Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF! Im glad you have found our site to help both you and your husband get thru the next few rough weeks. Its a long difficult journey but it is doable.
As a caregiver, make sure to always try to take some time for yourself. You have a whole family to look after so you have to be in good shape. Being a caregiver can be hard, it can feel like the weight of the world in on your shoulders. As things get progressively harder, you will see how taking a few minutes just for you can be helpful.
I cant stress enough how important your husbands intake is!!! Every single day he needs to take in at least 2500 calories and 48+++ oz of water. Im glad you mentioned he is able to eat and drink. That is something he MUST do daily, several times per day to make those swallowing muscles keep working. Food will lose its appeal and taste like cardboard but he still needs to force it down. Milkshakes are a great source of calories and much needed fat. If your husband isnt taking in enough water, he could have kidney issues... please make certain on chemo days and the next day he drinks extra water, like at least 64 oz.
As far as his hearing goes, watch it closely. Any changes even a ringing in his ears could turn into a big issue and the doc must be told. Cisplatin is known to cause permanent hearing loss. Make sure you talk to your husband about his hearing and tell him to speak up if he feels any change at all.
Stick with us and we will help you both get thru this. Best wishes with everything!!!
PS... Please try to make some paragraphs when posting. It makes it much easier for us to read and help you. 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 |