 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | After what your husband has been thru this is completely normal. At this point, the radiation is still working just like he is going for treatments.
It will take weeks before he starts to progress. Recovery is a very slow process and cant be rushed. For most patients, its a frustrating time full of ups and downs and it cant happen fast enough.
A barium swallow study is something to ask the doc about to ensure he isnt aspirating when he attempts to swallow.
Keep up your husbands nutrition and hydration with at least 2500 calories and 48 oz of water daily for at least the first year. If he can take more in takes even better. After what he has gone thru it will quickly get burned up since his body is in recovery mode. Many days during my recovery I would take in 7000+ calories and I never gained an ounce. It took me 5 years post rads to gain any weight.
Best wishes!
ChristineSCC 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  | 
