|    |       Joined:  Jul 2007  Posts: 939    "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)   |      OP      "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)    Joined:  Jul 2007  Posts: 939  |    Hey everyone,
  The subject of Trismus in another post brought this to the forefront of my mind regarding the Therabite device.  They are so darn expensive and most insurance companies don't/won't pay for it.  In our case, I was able to find one to bid on in EBay and won it but it was still rather pricey.  I got it thinking Bill would need it but as it turned out, he never had a problem with Trismus.
  So, when ChristineB mentioned in a post that she needed one, I cleaned Bill's and mailed it to her...not expensive to do as its lightweight.  She then passed it forward as well when she could not use it.  DO YOU SEE A TREND HERE??
  So, if you have a need for this device or you have one that you are not using, post here or IM the "needer" and see if you can pass it on!
  Thanks, Deb          
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997. DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07  SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0  TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5. TREATMENT END: 10/1/07 PEG OUT: 1/08 PORT OUT: 4/09 FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams.  ALL CLEAR!
  Passed away 1/7/17  RIP Bill
  |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Sep 2010  Posts: 71    Supporting Member (50+ posts)   |           Supporting Member (50+ posts)    Joined:  Sep 2010  Posts: 71  |    I am a "needer" that would be grateful to have a Therabite...I would be very happy to pass it on when I am done with it as well. I am just starting radiation (30 treatments - 1st one today) and want to keep it from getting worse. My jaw is pretty good right now - the bad side is a little lacking from the good side but decent.
  I am just trying to keep it from tightening up more!
  Let me know...I am happy to refund postage!
  Michele in IL        
Female - 53 no smoke/drink tongue Biopsy 8/2010 Surgery 9/21 for SCC left side tongue stage II. Prtl removal tongue/left side lymph nodes. All Clear Radiation started 11/2, ended 12/17 Lymph node involved left side along with gum involvement 2/9 Fibular flap failed 2/22. passed away 1/12/12
  |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Sep 2010  Posts: 21    Member   |           Member    Joined:  Sep 2010  Posts: 21  |    I sure could use one if someone is so kind to donate.  I would also pay it forward after my experience. My mouth will not even open to the point where I can get a single depressor in. I have tried muscle relaxants, massaging, jaw exercises, tongue depressors, EVERYTHING To no avail. Have been losing weight even while on supplements. Thanks for the creative idea Deb. Hope people see it out there and it works. 
  Best wishes to all!
  -Matt        
32 Yrs. Male Diagnosed 3/17/10  SCC right side of tongue stage 2 Surgery 4/20/10 Right hemiglossectomy  Right selective neck dissection levels 1-4 Right anterolateral thigh free flap   Tracheotomy  31 radiation treatments  Nov. PET and CT showed something, hopefully nothing awaiting confirmation
  |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Oct 2010  Posts: 4    Member   |           Member    Joined:  Oct 2010  Posts: 4  |    Hi.  I went through cancer in 2007 and purchased a Therabite.  It is very expensive and in my case it has not been a successful therapy tool for me.  Doctors have no answers or are simply not saying.
  For the cost I would encourage you to use the stack of tongue depressors.  They accomplish the same thing and will save you tons of cash for something useful.      |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Jul 2007  Posts: 939    "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)   |      OP      "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)    Joined:  Jul 2007  Posts: 939  |    [quote=altoman]Hi.  I went through cancer in 2007 and purchased a Therabite.  It is very expensive and in my case it has not been a successful therapy tool for me.  Doctors have no answers or are simply not saying.
  For the cost I would encourage you to use the stack of tongue depressors.  They accomplish the same thing and will save you tons of cash for something useful. [/quote]
  Sorry the Therabite was not successful.  Do you still have the device and if so, would you be willing to share it with someone who might have better luck??  Thanks for posting and let us know if we can help get this to someone else.
  Deb        
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997. DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07  SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0  TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5. TREATMENT END: 10/1/07 PEG OUT: 1/08 PORT OUT: 4/09 FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams.  ALL CLEAR!
  Passed away 1/7/17  RIP Bill
  |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Jan 2008  Posts: 4    Member   |           Member    Joined:  Jan 2008  Posts: 4  |    My wife really needs a therabite and I posted this a very long time ago. Still can't afford one. Do you still have it?  Desperate. Popsicke sticks hurt her gums.      |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Jul 2007  Posts: 939    "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)   |      OP      "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)    Joined:  Jul 2007  Posts: 939  |    [quote=Mark Martin1]My wife really needs a therabite and I posted this a very long time ago. Still can't afford one. Do you still have it?  Desperate. Popsicke sticks hurt her gums. [/quote] Please see this post:  Therabite Maybe this will help. Deb         
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997. DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07  SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0  TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5. TREATMENT END: 10/1/07 PEG OUT: 1/08 PORT OUT: 4/09 FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams.  ALL CLEAR!
  Passed away 1/7/17  RIP Bill
  |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Aug 2010  Posts: 72    Supporting Member (50+ posts)   |           Supporting Member (50+ posts)    Joined:  Aug 2010  Posts: 72  |    My husband uses tongue depressors to widen his jaw.  They are over twice as wide as popcicle sticks and spread the pressure out at least four times as much.  Your wife may have much less pain with them.  You can buy them at medical supply stores.   A box of 600 costs around 10 USD here.  Tim doesn't need them all, so I can send you dozen to try them out.        
Susan, CG to husband, diagnosed April 2010, age 56, non-smoker, no HPV Mandibulectomy on left side May 2010 followed by 30 radiation, 3 cisplatin treatments.    |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Jan 2011  Posts: 15    Member   |           Member    Joined:  Jan 2011  Posts: 15  |    What is a therabite and how does it work?        
Joel, 52 SCC HN Stage IV, Excisional biopsy to remove 4 lymph nodes 12/2/10, Diagnosed 12/9/10, Tonsils removed, mouth biopsy 1/13/11, wisdom teeth out 2/7/11, chemo starts 2/22.
  |      |       |               |    |       Joined:  Sep 2006  Posts: 8,311    Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)   |           Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)    Joined:  Sep 2006  Posts: 8,311  |        
David
  Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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