 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Masned,
Be sure and have her sleep with a humidifier close by and it wouldn't hurt to have it going most of the day. It would make sense to have her taking fluids through the central line and maybe even TPN feedings that way until her stomach settles. The problem with vomitting is that it severely dehydrates the body and those fluids have to be replenished or more serious problems will develop. She should try to rinse out the mouth regularly to avoid buildup and acid issues from the vomit. This is the toughest period of the radiation and it will be over in a couple of weeks, albeit long and rough weeks.
The treatments will most likely not kill her but the doctors should be monitoring the blood counts and electrolytes closely (by the day) to get her through this period. Potassium, sodium levels can get too low and this will kill her. Make them monitor blood work every day while she is this sick. They will know what to do. Severe dehydration can lead to deadly results. Push the doctors if they are not monitoring daily.
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
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