Ear pain

Kent Cass

dennis318 said:

Hey Guys, Give Me Some Answers
I went to Doctor Monday, this one will be my permanet cancer Doctor, good news, no tumor has been found after my chemo and radiation. Now, someone please tell me what keeps my throat soar and my ears soar, i drink somewhat cold, they burn, i swallow more than cream foods, soft diet, the throat stretches and stings. when will this end, on 6th week of recoup from radiation and chemo, my weight stays at a low, but is stable, the doctor tells me its a one week at a time step forward, not a day, some weeks will be bigger gains than others, i would love to wake up and not have to drain phlem, and get my soreness out of my throat before eating my eggs, I hope this isn't how it's always going to be????, Help Please. The pHlem decreased a little. but When a person hasn't had cancer, it's not a over night fix, My boss was expecting me back to normal by now, Tired of hearing about it. Stress City! Thanks for any feedback on my situation, it hurts, and I take pain meds, This only skims the pain, Thanks everyone, Take Care

aftermath
The tissue in your throat has been dealt a major hit, Dennis. Will take time. For me, things have gotten much better, but it happened gradually. Maybe took 6-months before I was able to eat regular without fear of an ingredient causing me great discomfort. But after awhile, one gets used to the sensations of foods. I slowly graduated from Ensure to that and pancakes, and then that and safe foods, and then I discovered chef-type salads. I can even handle garlic, now, Dennis- 16+-months post-treatment, which was full head and neck. Yes, even now I have to eat slowly, and there is some discomfort- but I don't regard that discomfort as a negative= it is only a sensation(s) that I have grown accustomed to. You must be patient, Dennis, and know and Believe your throat will get back to a condition you find acceptable. It will, Dennis, because that's the only option on the table, and you will get there. Patience, Dennis, and Belief.

Believe.

kcass

sweetblood22

Kent Cass said:

aftermath
The tissue in your throat has been dealt a major hit, Dennis. Will take time. For me, things have gotten much better, but it happened gradually. Maybe took 6-months before I was able to eat regular without fear of an ingredient causing me great discomfort. But after awhile, one gets used to the sensations of foods. I slowly graduated from Ensure to that and pancakes, and then that and safe foods, and then I discovered chef-type salads. I can even handle garlic, now, Dennis- 16+-months post-treatment, which was full head and neck. Yes, even now I have to eat slowly, and there is some discomfort- but I don't regard that discomfort as a negative= it is only a sensation(s) that I have grown accustomed to. You must be patient, Dennis, and know and Believe your throat will get back to a condition you find acceptable. It will, Dennis, because that's the only option on the table, and you will get there. Patience, Dennis, and Belief.

Believe.

kcass

ear pain
i had ear pain in my left ear, the side my tumor was on. as the tumor got bigger, the pain got worse, especially painful when i swallowed. the last couple of days i worked up until my neck dissection were excrutiating. i was miserable. i had it for a while after my dissection, and it went away. i get it occaisionally. but that is also the ear that my mother stuck a q-tip in when i was little and punctured a membrane in there, so it has always given me problems. i can fall over standing on my own two feet, really bad balance.

hang in there dennis. some of us heal slower than others. i am frustrated too, i am out way longer than you, and i am still relying on my peg tube because i cannot take in enough calories by mouth. i still have pain, trouble swallowing, but my phlem has been gone for months. took like 6 months for me to completely get rid of phlem. your boss should be more sympathetic.

CajunEagle

dennis318 said:

Hey Guys, Give Me Some Answers
I went to Doctor Monday, this one will be my permanet cancer Doctor, good news, no tumor has been found after my chemo and radiation. Now, someone please tell me what keeps my throat soar and my ears soar, i drink somewhat cold, they burn, i swallow more than cream foods, soft diet, the throat stretches and stings. when will this end, on 6th week of recoup from radiation and chemo, my weight stays at a low, but is stable, the doctor tells me its a one week at a time step forward, not a day, some weeks will be bigger gains than others, i would love to wake up and not have to drain phlem, and get my soreness out of my throat before eating my eggs, I hope this isn't how it's always going to be????, Help Please. The pHlem decreased a little. but When a person hasn't had cancer, it's not a over night fix, My boss was expecting me back to normal by now, Tired of hearing about it. Stress City! Thanks for any feedback on my situation, it hurts, and I take pain meds, This only skims the pain, Thanks everyone, Take Care

