Hi all,

My Dad had his 6 month post treatment follow up last week.

We met a new resident dr of the RO team. Very nice guy. He scoped and said it's very red and irratible. He asked my Dad if he's having any acid reflux problems (which he's not). He prescribed a strong antacid (my Dad already takes Ranitadine for a bleeding ulser he had about 12 years ago). He felt around on his neck. He didn't seem to feel anything of concern. I asked about the spot that the surgeon and RO had seemed concerned at the previous appointments; and he said he just feels a scar (from the cut biopsy). He talked about neck dissection but didn't push it. My Dad will have an ultra sound in Feb for the next follow up; and a CT 3 months after that. He sees the RO every 3 months.

He then said it's "negative". Very happy to hear that. The RO came in and commented nodes could continue to shrink.

My Dad looks great. Kept off the 50lbs (which was extra weight). He's pretty much back to his old routine; out and about. He eats about anything; well not everything tastes good as you all know too well. He's having the phlegm issue and it really annoys him. He's trying Mucinex; seems to help a bit. Trying to avoid milk too. His voice is still hoarse.

Questions: What were your issues 6 months post treatment? Were things still raw in the throat?

Thanks a bunch!

oops typo.....meant to say: red and 'irritated' ha ha.

Hi Lisa,

Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.

I am now at 10 months from treatment. Not much has changed for me since 6 mo.

I still have:
Dry mouth & sometimes fight infections.
Stiff neck & head aces off & on.
Taste is not back to normal but I can taste things here and there. (NO spicy stuff)
I still get tired and must rest in the after noon.
My thyroid is still being checked. (my body temperature is way off)
I did have my esophagus dilated this last month. I was choking a lot.
Not sure if this was much help for you. Everyones rate of recovery is different. I keep looking for changes every month. It is a long waiting period.

OOps hit wrong button.

Also my voice gets scratchy when I get tired. I think this is due to dry mouth as well.

I hope your Dad will feel better soon. Every day is a challenge some times.

Take care,
Diane

Lisa,
By the 6 month point I was pretty well adjusted to the new normal, but it was right around then that trismus snuck up on me. I noticed that I was not able to open my mouth as wide as I had been able to, and it was getting progressively worse.
My ENT prescribed the Therabite to help stretch everything back out. I used it faithfully for about 4 months, and then it gradually fell into disuse.

The trismus problem doesn't hit all of us,, but it is something to be watchful for. It is much easier to stay ahead of it than to recover from it.
Six months was also when my thyroid crapped out. I couldn't ever seem to get warm. I thought it was because of the weight loss, but then I started getting aches and pains similar to carpel tunnel syndrome. When I told my HO about this, he ordered a TSH screen with my bloodwork. Now I'm on Synthroid, so that's a pretty manageable side effect.

Really glad to hear that your Dad is doing so well.

Continued good health,

Chuck