| | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 50 | Hi all,
Bob has finished all of his treatments as of today. I wish to thank this board. The information really did help me get him through it. He was a little bit of a bear(ok I will be honest he was a big bear)but we made it through.
The next hurdle is the complications from what was done. He has trismus(to what extent I am not sure),limited mobility of his left arm, his speach is nonexistent, a mouth full of pain and he of course that rope like stuff he spits out.I know his hearing was already not the greatest,when will we start to see a change if there is going to be one?
We have an ENT appt. tomorrow and then we will go from there. If any one has any advice I will gladly use it.
Thank you
Deb
Deb taking care of Bob, left retromolar tirgone&alveolar ridge SCC stage IV pT4anomx
11/3/10 partial mandiblctmy,trech,chest flap
11/9/10 Trech out, PEG in
1/19/11- 3/9/11 Cisplatin x3, IMRT x33
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Hi Deb! Congrats to both you and Bob for successfully completing treatments. I know he had a difficult time of it. Keep up the hydration and nutrition so he heals quicker. Try adding some high protein powder to any of his liquids. I was advised by my wound care specialists to push the protein to heal my wounds. Rinsing with 16oz warm water, 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp salt will help with the 'rope mucous'. Bob should swish it around in his mouth for several seconds and then spit it out. Ive heard of some people using seltzer water for it too. I didnt try that myself but Ive heard it works.
Best of luck with everything! Bob has come very far and now needs to heal so he can return to his regular life. My ENT oversees all of my other doctors. If yours does too ask about physical therapy for the left arm's reduced motion.
It will be another 2 or 3 weeks before Bob will climb out of the tunnel. Radiation keeps working even when his treatments are finished. Lots of nutrition, hydration, protein and rest are what is important right now. With a mandibulectomy, recovery can take a while. This will affect his recovery a little. It must have been very difficult to have the mandibulectomy then do the chemo and radiation. Bob will get there it will take some time.
Best wishes with the recovery!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | |
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