I finished rads on september 19 or thereabouts.
I recently started getting acupuncture treatments for saliva glands and read that zinc supplements helped return of taste buds. So started that as well. I still have pain and tiredness from radiation and noticed I have started getting emotional when I talk about this summers cancer experiences. I just asked if I could go back to work part time insteadf of full time starting the 12th. I just tire out to fast.

All in all I feel OK, but I am getting a bit depressed over not being able to eat. The way they cut my tongue left it feeling oversized and numbe so I cannot manipulate food in my mouth. Radiation burns still prevent me from chewing anything.
Thanks to every one of you who has spoken to me and offered advice.

Gee wiz, any wonder you are feeling down and out. You have ONLY JUST finished radiotherapy treatments, and bearing in mind that the radiotherapy continues to work in our bodies in a BIG way for at least 2 -4 weeks following the end of the actual treatments, you are doing great.

The radiotherapy makes a mess of any work that has been done during surgery on our tongues, so you should start to begin to feel better soon.

It can be a long slow process, but the treatments are finished and you will start to feel stronger week by week. Your body has been through the ringer. It takes alot to recover from all the internal swelling following surgery and then the other treatments your body has had to endure.

Stay strong

Karen

As Karen says its all part of the gift that keeps on giving.Radiotherapy cooks for about two weeks after the last treatment then its one weeks recovery for every day of treatment,so you are still in the very early stages of your recovery.Dont rush things.

Re the emotion....I am over 3 years out and I still get emotional when I talk about my cancer experience in front of a large group especially when I get to the part when Dr Death tells me I have Stage IV cancer and a 60% chance of surviving the next 5 years. I also get emotional watching a movie or even reading the newspaper over things that I never used to. So much for the manly man thing!

And I thought it was just me.

Thanks Karen and all of you.

I get emotional over other peoples problems and trials, even animals, but just don't get emotional over what I go thru unless it's because I should have left mother earth years ago if it wasn't for a higher power looking out for me. Yes, I hope these angels that ride my shoulders are there for a few more years. Even the posts I just read above this make me feel bad for the people involved.

an old friend of mine called tonight and we talked about my situation knowing he had experienced male breast cancer. But he commented that he still has the deep emotions since his cancer experience several years back.

And yes, the water works come now when watching tv and the good guy wins or healthcare reform passes a hurdle. This is different for me. I don't recall crying emotionally for over 20 years. May not be a bad thing, just different. I'm past worrying about what others might think of it.

I still seem to be feeling new side effects. Tongue is burning now underneath. The tip of my tongue still feels like a 9 volt battery terminals are pressed against it. My teeth hurt on the botton left where surgery was close, gums are sore there and I feel the strangest pain when I brush the gums on the back side under my tongue. Like it is a bone pain or something.... deep.

Thanks for letting me pour all of this out. I hope to be a stronger contributor soon. I usually am not like this but I am stuck on worrying about me recently.

There sure is nothing wrong with worrying about # 1..I'm starting to be that way the last few days because this pain just keeps getting worse. It radiates from my left ear into my jaw and throat. I can take pain , but this is unbearable. Good luck and I have you in my prayers hisnibs.