Sore Throat

Landranger25
Landranger25 Member Posts: 210 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi everyone. I am now 6 months post treatment (33 rads, 3 chemo sessions for SCC BOT) and was wondering if anybody at similar timeline was still experiencing a sore throat occasionally? Things will go along very well for many weeks and then all of a sudden I will experience some discomfort/ache in my throat when I swallow. I have experienced this on a cyclical basis since the end of my treatment. Just when I think it won't happen again, it happens! At first I thought it was because I ate something that aggravated the tissue/muscles but this last time it just kind of appeared one morning and has stuck around a couple of days. Seems better this morning, hope more so tomorrow. Any comments will be appreciated.

Regards to all, Mike

Comments

  • backachedp
    backachedp Member Posts: 132
    Sore Throat
    Hi my Husband has been done with Treatment's since Jan 28..so about 12 weeks. He cannot talk for very long and he get's horse...his voice comes and goes. I hope your sore throat goes away for good..do you have allergies? Bob has been having a problem feeling stuffed up and I think it may have to do with allergies. He is still coughing and having issues with Mucus. I hope things get better for you. Can you eat normally yet? Bob still has his tube and he want's it out, but he cannot survive on the tiny bit he can swallow. He has to take Oxycodone before he tries to eat even soup and it takes him a very long time to get it down. He must always have water too....Hoping you don't get your sore throat again..but with this Disease you just never know.
    Wishing you the BEST...:)
    Deb
  • Landranger25
    Landranger25 Member Posts: 210 Member

    Sore Throat
    Hi my Husband has been done with Treatment's since Jan 28..so about 12 weeks. He cannot talk for very long and he get's horse...his voice comes and goes. I hope your sore throat goes away for good..do you have allergies? Bob has been having a problem feeling stuffed up and I think it may have to do with allergies. He is still coughing and having issues with Mucus. I hope things get better for you. Can you eat normally yet? Bob still has his tube and he want's it out, but he cannot survive on the tiny bit he can swallow. He has to take Oxycodone before he tries to eat even soup and it takes him a very long time to get it down. He must always have water too....Hoping you don't get your sore throat again..but with this Disease you just never know.
    Wishing you the BEST...:)
    Deb

    Thanks Deb
    I was able to eat soup and scrambled eggs within about 2 weeks of my treatment ending. I am eating almost anything I want and have gained back 20 pounds of the 35 I lost. I think it was about 5 weeks post treatment when my PEG was removed. I had gained back about 5-7 pounds by then and was eating OK. My ENT Surgeon prescribed Flonase for my alleergies/rhinitis and it has helped alot. I'm sorry your husband is still having trouble swallowing. I believe drinking is very important in that not only whatever it is that we are drinking we need but that it uses the swallowing muscles. (like exercise) My first meals post treatment were cream soups just slightly warm. Like your husband, I too keep water of juice handy whenever I am eating. The mucus will go away. My spit is better but still not back to normal. Tell him to hang in there, keep drinking and swallowing and don't be in a hurry to remove the PEG if it is still an important part of getting nutrition. Good luck.

    Mike
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Mike
    After 5 years I still get a sore throat, always on the same side right under the left jaw and in the neck area. Sometimes it feels like a popcorn kernel stuck under the tongue half way down and sore as hell. I had my ENT and Ocl man look but they tell me everything looks good. I think that every now and then I get an ulcer like when I was on treatment, always in the same place, it goes away after a few days or so. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

    Take care
  • Landranger25
    Landranger25 Member Posts: 210 Member
    Hondo said:

    Hi Mike
    After 5 years I still get a sore throat, always on the same side right under the left jaw and in the neck area. Sometimes it feels like a popcorn kernel stuck under the tongue half way down and sore as hell. I had my ENT and Ocl man look but they tell me everything looks good. I think that every now and then I get an ulcer like when I was on treatment, always in the same place, it goes away after a few days or so. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

    Take care

    Muscles Ache
    Thanks Hondo. It seems to only last 3-5 days or so and then goes away. I also have lots of aches in my neck and shoulder muscles and as far down as into my deltoids. All these muscles very stiff and weak. (like I over did a weekend project and now have to pay for it) I've been blaming the radiation but not sure if that is really it. Thanks for the input, hope you and your family are well and take care.

    Mike
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Hondo said:

    Hi Mike
    After 5 years I still get a sore throat, always on the same side right under the left jaw and in the neck area. Sometimes it feels like a popcorn kernel stuck under the tongue half way down and sore as hell. I had my ENT and Ocl man look but they tell me everything looks good. I think that every now and then I get an ulcer like when I was on treatment, always in the same place, it goes away after a few days or so. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

    Take care

    Popcorn Kernel
    Excellent description Tim.... I have that same feeling often (comes and goes). I have also told my ENT and others about it. They always scope my throat extra throughly. When reading my CT scans they check everything also.

