I am 10 years post radiation and am doing well. the questions I have at this point are ones of daily living. I use a water bottle (generally 8oz. to 10oz) in a modified tool holster attached to my belt. The water bottle used is dependent on what is available in the store. It has to be a sports top, so I can close the top yet use it quickly as needed. This arriagnment has kept my hands free and from loosing my bottle in the store, etc. I had been using Dannon's 8.5oz sports top bottle which I refill as used rather than going through 6+ new bottles a day. They are no longer being sold. QUESTION: Have any one found a permanent light weight bottle that would fit the use I have discribed?

Pieter

Hello & Welcome Pieter
I have not had rad yet, but someone did mention something like you said. I'm sure they will respond.

I can see if they still sell it here and buy you some. Since you reuse the bottles 12 should last you a year, maybe?? I'll let you know.

Where did you recieve your radiation treatment? Because someone here (Mklein) is from Oregon and is to start rad on Tuesday. Let me know. I'll look at the store today.

Again Welcome. And congradulations on being cured.
Sincerely, Petey

Pieter!
Welcome to a 10 year survivor from a 5 year survivor! Check out REI.com and look at the kids water bottles item number 703056 for $6.00 each in red or blue. They are just your size and reuseable. I have also found great results from using the Biotene Oralbalance mouth gell to get me through an hour without a sip of water. Best of luck to you! - Kris

Pieter,

I use a Zephyrhills (a division of Nestle Waters) water bottle that has a flip top that I open easily with my teeth. I, like you, refill it often. I found mine at Sams.

Now tell me more about about your harness.

Wow, thanks for the responses, I will follow up on each. Since I posted my request, I found an 8oz flexible bottle in the "travel" isle of Target. It leaves a slight tast in the mouth, so I will definitely follow up on your suggestions.

I received my radiation treatments at Kaiser, S. CA's Los Angeles branch. 7.5 Weeks, 5 days a week of fifteen minute treatments.

PeteB, I would recommend that your friend get a supply of liquied food suppliments, e.g., Ensure, etc., as they will in a week or two after starting be unable to eat solids. This will extend to beyond the treatment cycle.

DavidCPA, congratualtions on your successful treatment! The holster I got from HomeDepot it is made of thick leather and allows a belt to be passed through. It came with additional loops to hold pencils and small screw drivers, etc. I removeds the loops and cut out the sides at the bottom of the main pocket. This arraigment allowd for the easy in/out of the bottle. I assume you drink water to keep your throat or mouth wet enought to talk.

Kris, I have been fortunate in that I have approximately 50% of my saliva glans left, so using 5MGs of Pilocarpine (generic name) twice a a day and keeping my water handy is all I need. When I travel on airplanes, I keep a little bottle of Oasis (made by Sensodyne) handy in case water access becomes an issue. Pilocarpine does however increas fluid production in all systems, so there is some increased urination.

FOLLOW UP QUESTION:
Have any of you had any problems getting through security at airports with the water bottle? I have flown since I started carrying a bottle, but not since they have implemented the more stringent rules.

Again thank yu all for your responses.

Pieter

Hi Pieter,

Regarding the security at airports: I fly at least 2-3 times per week and can tell you that if you have your bottle empty when it is time to go through the checkpoint you will be fine. But, if you have it full - they won't allow it. If you are going to use one that isn't disposable and you need water every couple of minutes - I would take your empty nondisposable one AND a full disposable one. Drink the disposable until right at the point you go through the machines in security - you can keep it until you pass through the metal detectors. After that - take your nondisposable and find the nearest water fountain to fill. That is your best bet. Anything with liquid in it that holds over 3.4 ounces will be tossed by security - even if it is only partially full. I see tons of toothpaste tubes that are the full size but only have a little in there - thrown out all the time.

Amy M., thank you for your response. The last time I went through the aiport, they required that you take a drink from the bottle as they watched; ah the simple times. Will do as you suggest. I am also trying to get to an site that would allow direct questions to TSA and see if they have a formal policy. Again thank you.

Pieter

Pieter --

This topic sparked some interesting discussion last September around the time TSA revised its rules; two threads on the issue are here and here .

While the TSA regulations do allow an exception to the "3 ounces" limit for "liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition," I expect that such exceptions are granted, or not, depending on how the TSA security person on duty is feeling that day, and I do not know what is required in terms of "proving" that need. Amy's suggestion above seems like a reasonable way of handling the problem; in addition, bottled water is now sold in areas past the security screening.

When I flew home from China recently, the Beijing airport was just implementing, for international flights, the US screening rules for liquids and gels. The screener took away my under-3-ounces Purell hand sanitizer (even though I had brought it with me with no problem), saying it could be used to start a fire(!).

-- Leslie

Leslie, thanks for the response; I have read the two threads and printed the LA times article. Not sure of when I will be flying again, but want to be prepaired.

Pieter

Be careful refilling water bottles.
This may be true or not but my husbands cancer has made me very cautious with even his liquid intake.
Have read that the plastic bottles water is sold in are made to eventually biodegrade, probably in 100 yrs (?), so can release chemicals over time.
They weren't designed to be used over and over. We used to re-use them all the time but now really clean well with a little bleach water and limit the refill usage.

Can we get a prescription for the amount of bottled water needed daily?
It can and does add up fast.
Maggie