One down means you have one less to go !!   Great !!

Glad you are off to a good start! The unknown is the scariest. I hope you are a bit more relaxed now.

You know, about ten days in, you'll know the "song" of the machine as it's treating you, and you can hum and groan along with it. I tried to pick a song I could sing, to myself of course, I wouldn't want to expose anybody to my singing. But that way, I knew exactly where it was in my treatment by where I was in the song. It's just a way to distract yourself a litttle and help to keep things calm.

We didn't have music in my treatment room.

I totally agree with Darkdancer333, when they unclamp and lift that mask....., it's a pretty good feeling. 

Hang in there Sue.  You're off to a good start. 

I am so glad you are past the Peg Tube and have the ball rolling on treatments. Theres no shame in taking the Ativan. Its temporary.

For me, the best product for Dry Mouth..and also helps prevent your teeth from rotting while you sleep from lack of saliva (a whole nother big topic!) is Xylimelts. Look up the benefits of Xylitol and research the benefits. It helps keep a neutral pH level in the mouth. Xylitol also helps prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth. When there is not saliva, you have very little protection against bacteria. For me, they were an absolute lifesaver once the REAL dry mouth set in. Which was towards the middle/end of my treatment. You put one or two tablets between your cheek and your gums of your upper jaw before naps or bedtime, and it forces your mouth to produce saliva while you sleep. Without it, I would wake up with horrible "Sahara Desert" feeling mouth. With it, my mouth would and does now stay damp all night long. In the beginning, I would use two tablets...one on each side.  Now, a year out I just use one every night. My Oncologist told me that 80% of those treated with radiation from oral cancer would have lifetime dental issues. Which also brings me now to asking you if you have been fitted for dental trays to use gel flouride on your teeth EVERY day during treatment and nearly every day for the rest of your life. If not, you need to get on this ASAP.

I also recommended that you get a travel pillow for comfortably sleeping elevated. If you get mucositis (most of us do) and/or also Peg Tube feeding in bed you will find this a very useful tool in your arsenal. I found an awesome one on Amazon. This one supports your chin also, which is a big help if you are a mouth breather while you sleep.  And this pillow was another life saver as far as some comfort throughout the worst weeks of this process. You can find it by searching BCOZZY Chin Supporting Travel Pillow. I didn't want to burden you with all of this info before.....thinking and praying for you.

Your friend,

Nancy

And hope you got over the shock of having the tube and the pain. I never did get used to it, seems like it was always in the way but is there if you need it. Everything will get better as you go along at least mentally.