Update and questions for the experts

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Toni08
Toni08 Member Posts: 39
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Good Morning! Many hello's, well wishes, and blessings to you all.

Update: Dad is now 3 months out (June 24th) from radiation and had his last chemo session in August. We were so blessed to celebrate his 65th birthday this past month and he seemed to be doing pretty well.

He had a CT scan, blood work, and swallow test this week. CT scan came back as well as can be expected. Dad was really looking for someone to tell him his cancer is gone, unfortunately, thats now how it works and he is coping with the idea that he might never hear those words. For the time being, I think he is NED?!

He passed his swallow test with flying colors. The food goes down fine but he was told that they can see it coming back up, food and/or stomach acid, I'm not sure. He's desperately trying to get rid of the peg, but is down a few lbs since trying to rely only on food. He will have to deal with it for awhile longer.

So the questions: The past he was feeling terrible, no appetite, nauseated, the sensation that he had to burp but couldn't, dry mouth, and mucus. He wants to know from you all, if the cancer was in his throat, why is he having problems with his stomach still? Why did he feel fine for two weeks, but now feels as though he is going backwards? Is this normal and what are your recommendations for stomach problems? Also, what are your food recommendations for gaining weight and getting rid of the peg? His doctors set up an appt. with a gastro doctor to assess his ongoing stomach problems, but, that is a month from now. He is still taking nausea medicine, just can't understand why he still has to.

Thank you in advance for your help and suggestions.
May you be blessed,
Toni

Comments

  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #2
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    Part of your question
    I am 15 years past treatments but I too have the reflux problem, very serious. Todate they have had me take one Nexium twice a day. The acid reflux can and will cause damage that you don't want. I just recently (one year) had a peg inserted and the simple fact is you must add more calories than you burn to gain weight. To quickly add weight I was taking in almost 4000 calories of Ensure a day (10-12 bottles) and I did gain weight. With the stomach problems it is important to sit upright for a couple of hours after "pegging" to keep the reflux down. My gastro Doc. wanted to do a surgery that would have moved a part of my stomach further up the esophogas but my GP and another Doc recommened against it for other reasons, I keep getting pneumonia, so I'll live with the reflux.

    I'm just five years behind your dad so tell him to be patient and to enjoy each day.
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #3
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    Greend said:

    Part of your question
    I am 15 years past treatments but I too have the reflux problem, very serious. Todate they have had me take one Nexium twice a day. The acid reflux can and will cause damage that you don't want. I just recently (one year) had a peg inserted and the simple fact is you must add more calories than you burn to gain weight. To quickly add weight I was taking in almost 4000 calories of Ensure a day (10-12 bottles) and I did gain weight. With the stomach problems it is important to sit upright for a couple of hours after "pegging" to keep the reflux down. My gastro Doc. wanted to do a surgery that would have moved a part of my stomach further up the esophogas but my GP and another Doc recommened against it for other reasons, I keep getting pneumonia, so I'll live with the reflux.

    I'm just five years behind your dad so tell him to be patient and to enjoy each day.

    HI Toni
    I too have some acid reflux problems but not too bad. I think this is a Dr question.
    To gain weight, try to purchase some Scandia shakes 600 cal, or Carnation instant breakfast 570 cals. You can order both on line. Make sure the Carnation is the 570 calorie can, they also have a 350 cals.
    Get your dad to drink these products. The scandia tastes great, my fav is the vanilla. Also, buy some Starbuck Frappaccino drinks at the grocery stores. Tastes great and is about 200 calories. i mix the coffee with the Carnation drink and get 770 calories at one time for about a 16 oz drink...
    hope this info helps.
    All the best

    Steve
  • Toni08
    Toni08 Member Posts: 39
    #4
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    hawk711 said:

    HI Toni
    I too have some acid reflux problems but not too bad. I think this is a Dr question.
    To gain weight, try to purchase some Scandia shakes 600 cal, or Carnation instant breakfast 570 cals. You can order both on line. Make sure the Carnation is the 570 calorie can, they also have a 350 cals.
    Get your dad to drink these products. The scandia tastes great, my fav is the vanilla. Also, buy some Starbuck Frappaccino drinks at the grocery stores. Tastes great and is about 200 calories. i mix the coffee with the Carnation drink and get 770 calories at one time for about a 16 oz drink...
    hope this info helps.
    All the best

    Steve

    thank you both!
    Do you think the stomach issues are some how treatment related? He never had problems before. Steve, Where could I find the Scandia shakes? I googled it and couldn't find a place to purchase.
  • Toni08
    Toni08 Member Posts: 39
    #5
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    Toni08 said:

    thank you both!
    Do you think the stomach issues are some how treatment related? He never had problems before. Steve, Where could I find the Scandia shakes? I googled it and couldn't find a place to purchase.

    never mind
    Found it! I had the spelling wrong. Its Scandishake
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
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    Hi Toni
    I too had the reflux problem, what you need to remember is his cancer was in his throat but his treatment affected his hold body. On feeling bad that again is something normal to me, we call it good days and bad days. I can feel like climbing a mounting in the morning and that night feel so bad I think I need to go to the ER. Others day just weak as can be and don’t feel like doing anything, those days I don’t even feel like posting here on CSN, I just feel too bad.

    I hope your Dad get help for the re-flux problem, like Denny said it can give you some real problems later.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo
  • ladybug1123
    ladybug1123 Member Posts: 3
    #7
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    I was told that the
    I was told that the radiation and chemo keep working long after the last treatment. It may seem like he's regressed but the treatments are still changing his body.
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #8
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    Post treatment
    Buzz also had acid reflux and now takes prilosec twice a day. Don't be afraid to use the PEG. As Buzz weaned off the PEG last spring, I kept track of calories, protein, and fluid intake and decreased the cans of tube feeding accordingly. That way he always received adequate calories. As a result, he lost very little weight.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
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    ladybug1123 said:

    I was told that the
    I was told that the radiation and chemo keep working long after the last treatment. It may seem like he's regressed but the treatments are still changing his body.

    Hi ladybug
    Welcome to the faimly here on CSN, glad to have you with us.

    Hondo

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