You are rockin' it John...If you are still tasting, that's great. By the time we were at 4 more treatments Kev was feeling pretty crummy. Keep up the positive attitude cuz you are doing great!!
I had to laugh about your food is like putting gas in the car. That's what Kevin says. I always ask him what he would like to eat and he says it doesn't really matter, just give him something to put in because he won't enjoy it anyway!! That's on a bad day!!
Hang in there!!

My experience on this site has shown me that appx 10% of us breeze thru this Tx without nary a bump in their life path (really hate those people...lol); 10% start having issues from almost day one and they end up having a horrible time and the rest of us start having issues after our 2nd bag (Big Bag Method) of Ciplatin and really suffer getting progressively worse until appx 2 to 3 weeks POST Tx. Certainly each of us can react differently and the type of chemo (or not) and it's delivery method and whether or not surgery was invloved and their mental attitude and their caregiver situation and on and on can and do make a huge difference in how we handle our Tx.

So I spoke with my oncologist and she said because of my age and how well I'm handling it she thinks I'll start healing as soon as I stop recieving treatments and that in her experience that's how it goes for most patients she's seen. She assured me that 4 weeks from next Thursday my mouth will be in much better shape and that I'll most likely *knock on wood* be able to speak without pain. That's all I want. If I can talk and sing again without being in pain but I can't taste a thing or have to have liquid meals the rest of my life so be it.
But back to the topic
I have to say once you're into the thick of the radiation for me the worst part had been getting up and getting everything going. It's a total nightmare. Depending on how I slept my tongue and mouth could be completely dry and I find every day the pain is in a new place. But once I can gargle, the use magic mouthwash, then take my pain pills and lay back down until they kick in, then have my first liquid meal of the day and then get my teeth brushed then I feel like I could concur the world.
It's funny how things I never thought about in the past are such chores and undertakings now.

Today I am going to a theater a few towns over to visit. I was in a Play there last year and have seen numerous touring productions of broadway plays there. Being that im in no shape to perform in community theater I'm hoping this will allow me to release this sadness and maybe not feel so distant.

Have an awesome time.

So I'm finished with radiation!!! But I have a few concerns. My major one is the tip of my tongue wakes me up. I can't tell if it gets dried out or what but in the middle of the night several times during the night it wakes me up to the point where I'm in tears.
Also I've noticed my soft pallet cannot tolerate any kind of temperature difference and I'm in excruciating pain when I yawn.
And lastly it seems that at the back of my tongue it is also raw or tender to some degree. It can't have food or beverage of any kind (besides water) on it without being in pain.
Did u guys experience anything similar to what I just mentioned? Looking for some support. Thanks guys ;0)

Congrats on finishing!!!! Everything you have described is normal. Biotene gel for dry mouths can help with the tip of your tongue being dry. Rinsing with the baking soda/salt and warm water will also help.

Dont be surprised if you still feel lousy for the next couple weeks, I hope you dont but it is normal if you do. Radiation keeps working even after you have finished treatments. To be honest, I havent seen anyone come thru here who was better as soon as they finished rads even if they were young. It takes most of us 2 to 3 weeks after rads to begin to feel better. Your age is an advantage and will help you to bounce back quicker. Next month this time you will be so much better!

Let the healing begin!!!

Ditto to everything Christine said... hough he dryness will likely persist longer than two weeks and the temperature it took substantially longer, and spicy foods are still unfriendly. good luck...

John, you made it. Congratulations. As everyone has said, you can expect side effects for a bit longer and I know things are tough right now. Hopefully since you're young that period will be shorter than for the rest of us old fogies.

Hang in there buddy - it only gets better from here!

I was the sickest the 2 weeks post Tx, both physically and mentally (questioned "what's next"). IMO this is very normal but like everything else stay on top of all isuues and be sure to continue to get tons of calories (I did 3500 a day when I could) and pleany of water (at least 40 ozs daily). It's as critical or even more so now to do this.

My treatment began two weeks ago (rad and chemo) and my throat burns from the rad. I lost my taste end of week one. Eating is hard with no taste. I can swallow and drink water and ensure pretty easy just now. Am developing some mouth sores but not too much pain. I have had great deal of acid reflux so taking a couple nexuim a day to keep acid down. I have a PEG and will use to eat when/if needed. My problem is the distaste of food with no taste...meat is the worst so I have avoided. I think canned tuna is tolerable and ham seemed to be ok (did not suck). Am drinking more protein shakes. Lost five pounds during week two. I also got a water pick to rinse mouth after each meal after brushing. Hope it helps deal with the mucus.