Healing tips anyone?

I believe as many have said each will progress accordingly and sounds like he will to.  Hopefully with time and the necessary meds if needed, he will begin to eat and drink more and time will just have to takes its course.  I realize Im not offering any specifics others may do a better job on that than I did.  Im just knowing Im 5 months out and although the left side of my tongue is still sore and creates a bit of a sore thoart, but Im eating ok and the funny thing I seem to be enjoying spicy foods more now than before my dx of cancer and all the treatments.  Tonight had mexican and although it burned a bit it was a good burn.  So I will rap it up and wish you both the best in your recovery

Sue,

I used the generic magic mouth wash to get through the worst of my burns to the mouth and down my throat.  To hear he is rinsing this much is a good thing !  I will add one thing though....I had all my teeth pulled for tx's and ran into trouble with thrush...as have many.  I swab out my mouth and tongue every day at least 3x's a day and haven't had a reoccurrance.  It will get better with time, I'm sorry he has to go through this.  Stinks !  Best sent to you both !   Katie

phrannie51 said:

Sorry....there isn't anyway

to really "jumpstart" healing....it's the rads are doing his mouth in, and until they are done his mouth will suffer.  He might try L-Glutamine rinses (as well as the salt/soda rinses)...L-glutamine was the only thing I could put in my mouth the last three months of treatment that didn't sting like crazy.  It's an amino acid that supposedly helps healing.  You can get it at the health food store.

p

That the L Glutamine for me was the only thing I can say that jump started me through the healing process. Your body's natural reaction to the burning effects of radiation is to sluff off the burned tissue. The L Glutamine will help to rebuild new tissue as the old burned tissue releases. If you can swallow, the entire "L" chain of amino acids is very good for tissue and muscle regeneration.

mike

My dad had really the worst side effects that lasted for very long. He felt terrible for about 3,5 months after chemo/rad treatments. His neck was so badly burned that he had to wear bandages. His mouth were full of ulcers, sores.. He couldn't swallow at all, so he was hospitalized for about 3 weeks (just after the last radiation) and getting fluids thru IV. Then he slowly started to eat, only pureed and almost liquid foods. Mom added soup or milk to everything. He couldn't drink water. Doctors told us that he should keep hydrated - it will fasten up the healing process. They were right. No matter how hard it was for him to swallow (he had no PEG tube) we were encouraging him to drink tea or water. First it was very difficult for him, but he was trying. And more liquids he drank, better he felt. His mouth started to heal a bit faster.

After 3,5 months he started to feel a lot better. So I think that time is the biggest factor here. Everybody is different so it doesn't mean it will be the same for Jeff. The other things my dad was doing: rinsing, gargling sage or salt water. But hydration is the most important.

His healing will go well, you'll see! Just give yourselves some time.