Eating after radiation to the Head and Neck

Dallascheer6
Dallascheer6 Member Posts: 3
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

Hello! 

Recently (Jan. 15th) I finished radiation to my neck (salivary glands, throat, etc) and sinus. I had 25 rounds. I had level/stage 3 Oral Mucositis and it caused lots of bleeding in my throat if I wanted to cough or sneeze etc. My tongue also developed severe burns on all sides. I switched to a chicken broth diet on Jan 5th since that is the only thing my tongue and throat could handle me eating. My doctor said no to a feeding tube because Lymphoma's are supposed to be "low dose" radiation and I should be better in "like a few days or maybe three" once I finish throat radiation. Well it has been 14 days of eating straight chicken broth and water. I'm starving. I have lost almost 17 pounds. I finished the radiation to my throat on the 12th, my sinus is what lasted until the 15th. If my doctor was right, I should have been able to eat at least soft foods by now right? It has definitely been at least three days from the 12th.  I have no energy, I have to sleep most of the day, and I don't know what to do. How long should I wait until I go to another doctor asking for a feeding tube? That's the last thing I want to have to do but I feel that I am so hungry that I would do anything. Also, I cannot drink juice or milkshakes or anything with sugar in it. The sugar touches my burns in my mouth and makes me feel like I lit my tongue on fire!

 

What I am asking you guys:

How long did it take for you to be able to eat again? 

Should I just wait it out on the chicken broth, despite feeling so weak, and see if it goes away on its own?

Does anyone have any bad stories about feeding tubes? 

 

Please help! I can't keep trying to walk around my college campus like this! I have fainted a few times already and I'm not looking forward to meeting more strangers while blacked out in the lecture halls!

Comments

  • Folks24
    Folks24 Member Posts: 106
    #2
    Eating

    Can you tolerate Ensure?  It has a lot of calories and good for you.

    I have not had what you have but I remember them wanting me to GAIN weight and then not letting me eat for various tests etc. Then I'd get broth, etc which don't put any meat on my bones.  I am not sure if you are on other medicines, but thay can cause stomach upset, etc. I would definitely check those out. I have one where I can't have milk products for 1hr plus or I get bad stomach aches. Others I can't take with this or that. I'd almost swear you have to learn really good timing to take medicines anymore.

  • onlytoday
    onlytoday Member Posts: 609 Member
    #3
    Feeding Tube

    Hi,

    I am so sorry you are going thru all of this!  I personally do not have any experience with a feeding tube, however my brother experienced intense radiation to his face and neck and did not get a feeding tube.  He now knows that he should have.  He dehydrated and suffered unneccesarily (he now feels).  He was stubborn and just didn't want it but if he had to do it all over again he would have gotten one.  I was with him after radiation and chemo and he couldn't and wouldn't eat anything.  It was very very hard.  I had to take him daily to the infusion center to get hydrated after he dehydrated.

    A friend of mine had one after his radiation and it worked beautifully.  Don't know many details but I know it was a success! Another friends Mom had one and it was successful although my friend felt it was a bit of work for her and her brother, who helped Mom with it.  But it kept her weight on and kept her hydrated!  As you can tell, I am pro-feeding tube! 

    Good luck in your decision and I pray you heal soon.

     

    Hugs.

    Donna

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