Tomorrow will be four days till my first treatment and I’m OVERWHELMED

Charlene,

You are entertaining. With all your good vibes, the side effects may sidestep you. It doesn’t hurt to hope for good. Be prepared, the rads normally take days to bother you, but the chemo may pop you with nausea right off the bat.

You will need to breathe, you will most likely get a lot of sleep (most of us do) and you can focus as treatments allow.

I don’t know what a cranky Charlene is like, a good way to avoid being cranky is stay hydrated and nourished.  This is simply the truth.

Bless you too, you will do fine, but be ready.

Matt

Charmit said:

THANK YOU ALL!!! Anxiety is

THANK YOU ALL!!! Anxiety is just getting the best of me but I know I’ll be good once day one is done. As for the affects of what may or may not come I bought the cool mist humidifie, order the xylimelts, biotene dry mouth spray, stocked up on enusue and bought a water pik for my teeth, to which I used for the first time tonight and needless too say soaked my bathroom lol 

God Bless and thanks for the replies,

Charlene

been thinking about you all week. I remember when I was on the count down to start treatment and I thought I was going to lose it! I so know what you are going thru. To say calm down is almost laughable to hear. That being said, You WILL be ok. I promise. If I may make a sugesstion, take pics of your first Chemo, and your first radiation as they are getting you ready. I made a scrapbook and honestly I'm so glad I have those photos now. I've been able to show them to a few people that were going to start treatment and once they saw my pics they were not scared anymore. 

Do you know what type of chemo you are getting? 

As for radiation, it takes a while before you get any reactions from that. I did have this weird stiff neck after my first treatment and a bit of swelling and it baffled the whole staff there when I went for treatment the second day.  I must have slept funny or something. Leave it to me! But any real side affects, those take time and they are gradual. 

Wish you lived by me, I'd go visit during your chemo and try and make you laugh with some of my dumb jokes.

You've got this, I promise!!!

Billie

Charmit said:

What a great idea about the

What a great idea about the pictures also I was thinking of starting a journal because writing helps me. The chemo is Cisplatin, 7 four hour treatment every Monday then Wednesday and Friday 2 hour treatments but I’m thinking that’s not chemo maybe hydratio. Have to ask Monday, I sure she told me but I forget so much lately. Today I’m calm had a nice visit from a family from my daycare they brought me lunch and a beautiful bracelet saying YOU GOT THIS.....nice to see my babies I miss them so. Never once today did I think two more days, which is good or my accepting. So much support that I know I do have this and will face what comes when it comes because worrying is taking away from my good days!!

You have helped more then you know and I thank you, I will be around for a while asking questions and managing issuses as they arrive. God Bless you!!

Charlene

Charlene,

To dove-tail with the picture ideas from the fabulous, the one and only Billie67, I asked if my wife could come into the control (observation) room and watch my rad treatment (mask time) from start to finish. The idea was accepted by all and my precious caregiver was able to witness the whole 9 yards, from my prep-time, to music, the dreaded mask bolt-down, the zap and the finish.  It is not for everybody, but we ALL liked it!

For your information, I use Xylimelts every night at bedtime, BUT I DID NOT use them during treatments.  I don’t think I could have handled them, I really don’t.  I was limited to my salt water and soda mixture for gargling and rinsing, the Lidocaine HCL OS 2% (apply to infected areas) and my favorite, magic mouth wash, Oregon’s best. I pounded 6 bottles down and sipped, swished and swallowed every drop.  It is definitely NOT for many H&N members and many can’t wait to say it did not work for them. That's -weird and un-american (Matt logic)

Well, I do wish each person going through H&N treatments to have many successes, you have to cure the cancer, reduce pain, eat something, anything, swallow, many times a day, rest, mask time, neck burn, nausea, rude people, life, family, work…..the list goes on and on.

Maybe the water pik will be able to put out the fire in your mouth, throat and tongue.

Matt

Charmit said:

I long for that time. Glad

I long for that time. Glad your well and thank you for all the help in this journey for me!!

Charlene,

How are you doing on this Sunday morning with this great country teaming with prospective cancer treatment patient just chomping at the bit (or not) for their FIRST cancer treatment tomorrow, Monday, May 1^st (my Mom’s birthday).

Be ready from here on out, have your meds, take them when needed, don’t try to tough it out and live with pain or discomfort.  There may be serious issues ahead and you will want to be prepared to take-it-on and win.

Drink lots of water and swallow often, get plenty of nutrition, eat like a normal person, drink smoothies, drink protein drinks, do whatever it takes.  Pay no attention to those H&N members who have no issues and only want to talk about how they live above the rest of us.  While we love them and their superior side effects handling ability is what we always strive for (and I want for you).  It is not in the cards for many of us and reality for me was a Lorazepam tablet, a shot glass of magic mouth wash and a slathering of  Silver Sulfadiazine Cream.

Good luck and ZAP them dead!!

Matt

Charmit,

2 Ativan means no flying the plane for you.

Happy landing.

Matt

Charmit said:

Don

Don

I read your blog and it helped a great deal what an inspiration you are. Can I ask if you had treatment to one or both sides?? I’m sure you mentioned in your blog....I pray I’m as strong as you were in your journey. 

Both sides!  Look, like I said it is tough but if I can do it you can do it.  Anything that I can help with please let me know - <Content removed by CSN Support Team>.

Been thinking about you all day! Please let us know how you are doing!