Advice needed for pain during recovery

Christine,

I am sorry to read about the discomfort your husband is enduring. Each of us recover in a different way and have our own issues although many are similar in nature. You mentioned Fatigue and Cold, I too had these same issues. My Radiation Oncologist told me that Fatigue issues could last up to one year, mine lasted a little longer than that. 

I had tingling all around my upper chest, neck and sides of my face for some time. Mucus was an issue for several months and I tried to drink a lot of fluids other than milk to try and thin the mucus. Dairy products contribute to the mucus, some here have suggested taking Mucinex, I used the Baking Soda and Salt solution. He may have unfortunately gotten a head cold during his recovery. 

We feel the full effects of the Treatments for a period of time ranging anywhere between 4-8 weeks before we slowly start feeling better. Some days it will feel like we take one step forward and two steps back, but measure the improvement in weeks, not days. Treatments are harsh so the recovery takes time. 

My Best to Both of You and Everyone Here

Actually I did experience this and I think I posted about it when it occurred. I was tender to the touch on most areas where I had a lot of hair (chest and head) and a little on my back. Sort of like a sun burn feeling.

My doctors said this was not overly common but still normal. 

I mainly only noticed it when putting on t-shirts, working out (shirt sliding up and down) and when I shampooed by hair.

I just ignored it and a few weeks later it went away.

Hey. let us know what the doctor says.  Hopefully these are short lived side effects.  Brad hasn't had the skin sensitivity but he does say he is cold all the time.  Also gets tired really easily too. 

It sounds more like the flu to me. I got it this year for the first time in over 30 years.  And yes, I get a flu shot every year.  Body aches and pains are due to a fever most of the time.  Has he had a fever?  Either way, treatment is the same. Lot's of liquids and take some Tylenol Extreme Cold and Flu medication or something like it for a cold or flu.  It always helps me feel better. Dayquil is another good one.

This is the last thing he needs right now.  Hope he starts feeling better soon.

Hi Christine, you mentioned rash and zinc supplements can cause rash. Were the herbs and zinc prescribed together, in consideration of other meds/chemo taken? Also, did you consider a mild case of shingles? As for cold symptoms, could be just a virus.Hope he is feeling better today.

christine2080 said:

Curlyn, I’m glad you

Curlyn, I’m glad you mentioned zinc. That was what I thought might be causing the rash (which is almost gone) since it appeared within days of beginning the zinc. I think he’s doing better even though he’s still not doing as well as he had been.

So glad the rash is subsiding. It's been 10 weeks since my treatment. I am feeling so much stronger, better hydrated, and eating everything. I will say that it only seems to take one bad event, one tiring day to throw you off and seemingly take you back a step. When I went back to the gym (literally dragged there by myself and friends) I felt revitalized from the terrific mental boost.  Others have posted that you have to force yourself out there but it is so worth it. Hopefully, hubby will get into the swing of things with nicer weather in next few months. *PS. I keep meaning to say this, since I haven't seen it mentioned, but dizziness was a big thing for me. It always reminded me to stay well hydrated, and if I wasn't, it was a miserable feeling.

I finished my thirty-five head and neck radiation treatments seven weeks ago. I thought I had escaped the foretold side effects which the staff told me begin two to three weeks after the treatment finished.  Was I wrong!!!  It started at five and one half weeks.  The fatique is unreal!  I am normally a very high energy person, and now, all of I want to do is sleep.  I thought I was crazy when my skin on both my arms, my upper back, and my scalp began to tingle and feel like a sunburn.  No rash or irritation just super-sensitive to clothing, water, touch.  Glad to find out I'm not crazy 

Hi Christine,  I'm 9 months out from radiation (no chemo) and I have been cold and fatigued a little bit since.  I dropped about 20 lbs and my wife says I'm cold because I'm so skinny...which isn't true (185lbs, 6ft tall)...but I think there certainly is some truth to it.  I am just chilled all the time...  Only recently have I been a little fatigued...but I think I might be fighting off a cold or something.  Cetuximab has a known rash side effect but that's during treatment.  I don't know whether or not there is any incidence of a late effect rash with it.  You'd have to ask your oncologist.

The most frustrating thing about recovery so far for me is that it constantly evolves.  While you would think that there would just be this constant yet gradual return to greatness, that's just not true.  My body seems to go through good days and bad days...and things like colds just hit you differently now.  So you are left wondering....wait, I could have a cold..but it feels different.  I have swelling here and that's never happened before...  So you end up down at your cancer center with your radiation oncologist smiling at you saying "Brandon, you're fine...but let's scope you anyway so you feel better."  True story, happened yesterday (I happen to work at the hospital where I was treated so I can just walk down there...they love that).

Fatigue is a well documented side effect that can come whenever it wants to...they don't know too much about why but think it's linked to inflammation...which makes a lot of sense since our bodies are totally inflamed and healing...

At any rate, it sounds like you're taking good care of him...sometimes that's the best medicine.  :-)

that I'd be wearing T shirts in winter as I was always warm, now? I am freezing all the time, many many many layers of clothers, fleece lined leggings under my jeans.. thermal shirts under the layers - and Im STILL cold.

Of course that may be an effect of losing my thyroid (RIP) another radiation victim, but.. oh well!