My brother's Journey Finally Begins

sin9775
sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi All.  It seems like ages ago that I first came aboard.  My brother is finally starting his treatment tomorrow.  I have been keeping up with all of your journeys.  His spirits are up and he is ready for the battle.  I had mentioned before that he hasn't been reading about any possible side-effects because he thought he just wanted to deal with things as they came along.  After a nasty reaction to getting his g-tube in, he has decided that maybe being prepared is the better way to go. :-)

I have a question for you all.  What is the best ration to baking soda/salt/water?  I have seen so many different ideas.  What is best?   He actually asked me that today. I was totally psyched that he is taking a proactive approach now.

~S~

p.s.  I wish there was a "Like" button on here.  Sometimes you guys cack me up!

 

Comments

  • sin9775
    sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #2
    Oops - That should be ratio

    Oops - That should be ratio and crack me up.  LOL

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #3
    best is what works best

    There is no set in concrete formula. I mix the salt and soda 50/50 and put about a teaspoon in 12+ oz of water. That is for the basic swish in the mouth and also what I use in the waterpik. Seems to be a good balance of cleaning things up as well as not too harsh on the ulcers and wounds.

    If it mix feels a bit irritating I would use less so you continue to do it more often. I think it is far better to swish more often rather than do it less so a less irritating formula may make that work better.

    In general, I also try to mix up a patch using lukewarm water, not hot or cold, just so as that seems to be the least irriating temp.

     

    Good luck

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    donfoo said:

    best is what works best

    There is no set in concrete formula. I mix the salt and soda 50/50 and put about a teaspoon in 12+ oz of water. That is for the basic swish in the mouth and also what I use in the waterpik. Seems to be a good balance of cleaning things up as well as not too harsh on the ulcers and wounds.

    If it mix feels a bit irritating I would use less so you continue to do it more often. I think it is far better to swish more often rather than do it less so a less irritating formula may make that work better.

    In general, I also try to mix up a patch using lukewarm water, not hot or cold, just so as that seems to be the least irriating temp.

     

    Good luck

    I used about the same formula

    as Don.  Towards the end of treatment, I upped the soda and salt a bit because of the mouth sores....This is a very healing rinse and spit. I used a tiny funnel to mix it up in a 1 liter bottle I could keep on my counter and have access to all the time.  Room temp worked for me.

    p

    I wish we had a like button, too....LOL

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #5
    getting started

    sin9775,

    I agree with Don and phrannie on the mixture. I always had a ½ gallon made-up and ready and I used it religiously all day long (throughout treatments). 

    Also, drinking lots of water has the benefit of hydration plus keeping the swallowing in working order.

    In my opinion, the most popular (first) side effect  is nausea from chemo.  They will give him something for it at infusion and for home.  Do not try to tough it out, at the first hint (or before) he is getting sick take the meds.  He wants to stay ahead of as many side effects as he can.

    Matt

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    sin9775 said:

    Oops - That should be ratio

    Oops - That should be ratio and crack me up.  LOL

    Hydrogen Peroxide

    I used (prescribed) hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.., never had any mouth sores or thrush...about a tablespoon of H2O2 to a teaspoon of baking soda in a 1/2 glass of water...

    image

    JG

     

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #7
    I use

    I use one quart of warm water and mix in 1tbsp baking soda and 1tbsp salt.  I go through that quart each day and rinse very often.  It's helped with my sores and thick saliva. 

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #8
    Everyone is different, you

    Everyone is different, you will hear that alot. Jim used 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda and warm water during treatment. Now he uses original flavor Gatorade. Go figure? He can't stand the baking soda mix now.

    Happy your brother is being proactive. It helped Jim and I both to know what to expect and be prepared for it. Not as scary that way. Of course we are all here to help any time.

    Blessings

    Debbie

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #9
    jim and i said:

    Everyone is different, you

    Everyone is different, you will hear that alot. Jim used 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda and warm water during treatment. Now he uses original flavor Gatorade. Go figure? He can't stand the baking soda mix now.

    Happy your brother is being proactive. It helped Jim and I both to know what to expect and be prepared for it. Not as scary that way. Of course we are all here to help any time.