Aftermath
Yep. Kent is right. One week at a time. I've been 9 months post treatment of radiation and chemo and I still have to go through this process of clearing mucus from my mouth each and every morning prior to eating something. I still have to watch and concentrate on every bite to keep from burning the hell outta my mouth or aspirating. I've accepted that I'll always have a container of water or tea with me. Always have Kleenex with me. Hands and feet seem to be getting better from numbness, but just a tiny fraction per week. Loud ringing in my ears is just a given these days, and maybe someday it will go away. But......I'm still hitting my Driver pretty well and short irons are being good to me (for the time being). I blame poor putting on Cisplatin, not my lack of skill. Things will get better, Brother. I enjoyed an 81 degree temperature day today, which is something I didn't do at this time last year. And I plan to enjoy it the next year...and the next....and the next....etc.

dennis318

CajunEagle said:

Aftermath
Yep. Kent is right. One week at a time. I've been 9 months post treatment of radiation and chemo and I still have to go through this process of clearing mucus from my mouth each and every morning prior to eating something. I still have to watch and concentrate on every bite to keep from burning the hell outta my mouth or aspirating. I've accepted that I'll always have a container of water or tea with me. Always have Kleenex with me. Hands and feet seem to be getting better from numbness, but just a tiny fraction per week. Loud ringing in my ears is just a given these days, and maybe someday it will go away. But......I'm still hitting my Driver pretty well and short irons are being good to me (for the time being). I blame poor putting on Cisplatin, not my lack of skill. Things will get better, Brother. I enjoyed an 81 degree temperature day today, which is something I didn't do at this time last year. And I plan to enjoy it the next year...and the next....and the next....etc.

thanks
I want to thank every one that responded so fast. I sit here and think it will be different everyday, but wake up to a struggling voice, and the phlem, I get tired of it, but nothing else but time, to wait to see an improvement. When people don't understand the trauma your body has gone threw, and it should be fixed in a week, after what anyone has gone threw with cancer, we cherish each day we breath, I get mentally down, but struggle to hopefully see a voice return and some of the aftermath diminished by this cancer. this site was a great comfort to come too, for answers and reassurance....thanks to all. Dennis. Cancer has totally changed my outlook on life and this disease.

delnative

dennis318 said:

thanks
I want to thank every one that responded so fast. I sit here and think it will be different everyday, but wake up to a struggling voice, and the phlem, I get tired of it, but nothing else but time, to wait to see an improvement. When people don't understand the trauma your body has gone threw, and it should be fixed in a week, after what anyone has gone threw with cancer, we cherish each day we breath, I get mentally down, but struggle to hopefully see a voice return and some of the aftermath diminished by this cancer. this site was a great comfort to come too, for answers and reassurance....thanks to all. Dennis. Cancer has totally changed my outlook on life and this disease.

Hey, Dennis
Regarding your last thought, that cancer has totally changed your outlook on life and this disease, that can be a positive thing. It's made me a lot more compassionate, and a lot more interested in helping others -- particularly people who've been though/are going through what we've been through.
As for the pace of your improvement, yes, it will be a gradual thing. I'm now 17 months out of treatment, and although I'm back to eating my nuclear-strength habanero peppers again, my throat still feels different. Back before I got cancer, if my throat felt like this I'd have said I have a minor sore throat. Now it's just the new normal. Radiation really does a number on you.
Hang in there. Things will get better.

--Jim in Delaware

Scambuster

dennis318 said:

thanks
I want to thank every one that responded so fast. I sit here and think it will be different everyday, but wake up to a struggling voice, and the phlem, I get tired of it, but nothing else but time, to wait to see an improvement. When people don't understand the trauma your body has gone threw, and it should be fixed in a week, after what anyone has gone threw with cancer, we cherish each day we breath, I get mentally down, but struggle to hopefully see a voice return and some of the aftermath diminished by this cancer. this site was a great comfort to come too, for answers and reassurance....thanks to all. Dennis. Cancer has totally changed my outlook on life and this disease.

