5 Rads Down...

BarefootBob
BarefootBob Member Posts: 72
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hello my fellow warriors,

I am now through the first 'week' of radiation and all I can say is, WOW. All of you that have come THIS far, you are my heros and you will give me strength to make it through the next 5 weeks, cause there is NOTHING fun about this at all. Knowing that it really only gets worse too, does not make it any better.

All of my food tastes like I am chewing on the back end of a rusteed out 57 Ford. My shoulder is in constant pain and I have no energy to do much at all. The doctor wants to put me on an anti-depressant but I don't know...do meds really change your mindset, when you know whats coming??

Anywho, just a quick rant - thanks all, you really are my heros, I'm gonna make it, I have a wife and two young boys who need me. I knew I was in it for the long haul, and thats what I'm doing.

Much Love,
Bob

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Ground Hogs Day
    Like the movie....

    Same routine, day after day, after day, after day....

    Rest, give up as much as you can for others to do, concentrate on hydration, calorie intake, pain management...and maintaining a positice attitude with a bit of abi-normal humor thrown in to round things out.

    You'll make it, we have, you can and will also.

    After all...it's just a thing, you can kick azz....

    First few weeks are a reality check, next eight are so are a kick in the pants, the remainder is on the down slide....

    Best,
    John
  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Ground Hogs Day
    Like the movie....

    Same routine, day after day, after day, after day....

    Rest, give up as much as you can for others to do, concentrate on hydration, calorie intake, pain management...and maintaining a positice attitude with a bit of abi-normal humor thrown in to round things out.

    You'll make it, we have, you can and will also.

    After all...it's just a thing, you can kick azz....

    First few weeks are a reality check, next eight are so are a kick in the pants, the remainder is on the down slide....

    Best,
    John

    Good job
    Week one down, good job. I started losing my taste week one also. I can suggest that you eat as much as you can, anything your heart desires now before the taste really goes. Doesn't help to have a little reserve anyway.
    Listen to your body, if your tired-sleep! Stay hydrated...fluids fluids fluids! That is the most important.
    It is also important to have as positive thoughts as possible. Anti depressants are not a sign of weakeness. If you find yourself overwhelmed by this journey please try and be open to the help. I hate to say it but there is going to come a time during treatment that you are not going to feel like doing anything, daily appts is one them. I remember hardly being able to get out of bed and get dressed to go. It was honestly depressing. My home health nurse(for my PEG) was constantly suggesting I get on something.
    But all that being said, it is only temporary.it will get better and you'll start being you again when treatment is over.
    Come back often, there are many who can share how they got thru any given stage.
    Feel good!
    Billie
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #4
    Billie67 said:

    Good job
    Week one down, good job. I started losing my taste week one also. I can suggest that you eat as much as you can, anything your heart desires now before the taste really goes. Doesn't help to have a little reserve anyway.
    Listen to your body, if your tired-sleep! Stay hydrated...fluids fluids fluids! That is the most important.
    It is also important to have as positive thoughts as possible. Anti depressants are not a sign of weakeness. If you find yourself overwhelmed by this journey please try and be open to the help. I hate to say it but there is going to come a time during treatment that you are not going to feel like doing anything, daily appts is one them. I remember hardly being able to get out of bed and get dressed to go. It was honestly depressing. My home health nurse(for my PEG) was constantly suggesting I get on something.
    But all that being said, it is only temporary.it will get better and you'll start being you again when treatment is over.
    Come back often, there are many who can share how they got thru any given stage.
    Feel good!
    Billie

    Week 1 down
    If it is any consolation, week one was one of my worst. Don't want to deceive you, the other 5 were not a walk in the park but didn't really top week 1 for making me miserable. Personally, lorazepam was given to me for nausea but it is basically for anxiety and I was glad I had it. I think Matt is also a fan of lorazepam.
    Have a good week 2 and keep us posted.
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #5
    1 week down
    Hey Bob,

    A week to remember (I don’t think so).Now you can look forward to the half–way point. When I first started on this site I was a listener, my wife read all the threads important to my condition. I was too hunkered down in my easy chair to participate. The one thing I kept hearing was “keep swallowing, drink plenty of fluids” and I did.

    Don’t worry one iota about pain medication, anxiety medication, laxatives, anti-nausea meds or anything else you may need. If you need it, take it, you can be brave and strong later. My first awful throat pain I waited around for a while then took liquid Lidocaine, wow, it was great, the pain went away and I slept great. I ALWAYS took one Lorazapam (30 minutes) before rad treatments (I never like my mask). On occasion I would take a Lorazapam at night if my mind was racing.

    Today, no pain meds and I feel great (not as great as John, fishing, eating, spitting), but very good.

    Stay the course, ask and tell your doctors and nurses of any changes, they will usually have something for it. They don’t want to tell you about anything bad until it happens, when in reality they were waiting for it to happen (hoping it would not).

    Best,

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #6
    CivilMatt said:

    1 week down
    Hey Bob,

    A week to remember (I don’t think so).Now you can look forward to the half–way point. When I first started on this site I was a listener, my wife read all the threads important to my condition. I was too hunkered down in my easy chair to participate. The one thing I kept hearing was “keep swallowing, drink plenty of fluids” and I did.

    Don’t worry one iota about pain medication, anxiety medication, laxatives, anti-nausea meds or anything else you may need. If you need it, take it, you can be brave and strong later. My first awful throat pain I waited around for a while then took liquid Lidocaine, wow, it was great, the pain went away and I slept great. I ALWAYS took one Lorazapam (30 minutes) before rad treatments (I never like my mask). On occasion I would take a Lorazapam at night if my mind was racing.

    Today, no pain meds and I feel great (not as great as John, fishing, eating, spitting), but very good.

    Stay the course, ask and tell your doctors and nurses of any changes, they will usually have something for it. They don’t want to tell you about anything bad until it happens, when in reality they were waiting for it to happen (hoping it would not).

    Best,

    Matt

    phrannie is also a fan of lorazapam :)
    Like Matt, cept I only took 1/2 of one, every day before rads....and nights when my mind was racing, I'd take them also....they are wonderful for cutting into anxiety and making it managable.

    If anti depressents are on the menu, take them....they sure can't hurt anything. I've been taking them since about the 3rd week of radiation. I don't know if they are helping or not, or if my attitude is my own....LOL...

    I agree with Matt also on keeping your Dr.'s up to date on what is going on with you...don't see anything in this treatment phase as something you'll just have to figure out on your own. I did that with pain meds, and it was stupid...what a relief it was when I finally cried uncle.

    p
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #7
    phrannie51 said:

    phrannie is also a fan of lorazapam :)
    Like Matt, cept I only took 1/2 of one, every day before rads....and nights when my mind was racing, I'd take them also....they are wonderful for cutting into anxiety and making it managable.

    If anti depressents are on the menu, take them....they sure can't hurt anything. I've been taking them since about the 3rd week of radiation. I don't know if they are helping or not, or if my attitude is my own....LOL...

    I agree with Matt also on keeping your Dr.'s up to date on what is going on with you...don't see anything in this treatment phase as something you'll just have to figure out on your own. I did that with pain meds, and it was stupid...what a relief it was when I finally cried uncle.

    p

    I agree with others on
    I agree with others on lorazapam (ativan), it really helps wto calm down some nerves. It also helped me with coughing and gagging sometimes. I took one at night time. I am 8 weeks post rads and still take it sometimes at night.

    Sam

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