Just completed chemo and radiation 1/27/08. I can swallow fine but only swallow to take pills. Otherwise, I'm using my peg. Mouth is not terribly dry.

Radiation burns just started to peel and i'm wondering what treatments work best. I'm also wondering how long it will be before i can start eating something!! I know it's different with everyone, but i'm getting tired of pumping food through a tube. Also, what foods should i try first? It won't be Ensure!

Congrats on completing your treatment!

For my husband, Silvadene cream worked wonders on his neck burns (and his were really really bad). Make sure you get the large jar prescribed. The dinky little tubes will get you nowhere.

Start swallowing food as soon as you are physically able (unless your doctor said you need to have a swallowing test first). Cereal worked well (after it soaked a while) to start with. Soups (that have cooled a little), egg noodles with butter... anything that can slide down is good.

If you are like most, you are probably having thick mucousy secretions right now (or will soon). That is typically followed by the dry mouth - which will most likely last a long time, unfortunately.

Hang in there. It does get better!

Ray,

Welcome to OCF. I finished 11-4-08, and I'm getting most of my nutrition through Carnation VHC and soups. I can eat, but, it is very little--almost like baby portions. I have okay taste but the texture is off a little. When I go out, I try to order appetizers or from the children's menu and I suspect it will be that way for a while. I don't notice changes from day-to-day or even from week-to-week; although, I do notice a big difference from month-to-month. Baby-steps is all I can say...

I use to live in Houston and San Marcos, Texas....I almost feel like I'm talking to myself...I don't run into too many Rays.

Ray in TX Welcome to OCF and congratulations on finishing your tx. You will find a lot of help and information here. Try to swallow more each day and it will improve a little at a time. You don't want to have to learn to swallow again so keep practicing.

The doctor prescribed a product called Biafine for my radiation burns and it really did wonders. First they had me do some soaks with a product called Dromeboro to dry up the skin then apply the cream. It really worked well and also seemed to lessen the appearance of some of my scars. Be sure to ask your doctor to prescribe something to relieve it.

Both Rays - I also lived in Kemah and Houston TX.

Patty

After my first flap surgery and trach, when I started swallowing I really enjoyed chicken broth! Doesn't have much in the way of nourishment, but had lots of flavor -- A real treat! Depending on season and how cold I feel, ice cream can also be a real winner and has lots of calories to boot!

BTW, radiation nurses told me to try Kool Whip as a swallowing aid; sort of greases the pipes!

Welcome to OCF ray.

Congrats on completing your treatments. In a couple weeks you will start to feel a little better. A couple good first foods are sliced canned peaches, milkshakes, yogurt, and warm chicken broth.

Best of luck with your recovery.

Fruit cocktail, mashed potatoes w/ plenty of gravy, anything with plenty of gravy. I lived off of Carnation Breakfast VHC for over a year post Tx. I drank a can mixed with whole milk, half and half, with each meal to make sure I got enough calories (3000 per day) especially when everything tastes yucky and it takes a hour to finish a kids meal. BTW that's what you need to order when getting food from a restaurant until you want to eat an adults portion. My favorites were Kids spaghetti w/ meat sauce and chicken pot pies.

Aside from the ones already mentioned - mashed potatos & gravy, etc, I found tomato soup, oatmeal, eggs and yogurt all good at first. You can even dip some bread int he soup to get some carbs.

Don't expect miracles. This will take time. My first meals would last an hour!

Patience.

Donna

Congrats on finishing tx, a huge deal! I kept the peg for about 6 weeks post tx and started back on chicken noodle soup, scrambled eggs, apple sauce just as soon as my throat allowed. Your recovery has now officially started and as noted you just have to be patient as it will take some time.

Congratulations on finishing treatment!!

Ditto on the mashed potatoes with plenty of gravy. It is really pretty versatile, as you can add some onion, mushrooms, etc. as time goes by. I was lucky and kept eating all the way through, but mashed potatoes covered with ground beef, onions and gravy saw me through -- together with a variety of soups.

As others have said, one step at a time!