Dennis - Patience
Hi Dennis, I finished treatments early October 2009 so I am about 4 months ahead of you. In brief, you seem to have done well, working throughout treatment etc. I was a basket case and hospitalized for over 4 weeks and again after treatments finished. My recovery felt slow too but the "measure improvements by the week" is very good advice my friend. I took a nose dive 2 weeks out and was found to be in a pretty bad depression (unbeknownst to me). The Docs picked it up when it was carted back in and they dosed my up with a few anti- D's. It turned my recovery around 180. One thing is the meds make me sleep a solid 8-9 hours a night. I really think this has helped me. You heal when you sleep so if you don;t sleep..... makes it harder. Everyone reading should take note because if you're not sleeping, it will compromise your healing. I hadn't slept properly since I was diagnosed in early August. I was a total wreck.

The mucus levels will decrease so don't stress on that. I have small amounts but nothing that bothers me. The pain also subsided though I am on a Capsule of Lyrica a day but I think I can stop that soon (See the Quack this week). On the voice, I didn't shut up during my treatment and didn't lose my voice. I do now have a hoarse voice but i think mainly due to the dryness as my saliva is almost non-existent. I don;t know if the voice is a 'use it or lose it' device but I hope yours comes back soon. Your docs 'should' know what has caused your loss of voice. Makes you mad when they don't have answers.

I am not surprised you are fatigued, as you haven't really had a break to recover from what you say. I was out of action for 6 months. Just started back early February. I do take a bunch of supplements including anti-oxidants, zinc, magnesium, selenium +++ email me if you want the full list. I believe these have aided my recovery too. I have returned to me pre C energy levels. Even though I am still 44lbs lighter and not gaining, I feel good.

I suffered chronic fatigue years back so I can relate. I believe if you give your body the stuff it needs to recover and operate well (nutrition), then you are giving yourself the best chances that things will improve.

Make sure you don't let your mental state go unchecked Dennis. Depression is 'very' common among us survivors and can be very debilitating so talk to your Docs as it readily treatable.

Hang in there as I think you will see improvement soon and many of the worrisome symptoms should slowly subside. You are only 6 weeks out Dennis so go easy on yourself. Feel free to email craigamail@gmail.com

All the best
Scambuster in China

dennis318

Scambuster said:

Dennis - Patience
Hi Dennis, I finished treatments early October 2009 so I am about 4 months ahead of you. In brief, you seem to have done well, working throughout treatment etc. I was a basket case and hospitalized for over 4 weeks and again after treatments finished. My recovery felt slow too but the "measure improvements by the week" is very good advice my friend. I took a nose dive 2 weeks out and was found to be in a pretty bad depression (unbeknownst to me). The Docs picked it up when it was carted back in and they dosed my up with a few anti- D's. It turned my recovery around 180. One thing is the meds make me sleep a solid 8-9 hours a night. I really think this has helped me. You heal when you sleep so if you don;t sleep..... makes it harder. Everyone reading should take note because if you're not sleeping, it will compromise your healing. I hadn't slept properly since I was diagnosed in early August. I was a total wreck.

The mucus levels will decrease so don't stress on that. I have small amounts but nothing that bothers me. The pain also subsided though I am on a Capsule of Lyrica a day but I think I can stop that soon (See the Quack this week). On the voice, I didn't shut up during my treatment and didn't lose my voice. I do now have a hoarse voice but i think mainly due to the dryness as my saliva is almost non-existent. I don;t know if the voice is a 'use it or lose it' device but I hope yours comes back soon. Your docs 'should' know what has caused your loss of voice. Makes you mad when they don't have answers.

I am not surprised you are fatigued, as you haven't really had a break to recover from what you say. I was out of action for 6 months. Just started back early February. I do take a bunch of supplements including anti-oxidants, zinc, magnesium, selenium +++ email me if you want the full list. I believe these have aided my recovery too. I have returned to me pre C energy levels. Even though I am still 44lbs lighter and not gaining, I feel good.

I suffered chronic fatigue years back so I can relate. I believe if you give your body the stuff it needs to recover and operate well (nutrition), then you are giving yourself the best chances that things will improve.

