Thrush?

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hislove40
hislove40 Member Posts: 51
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I've done 8 Rads of 2nd set (1st set was aimed at temple so no issues and done now). These are with the mask aimed at lymph nodes left side - taste buds are going - still can taste sweet but not really much else. I've been drinking carnation instant breakfast, milkshakes. Anyway, my throat is getting more sore with dryer mouth and coating on my tongue - feels like thrush but don't see doc again until Wed nite. I'm thinking about calling this morn to ask for thrush meds before it's out of control. Does rads cause thrush? Or maybe it's unrelated. Thanks.

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  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
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    Heck yes it does
    and for me, at least, the darned stuff was pretty uncomfortable. I had it twice, the first time withint two weeks of starting rads, the second, two weeks after finishing rads. I'd get ahold of someone right away. You may not get as symptomatic as i did, but why take that chance. BTW, my thrush was also resistant to nystatin. So the liquid didn't work. After 4 days I was switche to diflucan, and was improving within 24 hours.

    pat
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
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    Heck yes it does
    oops, sorry.
  • hislove40
    hislove40 Member Posts: 51
    #4
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    Heck yes it does
    and for me, at least, the darned stuff was pretty uncomfortable. I had it twice, the first time withint two weeks of starting rads, the second, two weeks after finishing rads. I'd get ahold of someone right away. You may not get as symptomatic as i did, but why take that chance. BTW, my thrush was also resistant to nystatin. So the liquid didn't work. After 4 days I was switche to diflucan, and was improving within 24 hours.

    pat

    Thanks so much Longtermsurvivor!
    My doc has called in difflucan (sp?), and the pharmacy said it will be ready in about 20 mins - yay :). I was hoping after what you said that she would call in difflucan. Did you alter your diet at all? Like did you eat yogurt or limit your sweets? My problem is the only thing I can taste it seems right now is sweet stuff - but yogurt is kinda sweet.
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #5
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    hislove40 said:

    Thanks so much Longtermsurvivor!
    My doc has called in difflucan (sp?), and the pharmacy said it will be ready in about 20 mins - yay :). I was hoping after what you said that she would call in difflucan. Did you alter your diet at all? Like did you eat yogurt or limit your sweets? My problem is the only thing I can taste it seems right now is sweet stuff - but yogurt is kinda sweet.

    I have thrush right now
    I'm not in Rads but just finished chemo. I'm on Nystatin so I hope it works SOON or I'll have to try the alt. Pat mentioned. Nurse told me yogurt is good for thrush. This is so gross, I can't wait for it to be gone. Yuck! Hang in there!
  • hislove40
    hislove40 Member Posts: 51
    #6
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    sonyk728 said:

    I have thrush right now
    I'm not in Rads but just finished chemo. I'm on Nystatin so I hope it works SOON or I'll have to try the alt. Pat mentioned. Nurse told me yogurt is good for thrush. This is so gross, I can't wait for it to be gone. Yuck! Hang in there!

    I hope you feel better soon SonyK!

    I'm sorry you have this too and yes, I agree - very gross! I need to get out and get some yogurt as the only thing I want right now is either a carnation instant breakfast at home or McD's large chocolate shake for breaks at work. Yesterday, I picked up the difflucan and took 2 (1st day instruct) and took one this morning - but I actually feel much worse today. I'm sure it takes time to work. It sounds to me like the nystatin often does not work and they move on to the difflucan - so if you don't feel better very soon, I'd call your doc. Take care of yourself and I hope this turns around soon for you!
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #7
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    hislove40 said:

    I hope you feel better soon SonyK!

    I'm sorry you have this too and yes, I agree - very gross! I need to get out and get some yogurt as the only thing I want right now is either a carnation instant breakfast at home or McD's large chocolate shake for breaks at work. Yesterday, I picked up the difflucan and took 2 (1st day instruct) and took one this morning - but I actually feel much worse today. I'm sure it takes time to work. It sounds to me like the nystatin often does not work and they move on to the difflucan - so if you don't feel better very soon, I'd call your doc. Take care of yourself and I hope this turns around soon for you!

    Getting a little better
    The awful coating on my tongue has subsided but I still feel like I have a burned tongue. My mouth is pretty sore too, looks like some sores on the side of my tongue. Not sure if that's from Chemo or thrush. I'm taking the magic solution to numb- seems to be working. I too have been living off yogurt, shakes, etc. SO SICK OF ICE CREAM. I'm sure I'll be fine in a few days. It's just that with ending chemo I just wanted everything to get perfect ASAP. Reality check! Hange in there and love the pic of your boxer- so cute!
  • sdodge99
    sdodge99 Member Posts: 1
    #8
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    Thrush
    Magic mouthwash works great on thrush, pharmacy will know what it is, but do need prescription

    Steve
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #9
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    sonyk728 said:

    Getting a little better
    The awful coating on my tongue has subsided but I still feel like I have a burned tongue. My mouth is pretty sore too, looks like some sores on the side of my tongue. Not sure if that's from Chemo or thrush. I'm taking the magic solution to numb- seems to be working. I too have been living off yogurt, shakes, etc. SO SICK OF ICE CREAM. I'm sure I'll be fine in a few days. It's just that with ending chemo I just wanted everything to get perfect ASAP. Reality check! Hange in there and love the pic of your boxer- so cute!

    Thrush
    sonyk,

    You mentioned you have some sores on the side of the tounge and a whitish color on tounge, I found the same thing white in color weeks after all my treatments stopped. I wasn't too concerned thinking that it was an after effect of the rads, didn't go away...of course now I'm concerned , my rad doc gave me script saying it was yeast infection, the meds did nothing, my ENT then said thrush so now doing the magic mouthwash thing for the last week and a half..still everything looks the same.. the sores on the side of tomgue don't hurt ..just annoying to hav.

    Linda
  • hislove40
    hislove40 Member Posts: 51
    #10
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    sonyk728 said:

    Getting a little better
    The awful coating on my tongue has subsided but I still feel like I have a burned tongue. My mouth is pretty sore too, looks like some sores on the side of my tongue. Not sure if that's from Chemo or thrush. I'm taking the magic solution to numb- seems to be working. I too have been living off yogurt, shakes, etc. SO SICK OF ICE CREAM. I'm sure I'll be fine in a few days. It's just that with ending chemo I just wanted everything to get perfect ASAP. Reality check! Hange in there and love the pic of your boxer- so cute!

    Magic Mouthwash
    Sony -
    I finally got them to prescribe the magic mouthwash too and haven't picked up the RX yet - good suggestion. The other thing is I need to I think get away from the ice cream as if it is thrush, that can't be helping any. I still feel bad - worse even but beginning to wonder if it really is thrush and not just radiation stuff. Thanks on my boxer :). She's my heart dog - love her and she's nice to have when going through all of this! I'm so glad you are feeling better!
  • hislove40
    hislove40 Member Posts: 51
    #11
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    sdodge99 said:

    Thrush
    Magic mouthwash works great on thrush, pharmacy will know what it is, but do need prescription

    Steve

    Thank you Steve!
    I saw this yesterday and it prompted me to ask the doc about it last night. I have a prescription and just need to take it in :) Thanks so much!

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