10 weeks post and still can’t eat

Jtoon
Jtoon Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

It has Been ten weeks since treatments were Completed Larynx T3.Still a lot of bloody mucus and what I call tree bark(scabs) still can’t eat.was just wondering when anybody startrd to eat.Doctor says totally normal but I wonder 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    welcome, table for one?

    Jtoon,

    Welcome to the forum, “where you cannot eat anything you want at the H&N Restaurant”.

    My taste buds were taste confused for 7 months. I was on a mostly smoothie diet because of the taste, no taste, awful taste, awful feel of food.  I got over it almost overnight, really.

    The sampling and tasting of food started on day 1 post and I found some taste successes (sweet tea, corn on the cob), some were unusual, but I kept trying.

    I see H&N members who have returned to the Land of Eaten almost from day one (they are really the Cowboys of this group). I think you could turn the food and eating corner anytime.

    The tree bark is a good analogy; it would have made my recovery much different.

    Good luck.

    Matt

  • Curlyn
    Curlyn Member Posts: 189
    #3
    Hi J- as Matt alludes to,

    Hi J- as Matt alludes to, everyone is different. 10 weeks is still very early day, especially for what you went through (laryngeal). Don't give up trying whatever you can, because swallowing is important, but don't be too hard on yourself either. Tree bark, geez. Sounds really sore (are you using the baking soda/salt in water rinses regularly?)

  • Jtoon
    Jtoon Member Posts: 5
    #4
    Thanks

    thanks for the info!Actually the soreness is about gone just feels like a Lump but tha coughing and hacking continues. I went yesterday and got a strawberry shake which wasn’t bad drank half but I’m still trying.thanks again 

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #5
    I gotta tell you, I was

    I gotta tell you, I was scared to death to try and eat real food after treatment ended. I didn't use a PEG tube, but had been on liquids only for awhile. The discomfort and lump in my throat made me certain I would choke and or endure extreme pain if I tried to eat.

    My doc recommended I do a swallow therapy session. I gotta tell you, it immediately made all the difference. They had me in front of a video x-ray that took a video x-ray of me swallowing. Once I saw there was no obstruction and the pain just was what it was, they had me progressively eat denser and denser foods. Once I  ate a dry granola bar I knew I was good to go. Went and ate Mexican food and chips and salsa that night. The day before I was choking down Boost liquid.

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