Make sure you don't let your mental state go unchecked Dennis. Depression is 'very' common among us survivors and can be very debilitating so talk to your Docs as it readily treatable.

Hang in there as I think you will see improvement soon and many of the worrisome symptoms should slowly subside. You are only 6 weeks out Dennis so go easy on yourself. Feel free to email craigamail@gmail.com

All the best
Scambuster in China

Thanks
Thanks Scambuster, your right about the depression, and the feelings you have are totally different then before the cancer, i go threw total worries of not regaining anything, sleep for a few hours at night and have to awake to unload the phlem in throat, I rest my voice, but then it sounds worst or goes to a whisper again. i can understand how some can get depressed, the throat is so sore, i shoot pain pills down to kill it, so i can eat. i know you guys have it worst, some really bad, by the time of the dry coughs, I hope i do get some relief in the next few weeks, any improvement, I'll try very hard to be patient till the next Doctor's appoinment, I can't imagine why the heck I'm depressed! Take Care all. Dennis In TN, (USA)

thegirlfriend

dennis318 said:

thanks
I want to thank every one that responded so fast. I sit here and think it will be different everyday, but wake up to a struggling voice, and the phlem, I get tired of it, but nothing else but time, to wait to see an improvement. When people don't understand the trauma your body has gone threw, and it should be fixed in a week, after what anyone has gone threw with cancer, we cherish each day we breath, I get mentally down, but struggle to hopefully see a voice return and some of the aftermath diminished by this cancer. this site was a great comfort to come too, for answers and reassurance....thanks to all. Dennis. Cancer has totally changed my outlook on life and this disease.

time
Its so ironic. When you are dealt the blow of a diagnosis of Cancer, you think of your mortality, you think this cant be it, Im not ready to leave, i have to hurry and start doing whatever it takes to survive, hurry hurry. I might not have enough time!

Then you do your treatment, whatever kind it may be, and the recovery begins. Now time seems to be all you have.

Dennis, dont try to expectations on your body. Everyones experience of recovery, and how fast it goes are similiar but also very very different. Some people went years before feeling some sort of normalcy that they could relate to before cancer, and others in a month. Its so very different for everyone. My boyfriend is 19 1/2 weeks out of treatment. Isnt able to get solid food down yet, keeps having to battle Thrush, has no saliva, his tastebuds arent working right yet even for anything he does put down, and has a post nasal drip which everyone knows how that is in the morning. But his hair has grown back nicely, his color is healthy again, he hasnt suffered from ear pain, very little dizziness, lots of things people mention, he has not experienced. He lost 60-70 lbs, 40 of which he needed to lose. All of his blood work came back at excellent excellent levels. No prediabetic, no more blood pressure (heart history) no more cholesteral meds....his blood work has never been healthier that way.


Your recovery is moving, just slower than you anticipated. Its too hard to put your body on some schedule when it has never experienced the chaos its going thru. I tell my boyfriend that Im sure his body is constantly going thru little turn overs, where it feels worse on some days and then stays ok, and then worse again. Its working so hard to get back to some familiarity. It really is. So try not to let your brain argue with the other parts.
You will get there, just like I tell my boyfriend.
You have been given back the gift of time.

dennis318

thegirlfriend said:

time
Its so ironic. When you are dealt the blow of a diagnosis of Cancer, you think of your mortality, you think this cant be it, Im not ready to leave, i have to hurry and start doing whatever it takes to survive, hurry hurry. I might not have enough time!

Then you do your treatment, whatever kind it may be, and the recovery begins. Now time seems to be all you have.

Dennis, dont try to expectations on your body. Everyones experience of recovery, and how fast it goes are similiar but also very very different. Some people went years before feeling some sort of normalcy that they could relate to before cancer, and others in a month. Its so very different for everyone. My boyfriend is 19 1/2 weeks out of treatment. Isnt able to get solid food down yet, keeps having to battle Thrush, has no saliva, his tastebuds arent working right yet even for anything he does put down, and has a post nasal drip which everyone knows how that is in the morning. But his hair has grown back nicely, his color is healthy again, he hasnt suffered from ear pain, very little dizziness, lots of things people mention, he has not experienced. He lost 60-70 lbs, 40 of which he needed to lose. All of his blood work came back at excellent excellent levels. No prediabetic, no more blood pressure (heart history) no more cholesteral meds....his blood work has never been healthier that way.


