Laser Nerve Stimulation and HBO

Hondo
Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
It’s about time I give you a report on how things are going with the treatment. The Laser Nerve Stimulation was working great for about the first 10 treatments, but after that it seamed to start going the other way. I now have feeling in some of my teeth and lower jar but lost motor function in the under lining of the face muscles, in other words when I smile only one half of it shows on my face. We are not 100% sure if this is from the LNS but appears it might be, so Laser Nerve Stimulation has been stopped.

On the HBO treatment its seams to be going very well; for the first time in about 3 years I have been able to put on some weight. I went from 140lbs to 152lbs and I am not doing anything different, very expensive way to gain weight I might say. I went to the dentist yesterday and he told me I need to get all the back teeth removed. So after he found out I was doing HBO he said now is the best time to get it done, he is trying to find someone who will work on me. I told him good luck my friend I been trying to do that for years now, will wait and see hope he finds someone. Other then all of that, I still have my good and bad days like everyone, just so glad for the week-end so I can rest.

God’s blessings to all of you; and my prayers are on going for all still in treatment
Tim Hondo

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    feel better
    Hi Hondo,

    Your reports (until now) on the LNS seemed so promising. Maybe after accessing the problem they can alter the procedure to produce the desired results.

    Gaining some weight is pretty good too. It seems every one of us lost a few pounds (44 pounds). Good luck on finding a dentist. We got to do what we got to do.

    Best,

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    YEAAAAHHH for the weight gain!
    What a bummer that the LNS started going backwards...it sounded at first like this was going to do you well. At least the HBO treatments are working...tho I imagine it IS a really expensive way to do it....

    p
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #4
    Crooked smile...me too !
    Tim,
    I had a mastoid surgery years ago in my twentys.....my smile has been lopsided since. LOL...I'm serious they had to remove my ear on the left side to get at it and sewed it on a bit higher than the other side. I'm sorry that the nerve stimulation is on hold for now...but with the advancements being made every day who knows right ? I'm so happy to hear you're able to gain weight...fantastic ! I enjoy your posts ! Katie
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #5
    katenorwood said:

    Crooked smile...me too !
    Tim,
    I had a mastoid surgery years ago in my twentys.....my smile has been lopsided since. LOL...I'm serious they had to remove my ear on the left side to get at it and sewed it on a bit higher than the other side. I'm sorry that the nerve stimulation is on hold for now...but with the advancements being made every day who knows right ? I'm so happy to hear you're able to gain weight...fantastic ! I enjoy your posts ! Katie

    Half Smile
    Hi Hondo,

    Thanks for the update on your condition. I too have only half a smile so maybe if we stood side by side we could have a complete one!

    It has been 10 months since my neck surgery and it does look like it has improved somewhat. Doc said it might take two years to calm down and a slight chance of it staying for life. I can live with either one.

    Are you getting second and third opinions about your teeth? My second dentist said sometimes the radiation causes a cavity on the gum line and on occasion will go completely around the tooth. He said they don't like to work on those but will before recommending it being pulled. My previous dentist didn't want to work on them. I ask because my cancer team oral surgeon gave me a couple of questions to ask dentists to make sure they know about rad patients. Are the teeth too far gone? If so, I'm sorry you have to go through that. I was told to go 4 times a year for a checkup so it won't get out of hand. But then you've had so much more treatment than I and probably have different instructions.

    Glad to see you here. I've been gone for awhile but still consider this site a Godsend.

    Tommy
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    tommyodavey said:

    Half Smile
    Hi Hondo,

    Thanks for the update on your condition. I too have only half a smile so maybe if we stood side by side we could have a complete one!

    It has been 10 months since my neck surgery and it does look like it has improved somewhat. Doc said it might take two years to calm down and a slight chance of it staying for life. I can live with either one.

    Are you getting second and third opinions about your teeth? My second dentist said sometimes the radiation causes a cavity on the gum line and on occasion will go completely around the tooth. He said they don't like to work on those but will before recommending it being pulled. My previous dentist didn't want to work on them. I ask because my cancer team oral surgeon gave me a couple of questions to ask dentists to make sure they know about rad patients. Are the teeth too far gone? If so, I'm sorry you have to go through that. I was told to go 4 times a year for a checkup so it won't get out of hand. But then you've had so much more treatment than I and probably have different instructions.

    Glad to see you here. I've been gone for awhile but still consider this site a Godsend.

    Tommy

    Tim
    If you live near St Louis, let me know. There is a specialist at Siteman Cancer Center who is supposed to be one of the best in reconstructive dentistry. I've been waiting out my 6 months to begin the process (Nov 15th) which begins with the HBOT tx.
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #7
    Bell's Palsy??
    I once had a bout of Bell's Palsy. Hondo, I can actually hope this is your problem, because Bell's Palsy goes away on its own. I will include a link:

    http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/bells/bells.htm

    The link is from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

    In reality, I don't think you have Bell's Palsy. But it is just something to learn a little about and possibly consider. Like, I say I do hope you have it because it goes away.

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