Today is one week out of radiation. Jerry actually got blasted three times within 24 hours to make up for a missed treatment.. No cutting short the 33 here! Argh! But it's done! We've been home for a week now. Yahoo! Yahoo!

It's been rough. Not unexpected as this site and our docs prepared us for these couple weeks of radiation continuing to be active. We have doubled the fentanyl patch dosage and switched out from oxy to morphine. He is still in terrible pain but toughing it. Will not, however, swallow or take anything by mouth. He said he will gladly relearn how to swallow because its too painful to swallow now (should I be pushing him?). He cannot talk more than a whisper. I'm not too concerned about the throat sealing itself closed -- as was one of the warnings -- because he is always coughing up crud. In my ignorant mind I have to believe it is the inside of his throat sloughly off. (No where but here could I share that! - People just do not want to know!).

He has started getting severe heartburn again which causes him to throw up - ouch! big ouch! I imagine pouring vinegar on an open wound. I dissolved some antacid in his food this am.
His mouth sores are still very painful. I believe I have stayed on most things -- but the manuka (sp?) honey slipped thru my brain. Was that something that might help his mouth pain? And where do I get it? I looked it up but the recipe was too vague for my non-functioning brain.

We both put on positive fronts thinking that if you wear it hard enough it'll sink in. Our neighbor across the street has been going through treatments since last summer for liver cancer. My daughters classmate was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma in his neck and they tell him the treatments for this cancer will result in him getting leukemnia (what?). Guess what I am saying is that we count our blessings each day and hope tomorrow is a bit better -- at least no worse.

I do not know how individuals, families go through events like these without a support group. I again am so ever thankful I found this one! You have kept this caregiver from flipping out. Thank you!!! Thank you so very much! Hugs to all!