recuperation for throat/mouth radiation - Caregivers Message Board

PARISI · 03-18-2003, 04:38 PM

Can anyone tell me if there is anything I can do to help my husband recuperate from his radiation. Any hints as to what I can feed him / he has a stomach tube but is beginning to eat soft food, some baby food, ice cream. Anything special I can give him to start to build him up?

SnowyLynne63 · 03-18-2003, 11:24 PM

Ensure,boost,milkshakes with eggs.

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Lynne

catsblueeyes1 · 03-23-2003, 07:13 AM

HI,
MY HUSBAND HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED CHEMO-RADIAITON FOR CANCER OF THE TONGUE. HE CAN ONLY EAT OVER-EASY OR SOFT BOILED EGGS, VANILLA ENSURE, AND SOMETIMES A PANCAKE. I ALSO MAKE HIM VANILLA MILKSHAKES WITH AN ENSURE IN IT. IF HE CAN'T SWALLOW RIGHT NOW TRY TO GET HIM TO DRINK AT LEAST 4-5 ENSURES A DAY. MOST FOODS BURN HIS THROAT AS I AM SURE IS THE SAME IN YOUR HUSBANDS CASE. ALSO USE THE MOUTH RINSES AND GIVE HIM HIS PAIN MEDS 25-30 MINUTES BEFORE HE TRIES TO EAT. ALSO MAKE SURE THE FOOD IS ROOM TEMP. I HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL. KEEP ME POSTED ON HE IS DOING.
DEBBIE

PARISI · 03-29-2003, 05:53 AM

Thanks Debbie, it's been 4 weeks since my husband stopped treatment and he is getting 3-4 cans of ensure type liquid, some thru his stomach tube and some by mouth but his mouth is still very raw. Do you know how long before the swelling of the tongue and rawness starts to go away? He is starting to eat some baby food but most everything burns his tongue. He really is a trooper but it sure hurts to watch him try to eat. He wants the tube out very badly. My best to you and your husband...hope by summer we're all in a better place.

catsblueeyes1 · 03-29-2003, 03:41 PM

HI,
YOUR HUSBAND IS FARTHER ALONG THEN RICK, HE JUST COMPLETED HIS TREATMENT LAST WEEK AND I TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR HUSBAND IS GOING THROUGH. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED RICK. PLAIN WARM WATER AND A LITTLE SALT HAS GIVEN HIM A LITTLE
RELIEF. HE ALWAYS TAKES HIS PAIN MEDICINE 20 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO EAT. THE ONLY THING THAT RICK CAN TOLERATE IS EGGS OVER EASY THEY SEEM TO SLIDE RIGHT DOWN. ALSO CAMPBELLS CHICKEN AND STARS SOUP AT ROOM TEMP. RICK ALSO MIXES HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND WARM WATER THEN SWISHES (MORE WATER THEN PEROXIDE) ALL OF THESE REMEDIES ARE VERY TEMPORARY BUT ALLOWS HIM TO GET A LITTLE FOOD DOWN. HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO EAT BABY FOOD BECAUSE IT TO ACIDIC, TRY THE EGGS AND LET ME KNOW HOW IT WORKS. I TOLD RICK THAT THIS TREATMENT FOR TONGUE AND THROAT CANCER SHOULD BE USED AS A WEAPON IN WAR. IT'S ROUGH AND AGGRESSIVE BUT I KEEP TELLING MYSELF AND RICK THAT IT'S OVER AND IN A FEW MONTHS HE WILL BE FEELING LIKE HIMSELF AGAIN. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED. OH, HOW IS HIS SKIN FROM THE RADIATION? I HAVE A GREAT SOLUTION FOR YOU THAT HELPED RICK'S SKIN. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.