    My main replies are always the same, just residual scarring from the radiation and tonsils coming out. That everything looks great and nothing out of the norm. That I'll have these for several years out.

    Still makes you nervousd and concerned as my initial symptoms were a persistant mild sore throat that wouldn't get worse, but never seemed to get better either.

    Landranger, I also have various aches and pains, soreness and occasional fatigue, it goes with the territory I suppose. I have stiffness and soreness in my throat, neck and shoulder area. Usually if I can do mild stretching and work it around, it'll go away, or at least loosen up a little.

    John
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member

    Sore Throat
    Hi my Husband has been done with Treatment's since Jan 28..so about 12 weeks. He cannot talk for very long and he get's horse...his voice comes and goes. I hope your sore throat goes away for good..do you have allergies? Bob has been having a problem feeling stuffed up and I think it may have to do with allergies. He is still coughing and having issues with Mucus. I hope things get better for you. Can you eat normally yet? Bob still has his tube and he want's it out, but he cannot survive on the tiny bit he can swallow. He has to take Oxycodone before he tries to eat even soup and it takes him a very long time to get it down. He must always have water too....Hoping you don't get your sore throat again..but with this Disease you just never know.
    Wishing you the BEST...:)
    Deb

    I Can Relate!!!
    It's been over a week from the last Doctors visit, gave me a bacterial pill, for the sore throat, buts wants to do another exploritary operation, inside my throat....Not what I want to hear, My voice sounds better in the morning, weak, phlemy, is this ever going to be over with!!!..Patients is not working here, Hydro's kick in and i eat..not weight gain, yes i have tried boost, ensure, shakes etc...i get in the afternoon, my voice at work is weak, has a foil smell, my boss ..stress city, let me tell you what i have to deal with, last radiation was january 25th..lost 52lbs, down to 150, i have lost any muscle mass i had on my body. i'm tired all the time, sore throat, the first doctor that put a piece of plastic on my throat thinking it was vocal paraylsis, OOooppss, had to be removed, which i now have a lovely strip of cartilgue and is more noticeable, since i can't seem to keep weight on, the tumor was right on my chords. I even saw it, after the 5th time and countless procedures, he pushed me on another doctor who saw the tumor the first time.. Sorry for this, I have tried, I mowed the lawn Saturday, and fell alseep on the lawn mower in the garage, can anyone tell me whats going to happen next, gargle threw on side of my nostrils, a left side of vocal chords that don't work anymore, i get it should be getting better, I don't know what the problem is............sound familar, i'm tired, sorry, i ate my first steak this week, though i had to cut it up, it was alot ,more then others could swallow, even though It did get caught up in teh back of my throat...any positives, let me know guys and gals, I'm getting worn out, wheres sweetblood, i havenn't seen her in a while, i wish everyone that is going threw this the best, and hope someone out there is getting relief and satisfaction...take care guys. dennis
  • backachedp
    backachedp Member Posts: 132
    dennis318 said:

    I Can Relate!!!
    It's been over a week from the last Doctors visit, gave me a bacterial pill, for the sore throat, buts wants to do another exploritary operation, inside my throat....Not what I want to hear, My voice sounds better in the morning, weak, phlemy, is this ever going to be over with!!!..Patients is not working here, Hydro's kick in and i eat..not weight gain, yes i have tried boost, ensure, shakes etc...i get in the afternoon, my voice at work is weak, has a foil smell, my boss ..stress city, let me tell you what i have to deal with, last radiation was january 25th..lost 52lbs, down to 150, i have lost any muscle mass i had on my body. i'm tired all the time, sore throat, the first doctor that put a piece of plastic on my throat thinking it was vocal paraylsis, OOooppss, had to be removed, which i now have a lovely strip of cartilgue and is more noticeable, since i can't seem to keep weight on, the tumor was right on my chords. I even saw it, after the 5th time and countless procedures, he pushed me on another doctor who saw the tumor the first time.. Sorry for this, I have tried, I mowed the lawn Saturday, and fell alseep on the lawn mower in the garage, can anyone tell me whats going to happen next, gargle threw on side of my nostrils, a left side of vocal chords that don't work anymore, i get it should be getting better, I don't know what the problem is............sound familar, i'm tired, sorry, i ate my first steak this week, though i had to cut it up, it was alot ,more then others could swallow, even though It did get caught up in teh back of my throat...any positives, let me know guys and gals, I'm getting worn out, wheres sweetblood, i havenn't seen her in a while, i wish everyone that is going threw this the best, and hope someone out there is getting relief and satisfaction...take care guys. dennis

