Will I be able to eat again after radiation to my neck and head?

@ernierogersquamus123 Ernie, I had awful nausea for a few months. My radiologist had me going into the institute 3 times a week for saline solution drips. Injected with Ondansetron and some steroid. It really helped with the nausea. Even though I felt I was drinking a lot I was always severely dehydrated.

Yes , I wrote down the remedy from your other post . I will look into that . I never thought of the radiologist . Thinking the surgeon was the head guy

@roblem Robin. As a result of my lymphedema my CLT (certified lymphedema therapist) with 20 years of H&N experience knew exactly what to order for me. Medicare paid, but that is iffy is my understanding. Not sure if a Rx is needed for any of this. The special lymphedema items I have and use are
1. Tactile Flextouch pump, with jacket and neck
2. Compression shirts
3. Compression Neck and Head Wrap (brace)
4 pulley for shoulder
The pump I use 2x a day. It is great and very helpful for the neck and chest. Shirt I wear daily--however not full time as the therapist recommends.
The Neck wrap (brace) the therapist would like me to wear it 18 plus hours a day. I am way under that and some days skip. When my neck starts bothering me a lot, I put it on and it is very helpful. I suspect that in the future I will be more dependent on this and will wear it more. It was recommended to wear in while sleeping, but that does not work for me. And I take it off when going out or have social events or driving.
Yes--tightness of neck and a fullness at times due to Lymphedema. MDL helps with reducing the fullness which is like having a 2 pound weight around your neck. I have special neck exercises that help a lot. Between the MDL, pump, and neck brace--I get back to normal for many many hours. But not for 24 hours.
The invoice data that came with the Neck wrap --see below. I do not know what other vendors provide, nor the costs and do not recommend one over another.
SOLARIS HEAD & NECK WRAP. (Cheek pad were ordered extra but i never use them). Part of it is also for the head, i only use the Neck Wrap. (head is good for cheeks also).
"Tribute Wrap H&N" is on the insert. Lohmann & Rauscher USA, West Wheelhouse Rd Milwaukee Wi.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck. PS--I recommend having the Neck Wrap (brace) and perhaps you will find a need to wear it much more than I do for the time being.

@ernierogersquamus123 yes nausea was a bigger issue the first year or so. Im 2.5 years from my last radiation treatment and still have some days where I’m feeling nauseous but they seem to be less often and not as bad. Chugging the boost does make me feel nauseous more than drinking it slowly. But the immediate nauseous feeling disappears after 20 or 30 minutes. I Still Have to Force Myself to keep focus on eating even when I don’t want to. Dental issues from the radiation and the changes in my mouth from the surgeries definitely make eating more challenging. I have to floss, pick, brush after every meal because food gets stuck everywhere every time I eat. It’s enough sometimes to make me put off eating even if I’m hungry. I just need to keep reminding myself that I’m Still making progress slowly and find a way to deal with it all. Please Don’t lose hope. Things will probably never be close to what we used to be but we Will find ways to improve our lives. What works best for me is to remind myself of what I am grateful for in my life and that I’m still on this side of the grass. I have faith that with perseverance You can and will find the ways that work best for you.
Enjoy all the little things in life that maybe you haven’t slowed down enough to appreciate. At least that’s what I’m trying to do.
Also, if the nausea is really bad ask your doctor for medication to help . I was taking Zofran and it really helped. Good luck. My thoughts are with you friend

Good advice . I am never hungry always nauseous . I was on Zofran kinda helped . I asked for a third prescription but they told me I couldn’t keep having it . No other solution . Again thanks

@ernierogersquamus123 Your reaction to food isn’t an abnormality. It is what it is. Finding the solution is the problem. My research suggests the standard Ginger. However, in addition, have you tried Dramamine or better yet Meclizine, which doesn’t make you drowsy? Your PC also might have better suggestions. Eventually you should be able to work yourself off of whatever helps. Courage.

@johnbonani I still can't drink red wine either. Or anything carbonated. No regular beer. But for some reason Guineas Stout in a can does not sting my tongue.

I am sorry to hear that you cannot eat normal food. I had 35 treatments as well to my neck to concentrate on the cancer at the base of my tongue. I was on a feeding tube for 2 months before it was removed. Is there still a metal taste to the food?
My taste buds were permanently altered, but not to the point I could not eat. Cold or Hot food or both?
What can you eat or drink?

@ernierogersquamus123 The feed back I get is well , if you still have this after radiation then you’re gonna have it. Not what I wanted to hear. I didn’t have to have surgery as I was already in stage three when I was diagnosed. The cancer passed the midline of my tongue becoming inoperable. I have developed numbness on both arms only on the bottom from my armpit to my wrist.I was told it may come back or it may not. Now I have seizures which I never had before. It’s taken away a lot of my independence.

@krisohlson I am still on a feeding tube. I try to eat some things although there is no taste but I keep trying. I can drink water, ice tea and sometimes a soda. When you say your taste buds were permanently altered do you not taste anything?