How to overcome Radiation Mask fear? or unable to breath?

thennies61 said:

Went in for my rads and came

Went in for my rads and came out needing new mask.The mask didn't fit right and as my swelling has gone down they ended up making me a new mask.And the bummer was having to go though the whole routine again.Was a long day with my it being a drug day also.Then had to have IV with dye again which they missed the vein twice and then the mask was wayyy to hot to put it on.Had them cut holes before it dried hard.If you cut it after it will spring open wider which it did the first time.But the plus side to it was that the swelling is going down all the time.

sorry you had to go thru all that again but hopefully this is it and you can move forward with tx.  hope the swelling continues to get better.  praying your tx goes smoothly from this point on.

dj

Guzzle said:

radioactive man

Keith make sure you leave a post so Theo knows he has gone global! I go for phantom of the opera next week. Ive got too many invitations to visit people prior to start of treatment and not enough time! Damn. And the UK is tiny! It could probably fit into some of your lakes! GOT 6 weeks radiotherapy with chemo at start,middle and end.

Guzzle, the way you sailed through the tonsillectomy you will do fine with the chemo and radiation.  stay positive and keep your sense of humor and wit and before you know it you will be finished.   Stay hydrated ( I had to get two IVs of fluid during my treatment and if you get dehydrated you feel horrible) and manage the pain. The  good folks on this site can help with the symptoms you will have along the way.  

Visit all your friends and enjoy yourself!   They should all be buying you dinner so take advantage of it.  

All the best,

Keith

Good morning all

Well I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsil whis has got in to three lymph nodes next to the right side tonsil.  Now on to the issue at hand. They molded the mask last week. I went Wednesday for mapping and first Rad treatment. I couldn't get the mask on. It felt as though it was much tighter than it was after they made it. They cut eye holes enough that I could get my eyes open and a small hole at my nostils. Now, when they made the mask the presure on my throat as it cooled began to choke me. They pulled the mask three times to reshape the front of my neck.  They were able to cut an egg sized hole in the front of the neck. They then removed the wedge that was under the head reast.

At that point I was able to do the scan for them to mark the mask. They gave me Xanex to take before treatments. I took three and they failed to do anything. The best I got out of them was a peaceful sleep for the first time ine 8 weeks, but that wasn't until hours later. They upped my dosage and I took it the next day before treatment. Well I informed them that I still hadn't felt anything from it. The level of claustropobhbia is so overwhelming. I can't get this mask back on. I have gotten a script for Ativan from my reg Dr. I am hoping it will help with getting this done. 

If they would only snap it down half way I might be able to deal with it but when they snap it fully it feels as though it is crushing my forehead and mouth which hurts. They removed all my teeth before treatments and it is still a little sensitive in areas the mask presses against... I go back on Monday for another attempt.