Next week starts week six and ive been very blessed with minimal symptoms. However today woke up with mouth sores I'm thankful tho bec they could have appeared earlier. I tried eating an avocado last night and wondering if that caused a reaction??? Or just coincidence? Ive been faithfully rinsing with baking soda and salt from the start. sometimes i use biotene, use the waterpik and rinse with manuka honey. So now I'm a bit afraid to try new things and wish I had not tried the avocado until after the few weeks post tx. (I have a PEG)
Thanks......

Anything is possible, but it's probably 100% likely that head and neck cancer patients will have mucostis, that can lead to inflammation, ulcers, fom radiation anyway. With ulcers, you have to be careful with bacteria entering the blood steam through them, so let the doctor know, and may be issued proper medication to treat, and can be associated with a bacterial, viral or a fungal infection. Also, be careful with hot, spices, sharp textured food that can irritate the mouth, cause cuts in the mouth. Do you have Magic Mouthwash to rinse with? I heard of some with good results to help prevent mucocitis with GelX. I used aloe vera juice to rinse with too, which helps in healing. I hope this helps.

Thanks Paul, I do have the magic mouthwash and will talk to the dr tmw too.

Glutamine powder mxed with warer to rinse nse with too, swallow, helps repair tissue, and with neuropathy.

Oh yes I did get the glutasolve. I can't swallow it tho, or the Manuka honey, if I do I will immediately vomit. But I will rinse tonight. Thanks for the suggestion.

As Paul mentioned, Glutamine works wonders as does Magic Mouthwash. I added the Glutamine to the baking soda and salt rinse.

I had a couple of different Magic Mouthwash formulas. One was a swish and spit and the the other was swish and swallow. Both had lidocane in it and really helped with mouth pain.

You've done incredibly well thus far. Just keep being pro-active with symptom control.

"T"

Be careful of what you eat as your mouth will be very sensitive for a while because of the radiation. I was very sensitive to anything acidic, spicy or hot, and often they would cause mouth sores months after my treatment ended.

The advice from others regarding the various rinses do help, but check with your doctor first. Using a waterpik is a good idea, but keep the water pressure on low.

Thanks T and Susan

Nancy, the only way I was able to take nutrition (liquid) by mouth during radiation was by first holding a bunch of viscious lidocaine in my mouth for up to ten minutes. It helped... somewhat. No one mentioned magic mouthwash to me, but I have a feeling that between the lido and other other stuff I was swishing I was getting the same effect.

Oh and my RO told me emphatically to do everything I could to keep from vomiting, since the acids in the stomach could play havoc with the throat tissues damaged by radiation.

Hang in there!

Thanks david. My mouth sores hurt for 2 days and today, they are still there , but don't hurt! I have no idea what the future holds, (i hope not pain) but I will keep what you suggested in mind. I did gargle will glutamine, wondering it that helped. Who knows, but I consider myself beyond blessed, and holding on tight that everything stays status quo... Or gets better. 4 more treatments to go...(and post tx weeks)
And thanks for the tip about not vomiting. After what my throat felt like the last time i did, i figured i was gonna avoid that at all cost. My RO doesn't tell me anything, and that's not an exaggeration. But he is supposed to be one of the top RO's in the west, so, thankful he set up the plan. I get all my info and support through OCF! Again, beyond blessed. I could not have made it without everyone here,