I've tried all weekend to eat. Only managed complan. 2 weejs in 7. Will I need a feeding tube
Sounds like it, yes.
From your post I presume you don’t have a stomach tube fitted so likely your team will offer you a nasogastric tube. It’s not pretty but it’s a breeze to get it placed and easy enough to use so don’t be frightened of it
Tell your radiologists your are in trouble your pain meds will have to be reviewed as well
Pain control is paramount and if you take your analgesics by rote it’s much easier to manage
Also there are oral preparations to ease the discomfort What are you taking at present?
I had six weeks RT and by the end of week three I had an NG tube. It saved my life
.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Poor you. It can be really alarming especially as you feel so out of control. The RT staff will get things moving. Same thing happened to me. I stopped eating on Friday and after the Monday session I was up on the ward getting my pain meds titrated properly and my tube put in. On my birthday too
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi like Dani days sounds like it. I had my n g tube put in end if week 3 and it was in for 6 weeks ( changed after 3 weeks )
You need to tell your team exact ehst you’ve tried to eat over the weekend as weight loss will do you no good. Plus with n g tube your medication if when you need it will go via the tube.
There’s nothing wrong going down that route it’s a case if needs must. Mine like Dani’s was a lifesaver .
Hazel if you look on my blog you’ll see a photo of mine being put in it’s not painful just unpleasant for a few seconds.
Hazel c
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 6 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers
Hi carran...all this is normal...I had Ng tube fitted week 3 and kept it in for 5 months...I must admit it's not a great look but it's essential to get the fluids to stabilise your weight and take the meds...it all seems tough at the start but highly doable...you will be fine...32 months post treatment I am back to normal and you will get there too
Good luck
Chas
Thank you. Food diary started. Following strict pain relief instructions. Less disoriented today xx
Wednesday evening update. Got given supplementary pain killer. Stuck to times for all. Used prescribed mouth wash for 2 mins if possible. It's not all doom and gloom if I listen to you and team. Just eat baby size pieces of a strawberry tart. Not just any strawberry tart but and M&S strawberry tart. I'm estatic.
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