Worried Daughter,

I thought the first two weeks after radiation were the toughest and I went back to work only to find out two months later that my energy was just totally drained. I checked the thryoid regularly but just got totally exhausted. Everyone is different, though.

I had a PEG tube but I rarely used it except for Robitussin cough syrup to thin out the thick goo in my throat. That stuff will make your hair stand up if you drink it. It was like liquid fire, to me eek ! I could not get more than about half a can of Ensure down the tube and it would come right out the mouth. The doctors determined my stomach was positioned wierd and somewhat smaller so they tried to let some of the water out of the bulb inside but to no avail. It was more hassle and hurt a lot of the time but they wouldn't let me take it out for almost 8 months. Again, that was just my case and not the norm.

Remember caffeine in tea will increase the dehydration and de-caff would probably be a better choice.

Your mother will get better, especially with so much love around here. I wish you all the best!

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023