My Husband's Journey, "The good, the bad and the ugly."

vickyd123

 

My husband was diagnosed with SC / BOT/one lymph node. He’s 55, never smoked, rarely drinks and it wasn’t HPV.  He had chemo and 30 radiation treatments. First chemo was cisplatin but they had to switch to carboplatin because he had loss of hearing and tinnitus. Yesterday was his 6 week post treatment scope. NED!!!!

 

I know everyone has a different journey, but I think it’s nice to hear about as many as possible when first diagnosed. I know this group was a life-saver for us so here goes. First of all, my husband worked right through the treatment. He did miss a couple of days here and there, usually a day or two after chemo. The longest he took off was his last day of rads and chemo. It was a Monday. He went to work the Tuesday then had to take Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off.  He has been back full time ever since the last week of treatment. As far as pain meds went, he only took Advil and Tylenol. The doctors and nurses don’t know how he managed that ( or working for that matter ) but that’s what he took. He also used magic mouthwash and lydocane. He gargled non-stop with warm water, salt, and baking soda. He didn’t have a PEG, and after about three weeks could only drink Ensure or Boost. He drank six a day, VERY RELUCTANTLY. It was drink the stuff or deal with me, drinking was the easier of the two I guess. He lost the most weight in the first month, about 16 lbs, and only 7 in the last two months. The worst part was about two weeks after the last treatment. He started eating normal food again around three weeks post treatment. That’s when he got his sense of taste back. He lost that around week 2 of treatment. Today he’s eating pretty much anything he wants. We had bbq steak on Sunday and he ate that. He still has to chew the snot out of everything and has to drink after every bite, but he does and he enjoys it! He says his throat is still sore, but nothing he can’t tolerate at this point. He doesn’t take Advil anymore either. Once in awhile it bothers his so he takes a Tylenol.

 

 The only thing bothering him now is, a few days ago he said the back of his neck and down his arms started bugging him. Not pain, tingling or numbness, just the top of the skin is sensitive if anything brushes against it. Anyone?

 

Also, if anyone has the stomch he has three pictures of what his throat looked like. Beginning, middle, and yesterday. VERY GRAPHIC, but it gives you a very good idea of what goes on.

 

 So, that’s my amazing, wonderful, best husband in the worlds story!

 

 

 

 

 

wmc

Thank you for sharing his and your journey.

It can be such a rough road to go down, but he handled it so well. He was able to keep working which shows his convictions and really did not loose much weight, which is so good too. With the radiation he will still be cooking for severay weeks but he did so well. Not sure about the sensitive skin, but I only had surgery and have some numb places and some small area that is very sensitive  to touch. Mine will never go away but I do hope his will in time.

Bill

wmc

On your home page........

On your home page there is Expresions where you can post your journey and photos and even videos. Thay is where I put my photos.

Bill

edreddog

Gives me hope

This gives me hope as I am about to start my own similar journey,I can only pray it will go as well for me as it did for him! Thank you for your inspiring post.

hwt

edreddog said:

Gives me hope

This gives me hope as I am about to start my own similar journey,I can only pray it will go as well for me as it did for him! Thank you for your inspiring post.

Vicky

Your husband sounds like one tough cookie! Thanks for sharing his story as I am sure it will be an inspiration to those just starting their journey. 

debbiejeanne

vicky, i'm so glad all has/is

vicky, i'm so glad all has/is going well for you and hubby.  it is wonderful to read that people get back to life so quickly.   i think your hubby is pretty amazing too!!!  we all are.

God bless you both,

dj

vickyd123

Thanks

Thanks everyone, I think my husband is doing really well too considering. I do think that there are still some bad days ahead though especially this problem he has in his neck/arms. In the last couple of days it has really been bothering him. He says it's like the top of his hands right up his arms and into the back of his neck and shoulders are ultra sensitive to anything touching or rubbing on it. Now his upper back and neck are aching to the point where he has to use heat and take advil again. ughhh, just when you think things are getting better something new crops up. I'm wondering if it's stress or maybe a pinched nerve, or if it's the radiation that maybe did damage to to something in his neck? I hope whatever it is it's not permanent.

CivilMatt

NED

Vickyd123,

Congratulations to you and your husband.

I think I have it figured out, the Good is the NED, the Bad was the cancer and the Ugly are the pictures.  Additionally for a Fist Full OF Dollars and  A  Few Dollar More you want to figure out the sensitivity thing.

Keep getting better!

Matt

vickyd123

CivilMatt said:

NED

Vickyd123,

Congratulations to you and your husband.

I think I have it figured out, the Good is the NED, the Bad was the cancer and the Ugly are the pictures.  Additionally for a Fist Full OF Dollars and  A  Few Dollar More you want to figure out the sensitivity thing.

Keep getting better!

Matt

You Got It

CivilMatt, you figured it out exactly right lol.

Hondo

Hi Vicky

 

Wow you both have been through a very hard rid but now you are on the other side of treatment looking good. I am glad to hear that Jim’s taste is coming back so quickly, some of us heal fast and others heal slowly, I guess it is all in the body’s make-up.

 

Tim Hondo

avisemi

Congrats!!!! And awesome to

Congrats!!!! And awesome to hear about his journey.