    Blessings

    Debbie

    No help here

    I tried the salt and baking soda as recommended by the radiologist and people across town probably heard me yell. Not sure why but it burned me something fierce. From what I read, it does work for most everyone else. Just another example of each of us being different. I did not have issues with mucus but did have sores on my lips (none in my mouth).

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #10
    My Recipe

    16oz water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp kosher salt (why not, it's been blessed....can't hurt ~lol~) and 1 scoop (5g) of glutamine.

    "T"

  • sin9775
    sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #11
    Salt/Soda Rinse

    Thank you everyone.  I will pass along all of the info.  He said his first treatment went well today.  His spirits are up.  He did mention that he does not have eye holes in his mask and doesn't want/need them.  I find that curious after reading so many contrary comments about that on here.  Wondering if that will change. 

    Thanks for the "Like" button and the smile it brought me, John!

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #12
    sin9775 said:

    Salt/Soda Rinse

    Thank you everyone.  I will pass along all of the info.  He said his first treatment went well today.  His spirits are up.  He did mention that he does not have eye holes in his mask and doesn't want/need them.  I find that curious after reading so many contrary comments about that on here.  Wondering if that will change. 

    Thanks for the "Like" button and the smile it brought me, John!

    SO glad that

    his first treatment went well!  

     

    I don't have eye holes in my mask either and it's fine by me.  I keep my eyes closed from the moment they put it on to the moment they take it off :)

  • sin9775
    sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #13
    fishmanpa said:

    My Recipe

    16oz water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp kosher salt (why not, it's been blessed....can't hurt ~lol~) and 1 scoop (5g) of glutamine.

    "T"

    glutamine

    Do you drink this with the glutamine in it then, instead of a rinse?

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #14
    sin9775 said:

    Salt/Soda Rinse

    Thank you everyone.  I will pass along all of the info.  He said his first treatment went well today.  His spirits are up.  He did mention that he does not have eye holes in his mask and doesn't want/need them.  I find that curious after reading so many contrary comments about that on here.  Wondering if that will change. 

    Thanks for the "Like" button and the smile it brought me, John!

    Waffle Head...

    Mine didn't have eye holes either..., and I always walked out every day with waffle head. Diamond marks across my forehead from how well bolted down I was.

    I remember I could barely squint my eyes open, but most of the time they were closed.

    I didn't know anything back then as for asking for extra holes, LOL...

    I joined here after I was finished with Tx...

    John

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #15
    Skiffin16 said:

    Waffle Head...

    Mine didn't have eye holes either..., and I always walked out every day with waffle head. Diamond marks across my forehead from how well bolted down I was.

    I remember I could barely squint my eyes open, but most of the time they were closed.

    I didn't know anything back then as for asking for extra holes, LOL...

    I joined here after I was finished with Tx...

    John

    waffle head

     

     

    Is what my hubby calls me after treatment! LOL  I call myself Fat Head because I'm still so swollen from my surgeries in March haha

  • Roar
    Roar Member Posts: 269 Member
    #16
    My moms job

    This was my moms job- I went through a gallon a week - was a 1 to 4 ratio one being the salt- I used this 7 or 8 times a day along with the magic mouthwash

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #17
    sin9775 said:

    glutamine

    Do you drink this with the glutamine in it then, instead of a rinse?

    Glutamnine

    Both actually. I use it in the rinse with the baking soda and salt and I add it and ingest it (5g) when I make a protein shake.

    "T"

  • sin9775
    sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #18
    fishmanpa said:

    Glutamnine

    Both actually. I use it in the rinse with the baking soda and salt and I add it and ingest it (5g) when I make a protein shake.

    "T"

    Rinse

    Thanks.  So that I am absolutely, positively clear.  He should ingest the glutamine with food/drink, but when we are talking the salt/baking soda concoction, that is solely used for a mouth wash. Correct?  Please forgive me for being so dense.  Undecided

    ~S~

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #19
    sin9775 said:

    Rinse

    Thanks.  So that I am absolutely, positively clear.  He should ingest the glutamine with food/drink, but when we are talking the salt/baking soda concoction, that is solely used for a mouth wash. Correct?  Please forgive me for being so dense.  Undecided

    ~S~

    You Got It!

    Yeppers!

    Glutamine can be used both as part of a rinse and a supplement you can injest. It's flavorless and best mixed with a shake, water, juice or pudding. I believe Phrannie used it as a rinse too.

    "T"

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