CubanKeith back in the Casa,
Last few weeks of Chemo radiation not nice at all 4 nights in a hospital bed, keeping the basic body functions was the limit.
Nothing going out anything going in another excuse to "heave" "puke" "talk to God on the great white telephone" "boak/boke" scots, anyhow lost about 2 stone of muscle. But 5 days out from last radiation getting some humour back which brings me to my post.
Late at night over the kitchen sink as I gargle spit and heave the disgusting, nasty tasting puke inducing crap that comes out your throat I thought there is no end to the exultations when you get a blob up. "YES!" "YES!!" "YES!!!" Harry met sally. "Go Baby" "Go" Austin Powers. "OH!GOD" "Hallejuah" apart from playing blob shapes ( same as cloud shapes);they all look like evil tommachi?parisites; do my neighbours think I am having great sex??? any contibutions to possible movies. " You looking at me?" D,nero or "say hello to my sticky friend?" Pacino. Gone.
To finish on a serious note. ? I lost my eating 1.taste 2.discomfort 3. now pain, I now like the smell of food but have not even swallowed water for a week? and feel it is a liitle pychological? Can anyone say how it comes back and good time scale or things to try.
Thanks always
CubanKeith.

You may need a swallow test to make sure the water isnt going into your lungs when you drink. Swallowing is a function that can be difficult to relearn. A speech pathologist will be able to help you with this.

The end of radiation is the worst and the first 2 weeks after finishing are still bad. After that you will slowly begin to make small improvements. Its a long process but you will get there. It takes alot of determination and you will need to push yourself to do things you dont want to. The easiest thing to do is lay in bed doing nothing but that will be detrimental. You MUST get enough nutrition every single day or you will feel even worse. Push yourself to take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water every single day. Adding a high protein whey powder to your formula will help your body to heal faster. Just make sure to add some extra water so it isnt too thick for the tube.

For most patients, around the 3rd week after finishing radiation is when you first notice small improvements. Hang in there, it will get easier.

Good luck!!!

Sometime during my 3rd week post Tx I woke up one morning and I just felt a tad better. Kinda like the day you wake up after 2 weeks of a bad cold and you just know the cold is finally going away. It's not like I felt great but I could just tell I had turned the corner. I called it my walking out of that tunnel monent. For me and most it's not all good days that follow as some days you will think your just as "sick" as you were at the end of Tx but slowly over the next several months those bad days will all but dissappear. Patience is the word you need to remember for the next couple of years while your body recovers. Also try and consume tons of calories and water until you start to gain weight again.

Usually 2-3 weeks you begin to climb out of the hole. I just remember I had post nasal drip, and every time it hit the back of my throat it would sizzle... (burn....) like the devil. Then one day I braced myself for the burn and it never happened. Now I was thoroughly blessed - rads was bad but i got through it okay compared to some, and I swallowed - in spite of the pain- through the entire thing. My suggestion start of with something lukewarm, maybe a bit thicker than water. A boost? Smoothie? Protein shake? Small sips see how that goes. Then if it's not bad soft things like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes or veggies...etc... Stay away from fruit juices and fizzy things for a bit. They'll likely burn. Hugs - congrats on getting through it... And good luck.

Hi Cubankeith, welcome to the long haul out of the hole. I remember the close relationship I had with the bathroom sink well, but I don't remember my humour coming back so fast. Well done. I honestly can't remember when things began to feel better. There was no turning of a corner just a slow snail like improvement. One day I fancied a cup of tea, that felt like a real achievement. At the worst I could only bear warm water so had to use a thermal cup and keep topping it up with hot water. I also infused a piece of root ginger with honey. Stay strong and do persist at trying to drink something regularly through the day. Natural yoghurt may help, and will also help to keep thrush at bay. Not long until things improve. Sally

Thanks for the positive feedback all you nice people, will work on tips and advice and I will keep on keeping on.

Love CubanKeith

Hi, Keith
my husband was mainly frustrated 2 weeks out of therapy that he was not bouncing back faster - although he really was very lucky to recover as quickly as he did.

On the pychological component of eating - yes, that was a factor for him. If you think about it, you have been undergoing operant conditioning to NOT eat for the last several week. Not quite zapping the lab rat everytime it goes for a food pellet, but close.

I am glad to see that your sense of humour has returned. As you try to build your physical stamina back up, please remember that its ok to push yourself a little - but that you HAVE TO REST and recuperate between exertions.

Very best wishes to you from across the pond!

Maria