Anne, I am sorry to read of how your husband is struggling. Ask the docs about his pain meds, maybe upping the patch and decreasing the morphine. I had started with 25mg fentyanl and ended with 150mg. The 150mg patch was around for about 2 or 3 weeks, right at the end of my treatments. With the patch, i rarely had to use anything else besides the magic mouthwash.

Maybe a PEG tube would be a good idea. there is also a nasal tube which is more temporary.

The last 2 weeks can be really bad. It stays bad for about 2 weeks after treatment ends. Then it slowly gets better. About a month after treatments are finished he should really feel alot better, and keep improving bit by bit. A few steps forward and sometimes a few backward.

Hang in there, its almost over.

Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile