A couple of questions

COLD
I seem to be more cold in the evenings. Maybe I am this cold at work, but keeping busy keeps me from thinking how cold I am.

The saliva thing sounds not so good. Seems like anyone who gets improved saliva, gets it 9 months out and longer.

My mouth is so dry, my tongue is starting to look like beef jerky.

Cold spells
My guess it is the Thyroid as it controls so much of the body's functions. As far as saliva, I'm still limited on how much I have and I've been out of radiation for over 11 years. I'm not expecting it to get better, so those days that I have a bit more, I'm happy.

I haven't tried acupuncture and probably wont as I've had my share of needles. I guess I'm just used to the dry mouth. From what I have heard from those that have tried the acupuncture, is it takes many treatments for a short lived benefit. But I will defer to someone that actually has done this.

SASH said:

Cold spells
My guess it is the Thyroid as it controls so much of the body's functions. As far as saliva, I'm still limited on how much I have and I've been out of radiation for over 11 years. I'm not expecting it to get better, so those days that I have a bit more, I'm happy.

I haven't tried acupuncture and probably wont as I've had my share of needles. I guess I'm just used to the dry mouth. From what I have heard from those that have tried the acupuncture, is it takes many treatments for a short lived benefit. But I will defer to someone that actually has done this.

Hi Greg
Don’t know if it is the Thyroid or not responsible for the cold feeling or just side effects of radiation, I am six year passed last treatment and hate anything under 69degree. When I get cold it is all the way to the bones. On saliva it took me better than a year or so to get it back and that is only at 65% of what use to be normal.

All the best to you
Hondo

Just finished acupuncture
Hi Greg, I just finished my last of six sessions with an acupuncturist for the treatment of tinnitus. If you try it and don't have a recommendation, check for credentials. Lots of them don't have any. Mine was a lady with a Masters in public health, and extensive training in Chinese medicine. She was a pleasure.

She took time to look at my case specifically and develop a plan that would hopefully treat the tinnitus and help remove risidual toxins built up from chemo and rads--I'm about ten months out from chemo and rads and six months from partial neck dissection. Chinese medicine is holistic by nature, though certainly she aimed the needles as what she thought could relive the tinnitus. After six sessions I had no relief (I would've gladly taken the placebo effect Deb).

Each session she would talk first and ask if the symptoms had changed, then I would lie on a standard doctor cot and she would insert anywhere from 18 to 25 needles (painless). She charged $55.00 per session, no insurance coverage for me, which I thought was a deal. After inserting the needles she would put on some chanting songs, turn off the lights and leave for about twenty minutes to allow the needles to work.

If I had insurance coverage I would've extended the trial. I believe Chinese medicine can work, whether you are modern or ancient, Chinese or not. It wasn't working for my condition, but that doesn't mean it might not for you. I'm glad I tried it.

My salivary function started to return some about a month ago. I wasn't able to tolerate amiphostine during rads, but the saliva began to improve on it's own and it better today. I'll trade you some salivary function for a little peace and quiet. Ha.

best of luck to you, Hal

accupuncture
Hey Greg,
I've received accupuncture 3-4 times weekly since diagnosis. Actually I was getting it prior for the pain from the cancer. I'm 6 weeks out of treatment and have about 50% of my saliva back. Some nights I don't even wake up to take a sip of water and my mouth isn't dry in the morning. I originally went to a communtity accupuncturist that treats multiple patients at the same time and charges $15/session. Community accupuncture is available all over the country; you just need to do a search in your area. She was pretty good and helped me with most of the side effects of chemo and radiation. Then I found out that the cancer treatment center had an accupuncturist and that they gave out partial scholarships so I switched to him until my scholarship ran out. He is amazing and practices Japanese accupuncture which uses a gold needle and a silver needle to move Chi. The needles aren't actually inserted but rather pressed firmly on the places that the accupuncturist determines they are needed to direct the energy flow. When I told my Chinese medicine guy that I was getting a scholarship for accupuncture at the center he offered to match the rate of $15/session. Since then I 've been getting accupuncture there. I notice the accupuncture working. Within about 5 minutes I fall fast asleep and don't wake up until I'm awakened approximately an hour and a half later. I always feel better after accupuncture. It could just be the nap but I don't think so. Most insurances don't cover it but you do get to deduct it from your income as non-covered medical expenses so do get receipts. Same goes for massage and actually anything you spend money on related to cancer/treatment that isn't covered by insurance. I highly recommend accupuncture and I imagine it would be effective for your cold issues as well. I'd be happy to introduce you to my accupuncturists when you're in the area. Let me know how I can help.

Bob

adventurebob said:

accupuncture
Hey Greg,
I've received accupuncture 3-4 times weekly since diagnosis. Actually I was getting it prior for the pain from the cancer. I'm 6 weeks out of treatment and have about 50% of my saliva back. Some nights I don't even wake up to take a sip of water and my mouth isn't dry in the morning. I originally went to a communtity accupuncturist that treats multiple patients at the same time and charges $15/session. Community accupuncture is available all over the country; you just need to do a search in your area. She was pretty good and helped me with most of the side effects of chemo and radiation. Then I found out that the cancer treatment center had an accupuncturist and that they gave out partial scholarships so I switched to him until my scholarship ran out. He is amazing and practices Japanese accupuncture which uses a gold needle and a silver needle to move Chi. The needles aren't actually inserted but rather pressed firmly on the places that the accupuncturist determines they are needed to direct the energy flow. When I told my Chinese medicine guy that I was getting a scholarship for accupuncture at the center he offered to match the rate of $15/session. Since then I 've been getting accupuncture there. I notice the accupuncture working. Within about 5 minutes I fall fast asleep and don't wake up until I'm awakened approximately an hour and a half later. I always feel better after accupuncture. It could just be the nap but I don't think so. Most insurances don't cover it but you do get to deduct it from your income as non-covered medical expenses so do get receipts. Same goes for massage and actually anything you spend money on related to cancer/treatment that isn't covered by insurance. I highly recommend accupuncture and I imagine it would be effective for your cold issues as well. I'd be happy to introduce you to my accupuncturists when you're in the area. Let me know how I can help.

Bob

Community Accupuncture
Hi Bob, thanks for the information of the possibility of community accupuncture. I'm going to see if it's available in my neck of the hood--Fresno. My accupuncturist told me that accupuncture was part of the cancer treatment recovery protocol in most of the hospitals in the bay area. She said I was running "hot", meaning in chi language that the toxins from treatment were still tilting to the warm side of the balance that encourages good energy flow. If I can get my chi and the lymph fluid in my neck back on track that'll be great.

best, Hal