Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF! You are still very early in the recovery phase. A complete recovery can take a full 2 years, especially your sense of taste. You will have ups and downs and setbacks as you get better.
Losing so much weight is NOT good! Even being overweight to start, the doctors dont like to see such dramatic weight loss. You also lost alot of muscle which is next to impossible to regain. Since you lost so much weight, that tells me your intake is not what it should be. Every single day from the start thru at the very least the one year post rads mark you need to meet the daily minimums. Every single day you must take in at least 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water. Anything less and you are cheating yourself. Recovery will be much harder if your intake isnt at least those numbers. I know its not easy but you must do this to help yourself get better. Im speaking from experience, I spent way too many nights hospitalized for malnutrition and dehydration. It was NOT fun! I felt so horrible I actually thought I was dying. Please help yourself and increase your intake. Honestly, you could take in 5000 calories every single day and you would not gain one ounce. Your body is beat down, malnourished and it needs to rebuild itself. It takes fuel to do that. Ive been here for over 7 years and seen so many patients in the same situation as you. Unfortunately there is no easy way to get well except thru your intake.
Hang in there, it will get easier. Plus now you have our forum to help you. Good luck! 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 |