Get the deluxe water pik - it has a tongue attachment (blue spoon like thing) Luke warm water or even salt/ baking soda water mixture, on the lowest setting with the tongue attachment is a big pile of awesome, the pointy tooth cleaners will hurt if your mouth is sensitive, but the spoon thing shoots water around and cleans out your mouth in the later stages when your all gunky, and drooly (yes you do tend to drool a lot at the end) after treatment and once you've healed the water pick cleans well between your teeth and gums... I still use mine.

Ditto the waterpik. Fantastic tool during treatment and recovery. The blue spoon works really great as it is more like a spray rather than a jet. With salt/soda in warm water, it is very soothing as well as cleans all the surfaces without any pain.

Don

I will most definitely be buying the waterpik. And ChrisN, right, I most definitely need to follow your suggestion. I did not do well with my pain management after my TORS surgery. I realize I'm going to need to change my usual "I'll do it later personality" and be on a strict schedule with how I take care of myself.
ie: feedings, teeth care, walks, etc.
I'm very thankful for all your responses.

Do you have friends and family to help you get thru this? If not try to write down anyone who has offered to help you. Tell them when the time comes you will let them know. I went thru this without a caregiver and I suffered greatly. My biggest mistake was to be so tired I wouldnt set up the feeding tube, I would just stay in bed and sleep. This caused me to end up hospitalized a couple times for malnutrition and dehydration. I would hate to see someone else go thru this without someone to help them. Dont be too proud to ask people to help you. I know its not easy to ask for help but dont be shy, people really do want to help but they just dont know what to do.

Best wishes!!!

Yes Christine, my mom and sister will take turns flying out to keep me on my schedule and help me out. I have meals being brought in by friends for 8 weeks, so I don't need to worry about them or my husband. Also I have a driving team. I am so incredibly thankful. I started out saying, I didn't want to be a burden, but my friends would not hear any of it. I can't imagine you not having someone to help you, I don't have any words for that. I find your determination so admirable. It encourages me.

make sure your friends are aware that eating and swallowing will be a problem. Tell them mild, soupy, saucy, softened, and easily swallowed foods that are high in protein (not necessarily animal protein either), will be best particularly when your tastebuds leave the scene. hugs

Hey Cheryl!! The food is for the caregivers! The caregivers will make soupy, saucy meals on the side for me! I'm depending mostly on my feeding tube, and will eat as much as I can on those for as long as I can. This has been a slow process for me. I don't want to admit this but I barely eat now and that's why I got the peg early. I really do try and I'm getting better, but I think I'm just too depressed and I can not get that food down. I've read about the 2500 calories, but my stomach feels like it is going to explode! I'm only up to about 1700 per day and am confident I will get there. There is water counted in my formula and I drink water orally too.
In two days my husband and I fly out to drop our son off at college. I'm guilt ridden that I'm not the happy go lucky mom I should be for him. I'm usually a very tough person, however the upcoming radiation has made me crack. But...just getting it out here and the kind responses, plus the few private messages have really been so encouraging. It's comforting to know, when I start going thru the physically painful season, I will have some great people here to keep me going. (Plus my family and friends of course...tho I have warned them please do not ask me if I'm feeling better today!)

My dear I literally chugged 4 high calorie ensure a day that was all I could manage and I did it it in 13 gulps (one breath in the middle) I hear you - let me tell you something mindset is so incredibly important. I get feeling down but you have to kick it. Go for a 15 minute walk daily. Do things you enjoy... Cancer is a part of your life for sure but don't let it steal your joy that's what it is best at. Give it the attention it needs to treat it, but do not let it stop you from doing the things you want. This is temporary (hopefully) its 8 weeks of your life, other cancer patients have to deal with it far longer. 6 months a year? The rest of their lives. And it's true sometimes we face recurrences but hon, try to stay positive give it its time now, but be cheap with it

Take care.

13 gulps, with a breathe in between! : )