Nasopharyngeal cancer

Hi Lioness glad you are home even though it’s not a pleasant experience so far. I too suffered from over exaggerated smells especially when  hubby was cooking. I too had lots of burning smells for a good few weeks. I took the decision that nursery food plain and bland was a good start to begin with. If a baby or riddler wouldn’t eat it then neither would I. Well done on evening fancying a chip took me months. Keep on the ensures I was on 6 a day which gave me 1800 calories. Then anything I could eat was a top up. Textures again soft snd bland for now worked for me. Not ideal but look at it this way next years Christmas  dinner will taste so much better. I was 4 month post ehrn  it was Christmas snd I was able to manage a small plate if dinner.

Now I can eat most things apart from spicy I now use aromatic spices instead .As for smell I’m still sensitive but no where as bad as those first weeks months. 
Hazel 

Hi Lionness. So glad you are on the path to recovery and totally understand the isolation when in hospital with no visitors allowed, I endured 9 days before self-discharging after my operation but glad I did as recovery is better at home for me. I know you have endured a lot through this process but like others have said if you plan for the long term it helps to distract from immediate issues and may aid recovery. I am sure in a few more days you will be enjoying chips and other favourite foods; keep safe and well. God Bless.

Thanks guys already feeling the benefits of being home and my visitors, they keep me going. Was feeling so much better once they had sorted my antisickness.  Still only managing 4 ensures a day though they want me to do 6. This week I managed a couple of good walks, 2 hours, don't know if I have overdone it though as the past 3 days I have been slowly feeling worse, sickness and fatigue. I just want to be 'normal ' again, although I know I will never return to being the same person before the cancer I find this really difficult to accept. Because of the position of my cancer it was inoperable so hopefully Ashley you will not have to have the intensity of the chemotherapy/radiotherapy as me and you will get through without the side effects I had. Can anybody help with what is a sensible physical healthy regime and what to start trying to eat? Are the moment I want nothing and couldn't care less if I never ate again. I think with both the physical and the eating  I have thrown myself in the deep end  and am now feeling the effects and adverse to trying either again, not good! Thanks for your reply it means so much to talk to people who have actually been through ithttps://cancercounsellinglondon.org.uk/about/after-the-treatment-finishes-then-what/

Found this Web link which has helped me try and process what I have been through and how to cope. May help Ashley. Regards 

It is very pleasing you are on the path to recovery, but remember it as a marathon and not a sprint, so take it nice and slow.

I had my mask made today and treatment commences mid to late Jan for me now which I dont mind as it gives time for my gums to better heal as I had all my molars removed. I went through the website and found it useful, although I have not had counselling I do feel I will opt for some post treatment as all thoughts do enter the mind especially one of re-occurrence plus it will give closure as I find "being normal" on can be difficult for me after all we are going through. I hope you have a good xmas with many more to follow. God Bless

Hi yes the Peter Harvey article is a good one it puts everything into context. 
I too had 6 ensured which gave me 1800 calories then made the other up eith soft foods to start with. Poached eggs are good smash an avocado on well buttered toast white bread to start with. As for appetite honestly forget it. Get into head this mantra food is fuel and eat to live not live to eat for s good 6 month it worked for me. 

As for last few days your bodies not ready for a 2  hour work. What your feeling is radiation fatigue it’s debilitating and hits you like a wave. Exercise by all means but slowly short walks gradually building up. I started in my bike 8 km rides and over 3 years have built up to 100 km but slowly slowly is the wat tj go. All you’ve done is used your energy reserves up. 
My blog below with other links might help you. 
Hazel x

Hi Ashley, Hazel, it's been a while. Hope your treatment is going well Ashley. I don't feel like I have moved on much, still not eating, everything just tastes of pure salt it is totally overwhelmin I manage 4 ensures through the peg and now incorporate a fibre one due to more problems with bowels and sickness. I try to do small walks every other day and now have an indoor bike plan that is 5 mins every other day. The secretions in my nose and throat seem to get much worse the more I do and this has a knock on effect on my sleeping often waking up in a panic unable to breath. I get my results s from the treatment the first week in March and although I have contained it thus far, I can feel the anxiety building and have quite a few weepy days when on my own. Does that feeling ever go awayAnything I can do to counterbalance the salty taste? so want to start eating again, will eating help with the secretions,? Stay safe Kerry  

Hi Kerry

Can you chew gum? I found that helped loosen the saliva and made it easier to swallow, though I do understand that my cancer was in a different place so maybe we are talking of worse secretions.

Have you got a glass of water and a humidifier by your bedside? I got to be able to sip water practically in my sleep.

Sleeping propped up might help too, though it's difficult to get used to.

The salty taste may well be with you for a while but you could try to add non heat spices and herbs to thin soup to make it at least smell more interesting, which reflects on your taste as well.

Scanxiety is horrid to live with but really it does get easier.

Hi. I really thought you would have been improving by now. Have you tried steam inhalation?, I started my chemoradiotheraphy last week but have decided in consultation with doctor to forego chemo this week as had an adverse reaction and was unable to eat anything, everything was nauseating even a TV advert showing food, they are happy for me to take a break from chemo but to complete the radiotherapy.

I have been given the anti sickenss meds but I became bloated, acid reflux and sleep semi-upright which is not confortable at all. I am finding that if I keep active it is helping me more as the fatigue is not so much since chemo is out of my system by now, I do drink a glass of water during the night as mouth becomes very dry.

I have continued to use the sinus rinse 3 times a day or more if needed, if you have not tried it, I would definetely recommend it the neil med sinus bottle, the cheapest we found it was in lloyds pharmacy. Hang in there it will become easier.

Hi Kerry. The scan anxiety will recede with time. I was lucky I didn’t suffer any anxiety at all , but know many who do. Some use yoga breathing exercises ti help them get through the phases. 
The salty taste will recede again with time you can try aromatic herbs cumin coriander ti flavour things. I can’t do spicy so use the aromatics along with coconut milk now. Have yiu tried sweet potato that’s a good substitute for potato’s totally  different texture  much smoother. I make a lot of my own soups that way the seasoning us in my control as well. Sometimes the mantra food is fuel is what I used bit was a case of calories calories, Try slowly introducing food and if somethings not right just forget about it for a  month and try again .As for the mucus water is the key I know it’s hard but aim for 2-3 litres a day m I also had humidifier in bedroom and even now always have a glass of water when I go to bed  

Best wishes Hazelx