Okay, Icky Subject, But Looking For Suggestions

wolfen
wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

For quite a while, hubby has had nasty tasting drainage from his tumor. It's the primary reason he can't eat. He spits constantly. Surgical Onc suggested Mucinex DM, but that appears to be for coughing things up from congested lungs, so he won't try it.

Did anyone have this going on and what did you use to alleviate it?

Thanks,

Luv,

Wolfen

Comments

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #2
    Oh boy
    Just another thing to add to this crazy ride huh? I'm sorry your hubby is going thru this. How long has this been going on? I'm not sure if it's the regular mucous that most of experienced and he just assumes it's from the tumor site or if it is indeed from that area?
    Mucinex did help me a little but tiny sips of soda helped me to break up that stuff even better. Also I noticed when I would take my diaudid(even thru my PEG)it really dried me up. It helped me get a good nights sleep. I didn't take it too much during the day because it made me loopy but I'm a light weight so....
    Hopefully this will help you a little bit?
    Good luck to you and the hubby.
    Billie
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    I'm kinda like Billie

    in....is he sure it's not the horrible mucous so many have?  I didn't know tumors had drainage, and I don't know if I would have recognized the taste as such, if they do drain.  I mean, like puss has a distinctive taste, so that would be something I'd recognize.  I'm wondering if one of his meds could be making things taste bad?  Radiation has a way of changing taste before all taste disappears, too....

    Musinex worked for Joe.....in slowing down the mucous....maybe give it a try and see?  So many things we're told work for some and not others.

    p 

  • rachel12yrsuv
    rachel12yrsuv Member Posts: 435
    #4
    Wolfen,
    I have serious post
    Wolfen,

    I have serious post nasal drip that since swallowing issue I can not swallow since not allowed to drink water, my Ent presibed Salogen to help promote salvia and somtimes I think just more mucus. When I was sick I would take guatfisen or something like that and I remember that working. In normal times I took mucinex and it helped. Now I don't know if he can but I regularly rinse my mouth and gargle cause it brings mucus with it. I use luke warm water and poor in a little Act 1 smooth mint for dry mouth(alcohol free) and the taste has definietly calmed down, before I started doing that between the coughing, taste, and gagging trying to bring it up I would vomit. This has been working good, however my throat is normal now being so long out of treatment. Hope this helps some.

    My thoughts are with you and Hubby,

    Rachel
  • peggylulu
    peggylulu Member Posts: 375
    #5
    Bad taste

    I have a bad taste most of the time unless I am eating or I have just brushed my teeth . Somtimes I still (I've been through with rads for 4/12 mo.) I use the salt water and baking soda just to get the taste out . I just thought the bad taste was coming from all the mucus I have. Also whatever I eat the taste of that seems to stay in my mouth so I usually try to wash it away with Dr. Pepper . I hope this helps your Hubby. My best to you both.

    Peggy

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #6
    peggylulu said:

    Bad taste

    I have a bad taste most of the time unless I am eating or I have just brushed my teeth . Somtimes I still (I've been through with rads for 4/12 mo.) I use the salt water and baking soda just to get the taste out . I just thought the bad taste was coming from all the mucus I have. Also whatever I eat the taste of that seems to stay in my mouth so I usually try to wash it away with Dr. Pepper . I hope this helps your Hubby. My best to you both.

    Peggy

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Thanks Everyone

    He describes it to me as his tongue starts to feel thick, there's sort of a pop and a pain and then comes the mouthful of nasty tasting stuff. One of the oncs told him it was the tumor draining, so go figure. I didn't think think tumors drained either, Phrannie.

    So will probably try the Mucinex.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #7
    wolfen said:

    Thanks Everyone

    He describes it to me as his tongue starts to feel thick, there's sort of a pop and a pain and then comes the mouthful of nasty tasting stuff. One of the oncs told him it was the tumor draining, so go figure. I didn't think think tumors drained either, Phrannie.

    So will probably try the Mucinex.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

    I am surprised the doc

    I am surprised the doc suggested the mucinex with DM because that dries out the mouth. Yes Mucinex is for the congestion so I do not think it would help. I would suggest rinsing and brushing tongue especially after the pop and gush of yuck. The radition will make the food taste bad too. So he is getting a double whammy. My prayers go out to him. May the tumor dry up quickly.

    Blessings, Debbie

  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #8
    jim and i said:

    I am surprised the doc

    I am surprised the doc suggested the mucinex with DM because that dries out the mouth. Yes Mucinex is for the congestion so I do not think it would help. I would suggest rinsing and brushing tongue especially after the pop and gush of yuck. The radition will make the food taste bad too. So he is getting a double whammy. My prayers go out to him. May the tumor dry up quickly.

    Blessings, Debbie

    Thanks, Debbie

    I'll suggest the brushing of the tongue. He just finished lung rads. The chemo comes next, so he hasn't experienced the many "joys" of the H&N rads, yet. As you say, maybe the tumor will start to shrink and dry up with the chemo and next rads.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

  • George_Baltimore
    George_Baltimore Member Posts: 303
    #9
    wolfen said:

    Thanks, Debbie

    I'll suggest the brushing of the tongue. He just finished lung rads. The chemo comes next, so he hasn't experienced the many "joys" of the H&N rads, yet. As you say, maybe the tumor will start to shrink and dry up with the chemo and next rads.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

    Mucinex

    is VERY expensive.  WalMart has a product called Tussin that has the product you need to break up the mucous.  Guaifenesin is what you are looking for.  At WalMart here in Baltimore, the price for an 8 ounce bottle is $2.72.  CVS and Walgreen's version is $7.99.  Mucinex, I believe is usually over $10.  Quite a difference for the same active ingredient you need.  If you decide to try it, don't get the DM version.  That has dextromethorphan in it for coughs.  You can't take as much as you can with just the plain Tussin.  Compare the active ingredients before you buy.  Guaifenesin is usually listed as 100mg per 5ml (teaspoon).

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #10
    George_Baltimore said:

    Mucinex

    is VERY expensive.  WalMart has a product called Tussin that has the product you need to break up the mucous.  Guaifenesin is what you are looking for.  At WalMart here in Baltimore, the price for an 8 ounce bottle is $2.72.  CVS and Walgreen's version is $7.99.  Mucinex, I believe is usually over $10.  Quite a difference for the same active ingredient you need.  If you decide to try it, don't get the DM version.  That has dextromethorphan in it for coughs.  You can't take as much as you can with just the plain Tussin.  Compare the active ingredients before you buy.  Guaifenesin is usually listed as 100mg per 5ml (teaspoon).

    THANKS!

    Great tip.

    This applies to all typical over the counter medications; look for the active ingredient(s) and get the most off-brand, generic version you can find. :-)

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