Five days post rads

Fatigue is draining, but that's not a big deal.

Sores in mouth actually worsened the last few days, and there is some tongue and gum bleeding when I rinse with soda rinse. Normal? 

Still eating solids, but takes forever to get through a saucer or bread plate size portion. Thankful I can still do it. 

Ear pain comes and goes. This started into the end of second week and seems to wax and wane.  They had no answers when I complained except to tell me to use Sudafed.

No vomiting, but I do sleep elevated though I still  have choking problems.  Hubby said I was making sounds in throat that kept him up. It sounded like when I had the trach. He said I was making gurgling/choking sounds. 

Saliva has gotten thicker but seems to thin out a bit during the day since I drink a lot of water/coconut water, and some decaf tea (cooled). Taste buds have gone south a long time, and the salty taste in mouth continues. Only affects me when I try to eat or drink something sweet. Then it's a turnoff.  Everything must be soft or wet to help with swallowing. 

I don't have an appetite but do notice if I go too long without eating, that's when the nausea creeps in. Have found that taking in some protein every couple of hours actually reduced the nausea, and so it's turned into an incentive to force myself to eat. Never took any nausea Meds.  Came close, though. 

I used the Fentanyl patch once, and after 72 hours, decided pain was easier to deal with than side effects.  Never took anymore meds. They cause me more symptoms than it's worth.  I meditate, use distractions, and have found the Mepilex dresing for burns to be amazing!  Most of my burn pains were cut by 75% due to the protection of the dressing. I'm not sure why this is, but after a shower and I clean the burn areas and the pain is intense.  After about an hour of having the dressing on, most of the pain is bearable.  I would say it goes from an 8 to 2-3. No Meds needed for that.  

Anyway, everyone is different, treatment different, ability to tolerate pain different, and some don't have the dreadful side effects I do to most Meds, so if you can get through this treatment with an arsenal of drugs, more power to you. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel. My heart aches for those going through treatment now, because I know the fears and frustrations, but I promise you can do this. One day at a time my lovelies.  Hope this helps.