Well, well. Here it is,I am half way done with my rads and it seems like only yesterday I was just beginning. Yesterday, when I could taste food, enjoy my coffee flavor, and sleep all night without waking up. Snap out of it Bill. If this is the worst I have to deal with than I have got it made. However, I do have a sore,dry throat, a sunburn feeling on my neck like you wouldn't believe, and no taste buds. I started using Biotene products to help with the dry throat and the soreness I am tolerating. I drink around 80 oz of water daily and force myself to eat until I can't eat anymore of it. I am still working full time and that helps me deal with this mess. I know that tough times are right around the corner and with the Lord's help I am going to get through this and be a better person than I was.

Bill, you are very right you can make it.I quit eating at about week 4, at week 5 I was only drinking my meals. I'm like you I cannot wait to eat a meal that I can taste. It's funny to find myself fantasizing about a good meal. My taste buds have been gone for about 2 1/2 months because of surgeries ect. I'm 3 weeks post tx so I'm getting anxious just to get a little taste back. I know just this week my water tastes very salty. The weird thing is that the colder it is the saltier it tastes.

Just to let you know, not to discourage you, my treatment was pretty smooth up to the last week. That is when the mucositis flared up. i started taking pain medicine on the Sunday before my last week of treatments. It has gotten worse but is still bearable. I drink my meals and about a 1/2 a case bottled water (20oz) a day. I just wanted to let you know it could get a little tougher but that is not a guarantee. Just the experience that I'm having. I wish you lots of luck and will continue to pray for you and your family.

Congratulations Bill, now you're counting down! Sounds like you're coping well - still working full-time. I'm amazed that you can do that, I certainly couldn't - mainly because of fatigue.

I am almost 4 years out and still have some taste difficulties. As many here say, everything is 'new normal' after treatment. I am happy to be healthy and enjoy every day. I love the foods I do eat and others have become a distant memory. I have found my sense of smell is enhanced and my surgeon says smell is part of taste.

I wish you smooth sailing as you finish your treatment journey. Love and light from Helen

Well that was a fast 2 weeks. I have 6 more treatments left and will finish next friday 5-4-06 with a double dose. Then I am going to just lay around and like the song goes "do my best to waste another day". This 100 miles a day has really gotten old and is the worse part of the treatments. I am still drivring myself and working full time. I can't believe how focused I have become on my work to help me deal with all of this. I feel it beats sitting home and doing nothing but thinking about all of this. I will update next Saturday when I have completed all my treatments.

Congratulations Bill you acheived all Robin aspired to! Hope the last few go as well

Liz in the UK

Bill,

Keep on hanging in there. In only 3 to 4 more weeks you will come out of that dark tunnel and will begin to feel alive again. You seem to be doing great and I hope you continue to do so until you walk out of that damn tunnel.