Thanks for asking. I continue to have a lot of pain, and it never ceases to amaze me at all the different kinds of pain and places for pain. I did decide to try sleeping with the obturator in at night, I did this for the past three or four nights. It is kind of a trade off. I have been able to avoid the awful pain in the morning that I had grown to dread, but I don't get to experience that total relief of having virtually no pain at night. I justed started using the "good" pain med at night.

The reason I asked about thyroid, I was dx with hyperthyrodism in 2006. I had to have a thyroid ablation which is done by swallowing a high dose of radioactive iodine. Then in 2009 oral cancer dx??? I know that is excruited through your sweat and saliva, because I was given all kinds of precautions and had to virtually stay at a distance from even my husband. I asked both of my doctors about a possible connections and neither had read or seen any stats on this. I just thought I would do my own poll.

Colleen,

I was told radiation was necessary becuse my final path report came back a High Grade and it was really close to the margins. Prior to surgery they were not sure I was going to need it.

Chris,
It was three weeks Monday since my last radiation, and I was having a lot of pain, difficulty with keeping the obturator in due to pain. Found it very difficult to eat. I was so disappointed, here I made it through radiation and now having this much problem. I finally called my Prothodontis and asked if he could see me. He was able to see a possible problem area and made an "adjustment", it is too early to tell if it will be a significant improvement. I am hoping! Have you gotten your New obturator yet? Experiencing any ongoing pain?

Hi, Sharon-

Congratulations -- you're probably through the hardest weeks (those post-radiation weeks) and moving into better times to come. I, too, had to see my prosthodontist at least twice during those few weeks after radiation because my obturator needed adjustments due to extreme pain. The first time he adjusted it, it didn't really help, so I had to go right back and have him redo it altogether (he removed the entire surface and replaced it with the "soft" plastic stuff that they usually use just post-surgery). That was a hard time for me. Eventually, the pain subsided (I was taking pain meds, too), and now I am pain-free. You are not alone with this post-radiation stuff -- it really was the most painful and difficult time for me, too. Hang in there and know that your pain will subside as you heal.

I will be going in December to have my permanent obturator fitted. In the meantime, the temporary one is doing a decent job, and aside from a yeast infection that set me back some recently, I'm pain-free!

I'm glad you posted; I was wondering how you were doing! Like I said, better times are coming, so hang in there!

it is great to hear that you are pain free, that really gives me the encouragement that I need. Sometimes I think this is the way it will feel forever. He did say, part of it was because this obturator has gotten hard and that it will soon be time to make a new one, but I don't go for impressions until 12/9. He also told me that the next obturator is not the "permanent" one. He said it will be a "transitional" one, with the permanent another 6 months out. I do still have some burning from the radiation also, so I am still having to eat very bland, soft stuff. Are you eating any where near "normal" now?

Yes, I'm eating pretty much anything I want, though there are days when my mouth gets tired from chewing... I can't eat chewy meats like chicken or steak, but do go for ground beef in my spaghetti sauce and tender chicken bits in soup, stuff like that. It hasn't been all that long that I've been eating like this, though -- I had smoothies for weeks after radiation ended! I still have days when a smoothie appeals more than tackling a "real" meal...

I'm wondering now, from what you are saying about your "transitional" obturator, whether I'm wrong about my December fitting being for my permanent one...I'll have to check that out.

Glad to hear you're doing okay!

Well, I had my follow up apt. with both my oncologist and my prosthodontist today. First of all my prosthodontist is again insisting that I NOT wear the obturator at night. He said I have a lot of inflamation, and that the area can not heal if I am wearing it 24/7. I told him that the only reason that I started wearing it at night was it was too painful in the mornings. He replied that this was a good sign because it means blood is flowing to the site and that is what is necessary for healing. So I guess I am back to that. He would not do the impressions today and wants this to heal more first. So I go back in Jan. for impressions for the transitional obturator. Then I saw my oncologist and I told him about the pain that I was having, especially when I eat. He tells me that I need to clean the site more and I should be using a water jet cleaner. This is the first time I ever hear this! I have done everything they have told me to do. I brush at least four times a day, and rinse with salt water. He acted like this was something I should have been doing all along. If it was why don't they tell you this in the beginning??? Of course it was really cute because the resident lingered back to repair the damages after the Dr. left the room.

I previously had been told to use a water pik. This was something my ENT told me after I had finished chemo and rad the first time I had OC. You will be amazed at how much you can miss even when you think you have brushed and flossed to the best of your ability. If you get one, make sure to use it on the lowest setting. From what I have learned from a recent post, its possible to do some damage to your gums with a water pik.