 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Chris,
I don't care how you do it, but have got to get the Ensure Plus or better yet Carnation VHC down and you need to get at least 4 down a day. Your body needs all the nutrition it can get so it can heal. Get some pain meds if that is what you need. Try the seltzer water for the mucous.
Yes the radiation keeps on working for several weeks after the treatment is over and yes you do feel worse for the first couple of weeks, but then it starts to slowly get better. Your job at this point is to stay hydrated and get as many proteins and calories in you as possible. No wonder you are tired if all you are doing is drinking water. I too went through this without a peg so I know what you are facing. If you are using Ensure, I hope you are using Ensure Plus. Its is 350 calories and 13gm of protein but VHC is 550. The idea is to get the most calories per sip. Good luck. You CAN do this.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| 
