My husband is HOOKED on the suction machine. He has been using it to suction out the mucous, that he was gagging on so often causing vomiting. Now though, he uses it for even his saliva, and I am wondering if the lack of saliva is causing his stomach problems. We are almost 2 wks post treatment, and he is miserable with stomach issues. He is still throwing up, he has a PEG, but not taking in more than a few cans of "food" each day and it just makes him feel terrible. Waves if nausea, but mostly his food isn't processing? He feels full, not interested in food, etc. I give him a few cans and he just feels uncomfortable and won't want anything much more through the day. He takes walks to try and jumpstart his digestion, but it just makes him feel yucky. A few days ago, he threw up for 3 days, a few times a day. He is loosing LOTS of weight, nearly 40 lbs. Yesterday was a very low day emotionally. He is not in much pain at all so I am not sure why he isn't swallowing much. His stomach hurts so I think he is just trying to avoid putting anything in. Has anyone had the experience of saliva causing such stomach issues? I am trying to convince him to swallow, but that's not so easy. He is taking in a few glasses of water a day, about 16 oz. but we are still doing hydration at the hospital to avoid dehydration.

The suction machine is great, but I think we may be overusing it. Thoughts? Help, he is wasting away physically and emotionally. This is so hard. We expected the few weeks after treatment to be hard with pain, but not still loosing weight,vomiting and not eating. He feels like he will never improve. Suggestions?