rick

As others have posted, getting your lymph nodes out in a neck dissection may not be needed. I was very relieved when I did not need one the first time around. Staying hydrated wasn't a problem for me even though I struggled with the Ensure Plus and like David, I was a real alpha Male and did the whole thing without a PEG, so you may make it. I did lose over 20% of weight however and had to cheat on the weigh ins. However in retrospect, it would have been easier if I had had the PEG.
Your return to exercise schedule sounds doable. I was back lifting weights and doing Pilates and Yoga in two months after TX. within a year, stronger and better than ever. Especially without surgery, you will do just fine. Finally, my doctors were okay with a beer a day and it really felt good going down my throat plus added needed calories. Even now, I do a glass of wine a day in my PEG. Good luck
Charm

I have regrets that I didn't push hard enough for a peg and a port for my husband. Towards the end of treatment, they had trouble finding good veins (so he was often a human pin cushion)...and, he came w/in 2 pounds post treatment of medically needing a peg.

We struggled daily to get his medications down along with any form of nutrition. One week following treatment, his only fluid was from an IV. Once a tube becomes medically necessary, the patient is already in bad shape that the simple procedure is more complicated.

It's my understanding that it is not advisable to drink alcohol through treatment. There's a separate debate about post treatment drinking. My husband does have an occasional beer. But, he never drank during treatment...and, because his taste was compromised, I don't think he drank for a year after treatment.

I hope your first day went well. Usually, the first couple of weeks aren't too bad. And, we certainly hope you are one of the lucky ones who makes it through easily!

Rick:

I used to like a beer after working in the yard, after golf but I didn't have much taste for one for maybe a year post tx. I drank a lot of water during my treatments. Some days I know I was downing 10-12 bottles. Every day they would pound it in my head get calories and fluids. I also did IV fluid flush for 4 days following the Cisplatin but I was on the big 3 doses plan.

As I had mentioned I lost weight because it got very hard to swallow , plus I walked and did not eat any junk food, pasta, bread, etc. So you really have to be sure you pick up those calories somewhere, VHC, Ensure, milkshakes....

I had ny ND after treatments . I had very little problems, in and out in a little over 24 hrs. 5 days at home then I was good to go, a bit slow at first but very little discomfort.

Just get after it one day at a day and before you know it you have beat the crap out of it, Good Luck