[quote=PaulB]Keep knocking those weeks out! After week two most side effects start to kick in, but knowing that puts you ahead of the game, and should have everything lined up to help, like the neck cream the radiologist suggested, mouth rinses, oral care, pain meds, etc. The last two weeks will be the hardest, up until two weeks after with the rope mucus. The sore throat is probably the effects of radiation, also chemo causes basically the same ailments as does radiation, only sooner after infusion, but tell your doctor about it, and infections, common with treatment, can get out of control. if not treated properly. Ate you doing the salted warm water, baking soda rinse?

Good luck. [/quote]

Paul,

Thanks for helping me with the checklist. One can never go over all the details enough. I started with the baking soda/salt rinse yesterday just because i noticed the slightest bit of tenderness at the end of one gum line.

My cold has gotten worse unfortunately and i've been coughing quite a bit since last night. The problem is the post nasal drip running down my throat. I tried to take some OTC stuff to dry it up but actually just turned everything to sludge. Bad idea. Taking some plain cough syrup now to try and get some relief.

My concern is when I lay down in the machine tomorrow how do I keep from coughing. I'm going to email my nurse practitioner for ideas.

Regards,

-Rich