    Dennis 318
    My Husband is tired all the time...he will start to do something and need a nap..he fall's asleep many times during the day..he was done with treatment Jan 28..so you guy's are at the same point...Bob was 140lbs before Cancer..he is 6 foot tall. Thankfully he got down only to 117lbs and now is at 135. They want to know when he plans on going back to work... he cannpt work yet not even close YET. I know Bob is worn out from all of this too, as am I it is a very stressful thing to go thru. Sometimes Bob has liquids come out of his nose. He still has the mucus problem,,,sore throat and the horse voice...I told him not to talk so much as you can tell his voice get's weaker and more raspy the more he talks. I wish you the best and hope things get better for you Dennis. There has to be an end to this or at least some relief...Bob isnot feeling well Iknow him but he won't complain...I can see it in his eyes and tell he is getting frustrated. He want's that feeding tbe OUT, but there is no way as he cannot survive on the little he eats. We will see what they say on the 27th. He had his first PET Scan today since his treatment was completed..have you had one yet??? Bob will have to have surgery on his tougne in May as he has so much scar tissue and his left side of his tougne is like a rock...it is so sad all of you guy's going thru this...but you can beat it and years from now you will look back and say WoW I really did it and I am a Strong person...Bob is seeing a swallow Dr and speech therapist as well.
    Best to you and hang in there Dennis and everyone else.
    Deb
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member

    Dennis 318
    My Husband is tired all the time...he will start to do something and need a nap..he fall's asleep many times during the day..he was done with treatment Jan 28..so you guy's are at the same point...Bob was 140lbs before Cancer..he is 6 foot tall. Thankfully he got down only to 117lbs and now is at 135. They want to know when he plans on going back to work... he cannpt work yet not even close YET. I know Bob is worn out from all of this too, as am I it is a very stressful thing to go thru. Sometimes Bob has liquids come out of his nose. He still has the mucus problem,,,sore throat and the horse voice...I told him not to talk so much as you can tell his voice get's weaker and more raspy the more he talks. I wish you the best and hope things get better for you Dennis. There has to be an end to this or at least some relief...Bob isnot feeling well Iknow him but he won't complain...I can see it in his eyes and tell he is getting frustrated. He want's that feeding tbe OUT, but there is no way as he cannot survive on the little he eats. We will see what they say on the 27th. He had his first PET Scan today since his treatment was completed..have you had one yet??? Bob will have to have surgery on his tougne in May as he has so much scar tissue and his left side of his tougne is like a rock...it is so sad all of you guy's going thru this...but you can beat it and years from now you will look back and say WoW I really did it and I am a Strong person...Bob is seeing a swallow Dr and speech therapist as well.
    Best to you and hang in there Dennis and everyone else.
    Deb

    Thanks Back
    I went threw the bottom today, and wanted answers, yes answers, why i didn't have a voice, why was I so tired, why was I the one who was blessed with this, you know everyone has an answer hang in there, so forth, I appreciate it but... in June, I'll be going on a one year anniversary, and I'm still not talking right, the dry cough, the high phlem of spitting, cups in my car, hiding to spit, or your so tried you sit in bathroom at work to catch your breath, because I can't take sick time off, yes i worked threw chemo and radiation..i weighed 202, at 6 foot, I am 6 foot and holding at 148lbs. it takes me forever to get a bite of food down, i come here to listen to others, and to know someone else is going through this, it's common, i feel sorry for anyone and everyone. I don;t know how long the job will last, economy, and the reasons my boss gives me, i smell like metal, the pain killers are hindering my performance, it goes on, my voice is unrecognizable on the phone, makes you want to get well with all that support, I ask for not pity, but can't i be brought back to normal, or close, instead of your out 8 weeks, lets wait, or it could take up to a year, but we still can't seem to locate the problem, I appreciate you writing Back, your letter touched close to my problems and i can feel the pain your suffering, it sucks!!! I hope tomorrow, there will be a change, something positive, maybe one pound i gained...sorry folks, ensure and chocolates malts are about as satifying as my next bottle of water. one week from Monday I go back in to my Cancer doctor after all my radiation and chemo, and see what where going to do next, he wants another exploriatory, this is after the last 6 doctors did the same. i wish we all lived closer, and could get together, what better medicine and support could you ask for..best to all, i had to reliess alot of negetaive energy. Dennis, Please keep in touch Bob snd Deb..P.S I have this wonderfull piece of cartiledge on my throat from two former surgeries, that weren't necessary, all it does is get hard aand look like a turkey's neck thing...
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    Skiffin16 said:

    Popcorn Kernel
    Excellent description Tim.... I have that same feeling often (comes and goes). I have also told my ENT and others about it. They always scope my throat extra throughly. When reading my CT scans they check everything also.

    My main replies are always the same, just residual scarring from the radiation and tonsils coming out. That everything looks great and nothing out of the norm. That I'll have these for several years out.

    Still makes you nervousd and concerned as my initial symptoms were a persistant mild sore throat that wouldn't get worse, but never seemed to get better either.

