11 rads in and it is getting tough already
I have read that it even gets harder...how will I make it through....I feel like such a wimp
Comments
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YOU ARE NOT A WHIMP!RushFan said:As the pain worsens...
Liquid Hydrocodone and Fentanyl Patches...they saved me. Ask your doctor about these. The patch is transdermal and lasts for a few days.
Hang in there.
Best,
Chuck.
They are burning you. They are cooking your throat! You are not a whimp, sweetheart. After my tenth radiation treatment was when it really started to hurt. I started on 4/6 and then I ate my last meal on 4/19. Try to stay ahead of the pain with the magic mouthwash, and talk to them about the patch. It needs to be changed every three days, and does provide relief for many people. I also had liquid Roxicet.
I Forget if you have a peg tube or not, hope so if you are having trouble with eating already. Remember hydration ans nutrition are key. Maybe try just drinking smoothies or other nutrition drinks if the food is too much.
Hang in there. You can vent here, we understand! Please don't put yourself down, it's not easy, but you can make it!
Sending you hugs and strength ~
Sweet0 -
Ensure Plus and Sliced Peaches - Seven Weeks
Those were my main calorie inake for 3 - 4 weeks into rads and a few weeks after, along with water.
But like mentioned, that was after the thick lydocaine numbing solutions....
I would numb using the thick magic solution (or Liquid Hydrocodon or Oxicotin)..
Glass of Water
One or two Ensure Plus
A few DelMonte Jarred sliced Peaches in light syrup
Glass of Water
Small glass of water with a dissolved Percocet....
I did this routine several times a day...
I had the liquid morphine (Roxanol), but couldn't tolerate it...did nothing for the pain, and made me nauseaous.
It's a rough diet, but doable....
Best,
John0 -
Climbing a Mountain
My computer tells me I've used this phrase before. . .
When you are climbing a mountain, it is best to turn and look back and see how far you've come. It doesn't really help to look up and see how far you have left (until you are almost at the top).
Doug was saying similar things as you at one point: "This is impossible now - how am I going to live through the next (insert a number) weeks?" We agreed to do a Scarlet O'Hara and worry about that in the morning - we took one day at a time and sometimes even just a few hours at at time. We would, however, do the "well, we're done with (insert a number) treatments."
Doug actually found the last few weeks to be a bit easier - every one is different.0 -
Phrases....DrMary said:Climbing a Mountain
My computer tells me I've used this phrase before. . .
When you are climbing a mountain, it is best to turn and look back and see how far you've come. It doesn't really help to look up and see how far you have left (until you are almost at the top).
Doug was saying similar things as you at one point: "This is impossible now - how am I going to live through the next (insert a number) weeks?" We agreed to do a Scarlet O'Hara and worry about that in the morning - we took one day at a time and sometimes even just a few hours at at time. We would, however, do the "well, we're done with (insert a number) treatments."
Doug actually found the last few weeks to be a bit easier - every one is different.
Here's one....
Winston Churchill Quotes - If you're going through hell, keep going....
JG0 -
One day at a timeSkiffin16 said:Phrases....
Here's one....
Winston Churchill Quotes - If you're going through hell, keep going....
JG
Hang in there "Wimp" :>)
Lots of good advice from those who know. We are all rooting for you.
You will look back on these days and wonder how you made it through, but you will make it through.0 -
getting tough
I had a feeding tube put in at the point where you are cos I lost so much weight. That in itself is tough (mine just came out today after 8 months). All the advice you have been given is good.
Remember to take it one day at a time. don't worry about tomorrow, just get thru today. Remember too that the radiation is a **** but it IS saving your life. It saved mine.
don't think yourself a wimp; this is like being taken to hell and back. But it will get better!!!
good luck on your journey in slaying the beast.
Nancy0 -
What helped me...
...was the Mary's magic before I tried to eat anything and taking a good dose of Roxicet in the evenings. I believe that if it hurts enough that you can take the Roxicet before a meal as well.
I didn't get a feeding tube but you may want to consider it if you find yourself not able to swallow much.
Also, I never knew how soothing gargling with a salt water/baking soda mixture could be. I bet I've been through 2 of the big things of the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda! Should have bought stock in the company before I started treatments.
I'd put good money on the fact that you'll get in a groove and get through this. We'll pray for you!0 -
CopingKDDavis said:What helped me...
...was the Mary's magic before I tried to eat anything and taking a good dose of Roxicet in the evenings. I believe that if it hurts enough that you can take the Roxicet before a meal as well.
I didn't get a feeding tube but you may want to consider it if you find yourself not able to swallow much.
Also, I never knew how soothing gargling with a salt water/baking soda mixture could be. I bet I've been through 2 of the big things of the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda! Should have bought stock in the company before I started treatments.
I'd put good money on the fact that you'll get in a groove and get through this. We'll pray for you!
If you don't have a PEG, then Ensure, Boost, or any of the other high-calorie drinks are a must, along with good old water and/or ice chips. ("What John said")
My rough times started at the end of week #1, after 5 rads and a mega-dose of Cisplatin (my profile has the details). Magic Mouthwash helped, but chopped-up hydrocodone and the liquid morph got me thru it. Never had the patches, so cannot comment on them. As for the morph, it kinda takes one away from the place/you that is feeling the pain, and is only a temporary thing. Skiffin is not the only one who says it doesn't do much for pain, but others say it does. For the first 3 days of my 4-night hospital stay I was getting the morph shot into my Port every 1-2 hours, and it did help a heckuva lot for me. Whatever works for you.
YOU MUST REALIZE that it is very much part of your Dr's job/responsibility to get you thru this with as little pain/discomfort as possible. So- keep your Drs in the loop as to the way things are with you, and if they balk at really helping you- that's the time to let them know it is their job to give you what you need to manage the pain at an acceptable level, and you are with us and know what's what as to other's experience in this matter. I was on the morph in weeks 2,3, 5 and 6, along with the forementioned hydrocodone.
kcass0 -
Doctors...Kent Cass said:Coping
If you don't have a PEG, then Ensure, Boost, or any of the other high-calorie drinks are a must, along with good old water and/or ice chips. ("What John said")
My rough times started at the end of week #1, after 5 rads and a mega-dose of Cisplatin (my profile has the details). Magic Mouthwash helped, but chopped-up hydrocodone and the liquid morph got me thru it. Never had the patches, so cannot comment on them. As for the morph, it kinda takes one away from the place/you that is feeling the pain, and is only a temporary thing. Skiffin is not the only one who says it doesn't do much for pain, but others say it does. For the first 3 days of my 4-night hospital stay I was getting the morph shot into my Port every 1-2 hours, and it did help a heckuva lot for me. Whatever works for you.
YOU MUST REALIZE that it is very much part of your Dr's job/responsibility to get you thru this with as little pain/discomfort as possible. So- keep your Drs in the loop as to the way things are with you, and if they balk at really helping you- that's the time to let them know it is their job to give you what you need to manage the pain at an acceptable level, and you are with us and know what's what as to other's experience in this matter. I was on the morph in weeks 2,3, 5 and 6, along with the forementioned hydrocodone.
kcass
Like Kent said...my chemo MD always told me that what ever I'm going through or having a problem with, let me know, "I have something for it"...and she always did.
JG0 -
Hang in There
You are strong just for going through this treatment. It is a brutal process. If swallowing is getting so difficult so early in your treatment calendar, is a PEG placememt a possibility? The reason being, it is very important to maintain your weight, as the radiation significantly increases your metabolism. Darren0
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