 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Jim,
Speaking as one that didn't have a PEG, please stay on top of your daily fluids and daily calories. Shoot for a MINIMUM of 48 ozs of water and 3000 calories of VHC (only 6 cans). Alternate water and food every 2 hours that you are awake. Do the math and determine how many 8 oz cans you need to swallow every 2 hours you are awake beginning with the minute you wake up and the last minute before you go to sleep. DO NOT think you can fall behind in either dept today and make it up tomorrow because tomorrow will be worse than today.
Re the nausea which was my worse enemy, around this time I was only drinking room temp liquids and I would stand over the sink and drink a can non stop and then hold my mouth shut with my fingers and close my eyes until the urge went away.
Don't be afraid/ashamed/pissed off whatever to consider either a PEG or the nasal tube. The nasal tube is far easier to get put in as there is no surgery but it is kinda of a nuisance and only meant for short term uses. Either are better than adding more stress to your body by depriving it of much needed fluids and fuel when it is under extreme attack.
Do not be afraid to continue to try different meds until you find some that work.
Remember, I'm almost 100 years older than you so if I can do it I'm sure you can to.
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.
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