Fourth week done

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Kari2007
Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Well, I'm heading into the home stretch. Officially have fewer rads left what's behind me and that bell is getting closer and bigger. Finished up round two of Cisplatin this week and it's knocked me on my butt. Really not looking forward to that third and final treatment when my reserves are even less stable. All I've been doing this week is sleeping it seems. 

So far, side effects are okay. I caught a major cold right before my chemo treatment on Tuesday, which sucked. So, more congested than usual. I feel like the mucous in the back of the throat is definitely kicking up a notch. I looked through the superthread, but am wondering if there was anything anyone found to help thin out the mucus? Mucinex? Rinses? 

Thanks and hang in there, everyone!

Kari

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  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #2
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    Ask the doc or PA about

    Ask the doc or PA about Mucinex.  Sounds like you're doing what your body needs...rest.  Are you able to eat much?

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    #3
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    Eating

    About half tube feeds and half smoothies and soup. The throat is getting a little more sore. 

  • RottiesMom
    RottiesMom Member Posts: 167
    edited July 2016 #4
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    Kari

    Monday will be the end of my 4th week.  Yup samething happened to me after 2nd cisplatin.  My 3rd is August 2nd.  I do have a lot of nausea (am on both Phenergan and zofran) and fatigue. My throat is very sore (even with the gabapetin).  I am still taking everything by mouth, have only use the tube one day for water 2 days after chemo when I had that incident where I could keep anything down.  I am on total liquids as i can't swallow anything solid.  Doctor did say try Mucinex for the mucus but if that didn't work, he could write a prescription.  You are doing great!  Hang on there...we are almost done!

    Joanne 

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    #5
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    RottiesMom said:

    Kari

    Monday will be the end of my 4th week.  Yup samething happened to me after 2nd cisplatin.  My 3rd is August 2nd.  I do have a lot of nausea (am on both Phenergan and zofran) and fatigue. My throat is very sore (even with the gabapetin).  I am still taking everything by mouth, have only use the tube one day for water 2 days after chemo when I had that incident where I could keep anything down.  I am on total liquids as i can't swallow anything solid.  Doctor did say try Mucinex for the mucus but if that didn't work, he could write a prescription.  You are doing great!  Hang on there...we are almost done!

    Joanne 

    Hanging in there

    Joanne, 

    My husband's going to grab some mucinex for me and see if that helps. If only I didn't have this darn cold on top of everything else. Hard to suss out what is the cold and what is the wonderful rad effects. i ate some yummy soup my sister made last night. I could even taste some of it! Lots of ginger helped spice it up. It's my birthday today, so trying to figure out what I want to try for dinner. Not much of an appetite, but may try something special to break the tube feed/smoothie diet. I'm impressed with your ability to keep eating by mouth despite the pain. You're a tough cookie!

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    edited July 2016 #6
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    getting closer

    Kari,

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

    Sorry about the cold, but you sound pretty good (even tasting soup).  That is a H&N miracle.

    Keep drinking when you can, every swallow counts.

    Matt

  • RottiesMom
    RottiesMom Member Posts: 167
    #7
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    Kari

    Happy Birthday!!  May God especially bless you on your special day! 

    I know what you mean by not much of an appetite...I don't either.  I just make sure I get in at least 4 protein shakes a day, plus water!  I've been drinking ginger tea hoping it helps with nausea...I guess it does somewhat. sorry about your cold, I can't imagine that on top of these treatments!!  I hope you feel better fast!  I also hope the Mucinex helps a little.

    Joanne

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    #8
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    CivilMatt said:

    getting closer

    Kari,

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

    Sorry about the cold, but you sound pretty good (even tasting soup).  That is a H&N miracle.

    Keep drinking when you can, every swallow counts.

    Matt

    Thanks

    Thanks, Matt!

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    #9
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    RottiesMom said:

    Kari

    Happy Birthday!!  May God especially bless you on your special day! 

    I know what you mean by not much of an appetite...I don't either.  I just make sure I get in at least 4 protein shakes a day, plus water!  I've been drinking ginger tea hoping it helps with nausea...I guess it does somewhat. sorry about your cold, I can't imagine that on top of these treatments!!  I hope you feel better fast!  I also hope the Mucinex helps a little.

    Joanne

    Protein shake

    What do you put in your shakes, Joanna?

  • RottiesMom
    RottiesMom Member Posts: 167
    #10
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    Protein Shakes

    My husband makes my shakes and our daughter makes my smoothies.  In the morning he does milk, protein powder, ice and some coffee so I get my coffee :)  During the day, no coffee, but he does add a banana.  Sometimes he will make it with the Ensure Enlive with added water and ice, but the protein powder has more protein than the Enlive so I like using that.  For the smoothies I know my daughter does a mixture of fruits and adds spinach.

    Joanne

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    #11
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    Mucous is a double edged sword!

    Hang in there Kari. The nightmare will soon be over. I just completed my treatements (Cisplatin and radiation) on 7/15.  The last week was very rough mainly because of the increase mucous. But be careful what you wish for. Thinning the mucous may cause as much harm as the perceived good. As I tried various rinses to thin my mucous and the spit it out, the tissue underlying was very raw.  This rawness along with natural dryness (especially overnight) would cause me to spit up large amounts of bloody mucous. This would lead to painful rawness in the throat that then inhibited liquid intake. So even though it is nice to thin the mucous, the flip side is the mucous does protect the throat as well. Sometimes for me it was better to deal with trying to swallow around the increased mucous than deal with the pain from the rawness cause by thinning the mucous.

    Anyway, you may still have a few more bumps along the way, but trust me you will be done in no time and the healing can begin.

    Freddie

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    #12
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    Fritz said:

    Mucous is a double edged sword!

    Hang in there Kari. The nightmare will soon be over. I just completed my treatements (Cisplatin and radiation) on 7/15.  The last week was very rough mainly because of the increase mucous. But be careful what you wish for. Thinning the mucous may cause as much harm as the perceived good. As I tried various rinses to thin my mucous and the spit it out, the tissue underlying was very raw.  This rawness along with natural dryness (especially overnight) would cause me to spit up large amounts of bloody mucous. This would lead to painful rawness in the throat that then inhibited liquid intake. So even though it is nice to thin the mucous, the flip side is the mucous does protect the throat as well. Sometimes for me it was better to deal with trying to swallow around the increased mucous than deal with the pain from the rawness cause by thinning the mucous.

    Anyway, you may still have a few more bumps along the way, but trust me you will be done in no time and the healing can begin.

    Freddie

    Hadn't thought about that

    I tried Mucinex last night and it didn't do a thing for me, except flare up some nausea, I think. I was up multiple times heaving up mucous - not a fun night time activity. I'm getting nervous as I round into week 5 - the end is in sight, but the road is uncertain. 

  • RottiesMom
    RottiesMom Member Posts: 167
    #13
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    Sorry...

    I'm sorry that happened to you.  I was coughin up mucus during the night.  This morning when I got up my voice was gone!  I've been horse all day!  I know how you feel.  I start week 5 Tuesday and have 3 weeks left.  I am having trouble swallowing now!  But we will get through this Kari!  

    Joanne

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