totally miserable at 8 weeks out

chantil
chantil Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Has anyone used heat on their throat to relieve some swelling? We saw the excercises that Marine recommended and perform these each day. There is sometimes a clicking noise when he swallows and the ENT said the scope looked good nd it was a little internal swelling and again told "that's normal" The next ENT visit is 3 weeks out. He feels totally miserable at 8 weeks out. He went for the first rehab therapy visit but was too week to do the test.

Comments

  • Ed_PortOrange
    Ed_PortOrange Member Posts: 110
    #2
    It all just takes time
    I'm now 6+ months post treatment and experienced much of what you mention. I did not use heat externally for the swelling. I did gargle several times each day with the heated baking soda and salt combo, still do each morning to clear my throat. 4 months out my throat still had swelling, this is when they diagnosed the esphogial stricture which I had dilated twice in June. Happy to say that my sweeling is gone, although I struggle with solid foods. Funny that Boost is actually starting to taste good now. I finally started to get my stamina back at about 4 months and didn't start any PT until the 5th month. Pior to that I was too wiped to do more than take short walks and trips to the stores.

    Hang tough, continue to be positive. Remember, No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

    God heals everything.

    Best wishes,
    Ed
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #3
    Edema
    Four months out and this is really giving me discomfort. I use massage several times a day. The neck stretching exercises seem to reduce it some as well. I take a morning shower and let the very warm water flow over it for a while. That helps too.

    They tell us this will subside in time. For me, some days are better than others.

    Deb
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
    Ed_PortOrange said:

    It all just takes time
    I'm now 6+ months post treatment and experienced much of what you mention. I did not use heat externally for the swelling. I did gargle several times each day with the heated baking soda and salt combo, still do each morning to clear my throat. 4 months out my throat still had swelling, this is when they diagnosed the esphogial stricture which I had dilated twice in June. Happy to say that my sweeling is gone, although I struggle with solid foods. Funny that Boost is actually starting to taste good now. I finally started to get my stamina back at about 4 months and didn't start any PT until the 5th month. Pior to that I was too wiped to do more than take short walks and trips to the stores.

    Hang tough, continue to be positive. Remember, No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

    God heals everything.

    Best wishes,
    Ed

    Heat
    No, I didn't use any heat. Could not tolerate it externally or internally. My tongue still can't have anything hot and I am like 18 months out. At 8 weeks out I was a mess. I still couldn't get out of bed but for bathroom, mouth care and showers.

    Hang in there. I couldn't eat or drink for five months and when I could finally drink it was cold that soothed my throat. On the outside I still can't stand anything against my neck dissection scar, I tried a heating pad once and it hurt more than helped.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    D Lewis said:

    Edema
    Four months out and this is really giving me discomfort. I use massage several times a day. The neck stretching exercises seem to reduce it some as well. I take a morning shower and let the very warm water flow over it for a while. That helps too.

    They tell us this will subside in time. For me, some days are better than others.

    Deb

    Warm Showers
    I also took a lot of warm showers, it was the best thing ever for helping relieve some pain. I especially liked them while my throat was peeling, dry and itchy during the radiation phase of treatment.

    Best,
    John
  • j3rey
    j3rey Member Posts: 57
    #6
    warm showers
    Like Skiffin, my hubby, who is about two months out, still takes warm showers every morning and night to help clear the mucous. Sometimes, he gets up during the night and takes a warm shower to clear everything out and loosen the tightness in his neck. He says it helps him a lot.
    Jen

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