -mandible.
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5