Finished my 33 rad and 2 chemo sessions 3-1/2 weeks ago. Generally it went well. The throat started to hurt really badly in the second last week of radiation, and intensified until 2 weeks after completion of radiation. I had to use hydromorphone to keep the pain down. Also, the second chemo caused much more nausea and vomiting. As a result, I lost about 20 lbs and have not been able to regain it since.

The throat stopped hurting 2 weeks after the completion of radiation. The only major outstanding problem is extreme dryness in the mouth when I sleep. This started three weeks before the completion of the radiation. I found that I had to sleep sitting up with pillows on my back. This is still occurring. I attempted to sleep lying down the last couple of nights but within a hour, my throat would be parched, so I had to switch back to the sitting position. The odd thing is, during the day, it is the opposite. I have too much saliva and it is still quite thick, so when I speak, I have to spit out the excess first, otherwise it will really slur my words. My speech is not clear in any event because I find the flap is still quite thick. It has not shrunk the 1/3 the onc surgeon estimated, may be 1/5. So it is still pressing again my teeth and makes brushing my lower teeth challenging, altough not impossible.

So any tips on the extreme dry mouth only when I sleep? By the way, I had to sleep sitting up after the surgery but for a different reason, excessive phlegm. So I am no stranger to having to sleep sitting up. I am able to get my sleep, albeit at lower quality.

Joseph