Your recovery is moving, just slower than you anticipated. Its too hard to put your body on some schedule when it has never experienced the chaos its going thru. I tell my boyfriend that Im sure his body is constantly going thru little turn overs, where it feels worse on some days and then stays ok, and then worse again. Its working so hard to get back to some familiarity. It really is. So try not to let your brain argue with the other parts.
You will get there, just like I tell my boyfriend.
You have been given back the gift of time.

thanks time
Trying hard to get threw this, i know it could be so much worst, but to think something will happen the next day when you awake and it's another day of strugglement, it is so hard.. I have another question, I have been taking pain medication, plus having this cough, sore throat, and phlem problem, has anyone ever noticed a foul smell from your breath, Not to get gross, but the taste and smell of metal has been brought up by other people and I've been done with radiation over 5 weeks ago. It has to be the pain meds, anyone care to comment, thanks...Trying to hang in there. Dennis...Time, I hope your boyfriend has improved alittle, thoughts are with you.

thegirlfriend

dennis318 said:

thanks time
Trying hard to get threw this, i know it could be so much worst, but to think something will happen the next day when you awake and it's another day of strugglement, it is so hard.. I have another question, I have been taking pain medication, plus having this cough, sore throat, and phlem problem, has anyone ever noticed a foul smell from your breath, Not to get gross, but the taste and smell of metal has been brought up by other people and I've been done with radiation over 5 weeks ago. It has to be the pain meds, anyone care to comment, thanks...Trying to hang in there. Dennis...Time, I hope your boyfriend has improved alittle, thoughts are with you.

Dennis
I think he is improving, but its a very very slow process. He had thought long ago that he would have been eating solid food again by now. I know you know the let down when yet another day comes and goes and seems so eternally monotonous.

We shall see how he improves just as I do everyday when we speak. his new protein powder came in today, Lean Body, 60g of protein, no bloating, no sugar. He said he thinks, just maybe, that he might have felt a little twinge of extra energy a bit after drinking his first serving.

Thanks for your thoughts Dennis....

dennis318

thegirlfriend said:

Dennis
I think he is improving, but its a very very slow process. He had thought long ago that he would have been eating solid food again by now. I know you know the let down when yet another day comes and goes and seems so eternally monotonous.

We shall see how he improves just as I do everyday when we speak. his new protein powder came in today, Lean Body, 60g of protein, no bloating, no sugar. He said he thinks, just maybe, that he might have felt a little twinge of extra energy a bit after drinking his first serving.

Thanks for your thoughts Dennis....

New Question, Anyone have an answer?
I've noticed threw my healing process from the radiation to my neck, the outside healed great, like new baby bottom skin, and the doctor told my not to worry about shaving as much. lol, true, anyways, i have noticed recently my neck is itching, it can't be from the outside, it's completey healed and the skin is not dry or flaking, is this a sign my throat inside healing, i know this sounds ridculous, but could it be causing this constant scratching of my neck? Also my phlem is starting to get thicker and shorter spits and harder to crack lose, any input my friends keeps me in check and not wandering to stupid thoughts of recovery. Thanks, glad to see you back sweet blood

sweetblood22

dennis318 said:

New Question, Anyone have an answer?
I've noticed threw my healing process from the radiation to my neck, the outside healed great, like new baby bottom skin, and the doctor told my not to worry about shaving as much. lol, true, anyways, i have noticed recently my neck is itching, it can't be from the outside, it's completey healed and the skin is not dry or flaking, is this a sign my throat inside healing, i know this sounds ridculous, but could it be causing this constant scratching of my neck? Also my phlem is starting to get thicker and shorter spits and harder to crack lose, any input my friends keeps me in check and not wandering to stupid thoughts of recovery. Thanks, glad to see you back sweet blood

thank you
maybe it's the nerve endings bugging you? idk. i know sometimes my dissection scar drives me nuts. some days it gets itchy. somedays i have burning pain. sometimes it feels tight and pulls and is painful. the later is almost a daily occurance unfortunately.

