Has anyone heard anything about daily swimming while undergoing treatments?

I want to keep up my routine of swimming for as long as possible and didn't know if there was a problem doing it while getting radiation/chemo.

I'll ask the Doc's, but thought someone here might know too.

It has really helped with the neck stiffness and mobility, although not completely resolved.

I still have swelling on the Left side, and it feels like it's getting hard..? Is that normal?

I think I remember reading about that before, but when it starts to happen to you, it seems more severe

You actually got me to post. Michael, I'm no expert here, but there might be several issues. If you are talking in the Ocean, salt and sun are possible issues. If in a pool, sun and chlorine may irritate the area. You should have been cautioned about sun exposure at your radiation consult, but who knows. You are going into a fairly rigorous treatment plan and you may not be up for the daily swim anyway.

Other posts;

On the therabite, call them. They will know which insurance will cover it or, if yours does not, they will try to get it covered as they did with mine. It works well if you use it, but that is always the hard part. Using it! They ran about $450.00 when I got mine. I did not read the entire post, if this was covered forgive me.

As a note on the old timers. The board has changed, not necessarily for the bad, but changed. Quite honestly is has shifted from an informational source to a support group with many off topic postings. This is not bad, support is important, just different. Me, I tend to be more direct in my posts and have gotten into trouble more than once on here. I can see that my style would not be as well tolerated in the boards present climate and I choose to post, with this exception, as a PM or an email. I will say this, you will never be left unanswered by an "old timer". The information will get to you in one form or another, just not always on the public board. This is a great place and it will continue to be the best Oral Cancer resource on the Internet.

Glenn

Hi Michael,

Aside from the issues Gary mentioned re swimming, there is one much larger one if you have a PEG tube--that is that if you get yourself underwater to the extent the PEG hole is underwater, that water ends up filling up your stomach (and I doubt you want either ocean water or cholrinated pool water in your stomach when you're undergoing chemo, which is likely to make you nauseated as it is).

I am having restricted movement in my jaw lately and the therabite discussion came at a good time since I was just doing finger-in-mouth jaw stretching exercises and they haven't been working too well. I see my RO next week so maybe he can prescribe one. Thanks, guys.

Nelie

Oh wow!

I did't realize the PEG prevented me from swimming!!

I know I might not feel like it after a week or two, but was counting on it for exercise and relaxation...Bummer.

I'm glad I found this out before we signed the lease on the more expensive apartment just because it had an indoor pool...

Thanks for the great advice both of you!

PS: Glenn...Speaking for myself, I think that all views are welcome and appreciated here.

That's one of the beautiful things about an open forum like this...

Any blunt or cold advice will quickly be countered by someone else's warm and fuzzies....

It's very nice to get a well rounded perspective on these issues, and I think information is empowerment, which, like it or not, translates into "support"... :-)

So, again, speaking for myself, please post any ideas, comments, feedback or information you feel is appropriate...

- Michael

OK Michael, now youv'e done it you have brought up the dreaded "tube or not to tube" subject! (innocently I'm sure) You should know that there are quite a few here that did this without a PEG tube.

Another of many reason to try without the tube? As I recall you mentioned having a little extra size? Ask your doctor's if you could do this without the tube.

Just wait and see what reply messages this gets....Wheeee we havn't done this in a while. :p

To My friend Glenn: What style?

Well, I am about 50 to 70 pounds (depending on who you ask, in fact, I think my Mom would say 10), overweight, so I was arguing with the Doc against the tube...

I guess hydration would be a concern though, what do we non-tubers do about that? IV if it get's too bad?

Michael,
My husband was very resistant to the PEG, but what a relief it was to the both of us when he finally got one. Beyond nutrition, there is the hydration that you mentioned - and also the delivery of meds. My husband got to the point where he could not swallow pills and it was great to be able to grind them with a mortar and pestle and add them with some liquid to the PEG. He took his pain meds and also some herbal immune boosters (all approved by the radiation oncologist) this way.

But are you getting a PICT line for delivery of the chemo? If so, that is an even better way to get hydrated. My husband would start looking and feeling really bad and I would get a bag of fluids started via the IV line and the change would be quick and remarkable. But the PICT (think I have the name right, but not sure - I love how I am forgetting all this stuff as time goes blessedly by) should also not get soaked in water. When my husband took a shower, we wrapped plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) around his PEG area and his PICT area. Maybe you can figure out a way to waterproof the PEG to continue swimming as long as possible. I'm with you on this...I get pretty grouchy if I don't have my laps.

Best,
Anita

Michael
Here we go! Get the peg...lol
Mark just loves to stir things up, and this is a doozie!
Better to have it and not need it than get weak and dehyrated because you cannot swallow.

Glenn,I have missed your "Old Grump" posts , diplomacy was never my strong suit and you made me look good!

Cheers All
Marica

Well they said if I lost more than 3 pounds a week I would get the tube. I have eaten on another 10 pounds as icecream has been on sale every week. I did not want the tube but I am sure there are those for whom it not be an option.
Than again maybe I am wrong so continue on with todays topic:

The Tube