    Landranger, I also have various aches and pains, soreness and occasional fatigue, it goes with the territory I suppose. I have stiffness and soreness in my throat, neck and shoulder area. Usually if I can do mild stretching and work it around, it'll go away, or at least loosen up a little.

    John

    Am I going backwards?
    My last rads were March 9..After a few weeks my sore throat seemed like it was getting better, then staying the same..then getting worse. I went back to the magic mouthwash( can that stuff go bad?) today. I am not sure of the cause..I don't see anything that looks like thrush. Also, does anyone else have a problem with heartburn?
    I also never thought it would hurt to burp..but it does..Nothing big, just slightly depressing...........
    Stacey
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    staceya said:

    Am I going backwards?
    My last rads were March 9..After a few weeks my sore throat seemed like it was getting better, then staying the same..then getting worse. I went back to the magic mouthwash( can that stuff go bad?) today. I am not sure of the cause..I don't see anything that looks like thrush. Also, does anyone else have a problem with heartburn?
    I also never thought it would hurt to burp..but it does..Nothing big, just slightly depressing...........
    Stacey

    YOUR NOT GOING BACKWARDS
    Throat started out fine, now i cough, throat get sore, take pain pills, eat what i can, and wind up with the soar throat...when does this all cease, No voice yet, chemo and radiation where January 25th, i get I'm on schedule, I have to go to the oncologist next week and discuss another biopsy, and maybe a breathing tube in my throat, if this happens, my job and evertyhing is done. I refuse the tube to my throat, i know this is hard for everyone, but keeping a postitve attitude is the hardest. getting tired, it's almost a year, and the bunch of doctors i have acquired...why can't we fix this??.Best to All . Dennis
  • Landranger25
    Landranger25 Member Posts: 210 Member
    dennis318 said:

    YOUR NOT GOING BACKWARDS
    Throat started out fine, now i cough, throat get sore, take pain pills, eat what i can, and wind up with the soar throat...when does this all cease, No voice yet, chemo and radiation where January 25th, i get I'm on schedule, I have to go to the oncologist next week and discuss another biopsy, and maybe a breathing tube in my throat, if this happens, my job and evertyhing is done. I refuse the tube to my throat, i know this is hard for everyone, but keeping a postitve attitude is the hardest. getting tired, it's almost a year, and the bunch of doctors i have acquired...why can't we fix this??.Best to All . Dennis

    Gone now
    Well, when I started this thread 8 days ago I was in the middle of one of the worst sore throats since my treatment ended. As I said in my post, usually 4-5 days and gone and that is exactly what happened. Throat is fine again and I can start feeling like that is the end and everything will be rosey here on out. Learning probably not. Things will be fine for awhile and then this will happen again. I still blame radiation but why it seems to "cycle" through good and bad I can't say. I put up with it while it is there and enjoy normalcy when it returns. Wish you well Dennis and sorry you are having the problems you are. You are 1/2 a year ahead of me so I can't help but keep posting. You are certainly helping others. Good luck.

    Mike
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member

    Gone now
    Well, when I started this thread 8 days ago I was in the middle of one of the worst sore throats since my treatment ended. As I said in my post, usually 4-5 days and gone and that is exactly what happened. Throat is fine again and I can start feeling like that is the end and everything will be rosey here on out. Learning probably not. Things will be fine for awhile and then this will happen again. I still blame radiation but why it seems to "cycle" through good and bad I can't say. I put up with it while it is there and enjoy normalcy when it returns. Wish you well Dennis and sorry you are having the problems you are. You are 1/2 a year ahead of me so I can't help but keep posting. You are certainly helping others. Good luck.

    Mike

    Doctors update
    Went to Dr's appt. yesterday, the pressures of work, I have lost so much weight they put me on medication to build my appetite, they're more worried about me dying because of weigth lost than of the cancer, i changed my habits and eat 3 meals a day, the docotor explained after a certain 2 weeks of sickness during radiation or chemo, my mind is telling me if you eat, it's going come back up, as i sit here and type and try to eat eggs and toast and fruit cup, it feels like Shoney's Buffet. The pressures from my Boss, because of my voice loss is driving me nuts, and the doctor told me to get well and get rid of the @#$$%$, I love my Doctor, my boss is very anti cancer caring and needs to lashed. i return to the oncologist next Monday to see what we will do with the throat. the left side still doesn't work, but the doctor explained also, do to not eating well, and healing faster, the smell is from food getting stuck, This also irritated my boss.)She says I'm on track though, 2 weeks out still and not to give up, she is writing a letter and explaining the situation to my employeer that I'm under her care not hers.....if anyone has any situtation close, go to you docotor, and let it out, i slept alot better, i think this was more of a reliess for me than a update, but yesterday took it's toll. Take Care. Dennis