also as a long time dry skin sufferer, just because you think your skin doesn't look dry because it's not flaking, does not mean it's not dry. i would continue to moisturize. i have been done way longer than you and if i miss a day of moisturizing i get dry and flaky to radiation areas still.

radiation lasts a looong time. so i imagine the effects to your body are going to last a long time. you are doing well for the short time you have been out. honest! remember after you are done with treatments, you still continue to cook for a couple off weeks. it is cumulative. those were my most horrible painful weeks. i think scambuster might have felt the same way. i too went into a bit of a tailspin and got worse, and thats when i got so sick and lost 40lbs. not during rads.

so you are doing well. measure your progress not day to day, but month to month.

thegirlfriend

sweetblood22 said:

thank you
maybe it's the nerve endings bugging you? idk. i know sometimes my dissection scar drives me nuts. some days it gets itchy. somedays i have burning pain. sometimes it feels tight and pulls and is painful. the later is almost a daily occurance unfortunately.

also as a long time dry skin sufferer, just because you think your skin doesn't look dry because it's not flaking, does not mean it's not dry. i would continue to moisturize. i have been done way longer than you and if i miss a day of moisturizing i get dry and flaky to radiation areas still.

radiation lasts a looong time. so i imagine the effects to your body are going to last a long time. you are doing well for the short time you have been out. honest! remember after you are done with treatments, you still continue to cook for a couple off weeks. it is cumulative. those were my most horrible painful weeks. i think scambuster might have felt the same way. i too went into a bit of a tailspin and got worse, and thats when i got so sick and lost 40lbs. not during rads.

so you are doing well. measure your progress not day to day, but month to month.

itching
I know from any ills that require healing, that itching is an indication of healing, of course I am not the one fighting cancer or the effects of its treatment so it could very well be something else. my boyfriend is as most of you are. I will say though that he did come across the same things that you are now experiencing with the mucous getting extra thick and stringy and harder to cough up. He is 20 weeks post treatment. His neck face and head are healed beautifully on the outside. He had no surgery.

dennis318

sweetblood22 said:

thank you
maybe it's the nerve endings bugging you? idk. i know sometimes my dissection scar drives me nuts. some days it gets itchy. somedays i have burning pain. sometimes it feels tight and pulls and is painful. the later is almost a daily occurance unfortunately.

also as a long time dry skin sufferer, just because you think your skin doesn't look dry because it's not flaking, does not mean it's not dry. i would continue to moisturize. i have been done way longer than you and if i miss a day of moisturizing i get dry and flaky to radiation areas still.

radiation lasts a looong time. so i imagine the effects to your body are going to last a long time. you are doing well for the short time you have been out. honest! remember after you are done with treatments, you still continue to cook for a couple off weeks. it is cumulative. those were my most horrible painful weeks. i think scambuster might have felt the same way. i too went into a bit of a tailspin and got worse, and thats when i got so sick and lost 40lbs. not during rads.

so you are doing well. measure your progress not day to day, but month to month.

Went To Doctors
It was like family reunion, it was good seeing them even if it was 8 weeks, doctor told me the type of radiation i had on my throat was pretty rough for stage 4, and would take twice as long to heal since i continue to work, I HAVE TOO, NO CHOICE, the smell of medicine is from either the phlem or open sore in my throat as well, both will heal, he said still 4 weeks outs, and will see voice improvement, I'm hoping!My weight stay at 155-158, not the greatest, but i eat small meals, and good food, eggs, cereals, toast etc. I was hoping to catch you last night sweetblood, but believe me knowing our lives, anything can happen, take care, have a great weekend...and hopefully there will some improvement by Monday. Dennis

dennis318

Ear Pain Question For Brad
I had the ear pain before my radiation and chemo, that's what set me off that I had cancer it seems to be connected to the tumor at least mine was, in my throat. it hates anythiwng cold, and sets a sting sensation, I was given Hydrocodones to help the pain and they do, when swallowing it seemed to aggravate the stinging sensation, the ear pain will go away, mine was with me till about 4 weeks from my last radiation and chemo...warm soup, creme does great going down, anything acid was a hurt to my throat which set the pain off in my ear , it does hurt, so hang in there your going to make it. Dennis