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← Return to recovery after 35 radiation treatments
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recovery after 35 radiation treatments
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 7 hours ago | Replies (28)Comment receiving replies
@dragonfire I do understand your suffering and frustration. I went through that 13 years ago, and I wouldn't be around if I hadn't done that treatment. Every week of radiation was damaging more tissue as it was the cancer cells. Now at the end, it does take a long time to feel improvements because they are tiny little steps toward healing. Some days you backslide, but from week to week you are getting better. Don't look for day to day improvements but think about how you felt last week and the week before. That way you can see just how far you are progressing. This is the worst time in the process, but give yourself a break and know that from here it gets better, just slowly. It sure helps to be an optimist during this stage. Stick with foods you can swallow and slowly add in new soft things. I lived on smoothies and mashed potatoes and Cream of Wheat. Chocolate didn't even taste good to me and that was a killer. Talk to your medical team about addressing the pain issues. I found oral lidocaine gel helpful right before eating and that is prescription. Don't forget about the numbing effects of ice chips and even an ice pack on the neck.
A year from now you will look back and see that your new normal is much better than what life is like now. Yes it is a hellish experience, but I believe it is better than dying of cancer. I bet that in a month you will be seeing significant improvement. It took me about 8-9 months to be back on a more normal diet and that happened gradually. Some foods will just not taste right for a long time but be patient and know it does get better.
As hard as it is, find something small each day to be grateful for as that helps to improve your attitude.
Replies to "@dragonfire I do understand your suffering and frustration. I went through that 13 years ago, and..."
appreciate your help I have been forced to understand this is baby steps and that is not part of my makeup which makes this harder. I use the Biotene a few times during the day and before bed. I have a couple mouth ulcers the doctor said would heal on their own. They have me on Oxycodone during the day for pain which is the contributor to the constipation. I am hoping by the end of the week I can finish taking all the pills I am not a pill person.
I am glad I found the forum since it has given me people to talk to going through the same hell. My family is tired of hearing my daily complaints about this. I am glad I can still work part of the day. I get too tired to commit to a complete day yet.
I am amazed by this forum how many people have experienced this same nightmare I had no idea. I am hoping the my commitment to better nutrition will help. I am started adding protein powder and milk shakes to my daily food intake.
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@sepdvm
I appreciate your response I just want real food so bad. I have ulcers in my mouth causing pain and I am using the salt and soda rinse. My wife even is frustrated that I can't eat. I get tired in the afternoon so I sleep a couple hours. I get tired of being in the house but I don't' want to catch germs in the store. I don't need any more problems. I just feel so alone I used to have my dog for company but lost him to kidney disease in April. I glad I can work part days I was going to retire but I feel now needing the comfort of the job to continue working. This just seems like and endless wheel of small improvements, limited food, medication and a constant sore mouth.
I feel like a made a huge mistake having the treatment especially when I researched other treatments that are not so long. No one said I would experience all this that I question if surgery would have been better. But it is too late now and the damage is done all I hope for is improvement.
I experienced dry heaves one night when a scramble egg did not go down right that sucked.
I am sleeping with a cool mist humidifier at night to give my mouth moisture don't know if that is making things worse or not.
My health care team nurse suggested JUVEN and told me it works very well to help heal from the inside out. My order just arrived so I will start it.
My life the past year has been a soap opera and then to discover I have this and all this requires. I cry each day over this. I am not by nature a patient person and dealing with this has me at wits end.