My radiation recovery - Week 1

stevenpepe
stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I am officially 9 days post rad and here's my progress, thus far.

Mouth sores - they are beginning to heal. Brushing my teeth is much easier the past few days. I've noticed I'm not looking to rinse as much as before. My mouth feels cleaner each day.

Mucous - still there, but diminishing. Taking Mucinex to help move it along.

Fatigue - probably the most prominent side effect. I have little physical or mental energy for anything right now.

Eating - liquids only. The strong salty/metallic taste is still there, making eating very unappetizing. My diet consists of 2 large shakes a day, each about 1,000 calories, which helps maintain my weight. I have shed 3-4 pounds I gained pre-treatment. Trying to do 3 a day, just not there yet.

Shake ingredients: 2 Boost or Ensure drinks, 2 scoops of protein powder, 2 tbsp of peanut butter, crushed multi vitamin. If available, a banana, whole milk, yogurt. They were difficult to get down the first few days due to sores and taste but getting much easier to tolerate and even enjoy.

Perhaps it's the liquid diet, but I get these violent hiccups time to time. They caused me to vomit a couple of nights in my sleep. It helps to sleep inclined when this happens.

Taking liquid Oxycodone 3-4 times a day. Not so much for pain, but to reduce the metallic taste in my mouth. Miralax to offset constipation side effect.

Overall, I see big improvements and look forward to putting this behind me.

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Steve

     

    You are doing well for someone just finished treatment, so from here on out you should see little changes every day or so. Congratulations on making it all the way

     

    Tim  

     

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    edited July 2016 #3
    Doing great!

    Steve, 

    It sounds like you're doing great just one week out post treatment! Gives me hope that there's a light at the end of this long tunnel. Thanks for sharing!

    Kari

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #4
    Thank you Steve. As I near

    Thank you Steve. As I near the end, I'm feeling so drained. The burns on my neck look dreadful.  I'm hopeful after this post. Why does the last few treatments begin to seem impossible?

  • stevenpepe
    stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
    #5
    Lisa, the last 2 weeks were

    Lisa, the last 2 weeks were the worst for me. Be prepared and you will get through it just fine. I'm just so happy to have it behind me. You will be there too.

  • stevenpepe
    stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
    #6
    Hondo said:

    Hi Steve

     

    You are doing well for someone just finished treatment, so from here on out you should see little changes every day or so. Congratulations on making it all the way

     

    Tim  

     

    Thank you, Tim!

    Thank you, Tim!

  • stevenpepe
    stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
    #7
    Kari2007 said:

    Doing great!

    Steve, 

    It sounds like you're doing great just one week out post treatment! Gives me hope that there's a light at the end of this long tunnel. Thanks for sharing!

    Kari

    There is a light for all of

    There is a light for all of us. Keep strong!

  • RottiesMom
    RottiesMom Member Posts: 167
    edited July 2016 #8
    Glad you are improving!

    I am so happy to hear you are improving.  Tuesday will be the beginning of my third week and I also have chemo that day.  Prayers you continue to feel better each day!!

  • Gypsy28
    Gypsy28 Member Posts: 69
    edited July 2016 #9
    So glad to hear

    Glad to hear of your improvement. Things can only get better from here. Sending healing thoughts your way.

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    edited July 2016 #10
    You are doing really well!

    You are doing really well! The positive action you took by journaling your progress probably has a lot to do with it. When we can focus on others, it helps take our minds off our own troubles. Your posts are going to be an inspiration for those who fight this battle after you. Thank you for sharing. I am praying for a smooth and quick recovery for you.

  • Kari2007
    Kari2007 Member Posts: 108
    edited July 2016 #11
    RottiesMom said:

    Glad you are improving!

    I am so happy to hear you are improving.  Tuesday will be the beginning of my third week and I also have chemo that day.  Prayers you continue to feel better each day!!

    Good luck, Rottiesmom

    Good luck with your second chemo round. I'm not looking forward to mine, but every round gets us closer to the cure. I'll be thinking of you as we both start week 3!

    Kari

  • RottiesMom
    RottiesMom Member Posts: 167
    #12
    Kari2007 said:

    Good luck, Rottiesmom

    Good luck with your second chemo round. I'm not looking forward to mine, but every round gets us closer to the cure. I'll be thinking of you as we both start week 3!

    Kari

    Thank you

    Thanks, Kari...my thoughts and prayers are with you!!  

    Joanne

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    #13
    Hope today is a little better

    Hope today is a little better for you, Steven. I go early this morning for my zap session, then this afternoon (6 hours later) for another dose. Tomorrow is the FINAL!  Still eating solids, though it's hard to do, but I am determined to end my treatments with solids. My tongue feels like lead on fire.  I think I can...I think I can. 

  • stevenpepe
    stevenpepe Member Posts: 234
    edited July 2016 #14
    SylMarie said:

    Thank you, Steve!

    I am so happy that you are on your way to recovering from treatment. Thank you for sharing your routine and shake recipe, as I plan to use your suggestions. I have been experimenting with all kinds of shakes myself, since the surgery left me with a limited ability to open my mouth and the obturator that I have in my mouth also makes eating anything but pureed foods impossible. I doubt that I will heal enough from my surgery to enjoy any good, solid foods before I have to start RADs, so I am learning as much as I can from you and the good folks on this site. The Mucinex sounds like a great idea too. Do you grind that into powder form? 

    I do liquid Mucinex, along

    I do liquid Mucinex, along with most other meds or supplements. I crush vitamins and put them in my shakes.

  • SylMarie
    SylMarie Member Posts: 91 Member
    #15
    Thank you, Steve!

    I am so happy that you are on your way to recovering from treatment. Thank you for sharing your routine and shake recipe, as I plan to use your suggestions. I have been experimenting with all kinds of shakes myself, since the surgery left me with a limited ability to open my mouth and the obturator that I have in my mouth also makes eating anything but pureed foods impossible. I doubt that I will heal enough from my surgery to enjoy any good, solid foods before I have to start RADs, so I am learning as much as I can from you and the good folks on this site. The Mucinex sounds like a great idea too. Do you grind that into powder form? 

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