Tongue swollen 4 weeks, 4 days post radiation

Larry449

Carcinoma, base of tongue.

Four days ago, Four week post rad follow up, my radiation oncologist says my recovery is doing well. The next day visit with my medical oncologist (who's been treating me for prostate C) looked in my mouth and said basically the same thing, "You're doing fine!" while acknowledging "You've been thru hell". Both opinions encouraged me so I left offices feeling better, at least emotionally. My tongue, however doesn't seem to have rece the "doing fine" message and continues to flare up every afternoo. Admit, it's better than it was two weeks ago, and it's "only" been 4weeks, but.. come on!

Today I noticed something different. Tongue and back of my mouth sore, like it has been, but looking in my mouth in the mirror, my tongue doesn't have the ssores I was expecting to see. the whole right side of my tongue is swollen! Kinda freaking me right now. I'm waiting on aa call back from my doctor.

Is this commo? A search on this forum showed a couple comments on this but kinda looking for someone who's experienced this.

Larry

motorcycleguy

Larry,

I seem to recall tongue pain and swelling for a while, during and after treatment. My GF made a mouthwash out of water, baking soda and salt - and I used that 6 times a day. It seemed to help quite a bit. I've also bought high pH water - which really seems to do good things for the mouth/teeth (at least in my case). If you happen to drink bottled water, just try some 9 pH for a while.

Other than that - all I can tell you, is that it takes time. The body doesn't really seem to care for radiation, very much - and rebels and complains for a couple months after finishing!

How is your relationship with solid food? Water? Beer, or other preferred beverages? Do you get stinging sensation in your mouth?

I hope things cure up quick for you - and you're back to normal as soon as possible. Have a great weekend!

MG

Larry449

motorcycleguy said:

Larry,

I seem to recall tongue pain and swelling for a while, during and after treatment. My GF made a mouthwash out of water, baking soda and salt - and I used that 6 times a day. It seemed to help quite a bit. I've also bought high pH water - which really seems to do good things for the mouth/teeth (at least in my case). If you happen to drink bottled water, just try some 9 pH for a while.

Other than that - all I can tell you, is that it takes time. The body doesn't really seem to care for radiation, very much - and rebels and complains for a couple months after finishing!

How is your relationship with solid food? Water? Beer, or other preferred beverages? Do you get stinging sensation in your mouth?

I hope things cure up quick for you - and you're back to normal as soon as possible. Have a great weekend!

MG

MG

I've been using the salt/baking soda rinse from the start. I seems to help a little, I guess, for short term. Not as often as you, tho'.  I didn't know high ph water was a thing, need to look for it...or get my wife to, I haven't felt like going to the store since rad started.

 I know it hasn't been very long (32 days) since the end of radiation but, first it was the mucus, which started silently fading away. Then the sores on my tongue which seemed to fade but then.. flare up again right after doctors telling me how well I'm doing. I've been using Lidocane solution directly on the side of my tongue for the pain, as it comes and goes, without really looking in my mouth. Today, expecting to see the sores on my tongue (and little blisters on palate?) back again, I didn't see the lesions but general rawnes and the swelling which I hadn't noticed before..So, I called my doctor (waiting for her call) and posted here.

So, food: I know I need to start eating. I don't like the tube! My prostate doc told me to start eating, get the tube out. The only thing I've actually eaten is a small bowl of cream of mushroom soup yesterday. It actually tasted ok (if you like salty milk) and went down ok. I just couldn't finish what I thought I could. I can drink water ok and it no longer feels like oil going down. I've stopped crushing my pills as I can swallow them now without gaggin. Yes, the stinging sensation, tongue and some times radiates down my throat.

Before this started I'd taken a liking to Perrier as an alternative to sugery soda. As soon as radiation started that stopped! On little sip and my mouth exploded like vinegar and baking soda! 
Beer: haven't tried that yet, don't drink much anyway, but I saw a comment here where someone said he could now enjoy Stout again... I do like Guiness!! That'd be nice but I don't think I'm there yet.

Larry

MarineE5

Adding to what MG mentioned

Larry, 

MG mentioned that he used the Baking Soda and Salt solution about 6 times a day. My Nurse told me to use it about 3 times a day, but I tend to over do things so I carried a used soda bottle with the solution with me all the time along with another bottle of water. I would take a sip of the solution as often as every 20-30 minutes if I felt I needed to. Mainly for the same reason you stated, you felt some relief temporarily. 

I am glad to read that you tried some soup recently. One thing that I found and still do today is eat and drink most things at room temperature so I don't have any discomfort while eating. I do make a small allowance for ice cream now and again 

Try to not get disappointed in the speed of your recovery, we should measure our progress in weeks not days. You will get there. Remember, we still "Cook" for as many weeks after treatments as we were in treatment. I had sores pop up 8 months out of treatment on my tongue and the sides of my mouth. Freaked me out, jumped on the Solution again and they went away. Told my Radaition Oncologist about it and he told me that the sores could show up as far out as 1 year. 

My Best to You and Everyone Here