Eating and drinking after radiotherapy on the neck.

Hey my husband has just finished week 5 of radio and is feeling the same. He has found it easier to eat if he has a cup of milky tea with his food. He wasn’t a big tea drinker but he has found it to be quite soothing. He has also been gargling with aspirin just before a meal which helps to numb the bad sensations. Well done for managing the fortisip drinks. The nurse told my husband to try and view these as medicine for the next few weeks. It is such a hard journey for them x

Mandalu16fc94 said:

Does anyone have ideas to make eating or drinking easier? 

For me it didn't get easier just harder. The soreness remained, the sticky mucous got worse and my taste was rubbish for months. I had an NG tube and it was the best thing I ever did through treatment. If your partner is already on a drip at four weeks he risks being kept in hospital if he can't keep his weight up. He needs that feeding tube. He will be amazed at the difference it makes

Me too.  I've got to ask as I'm curious, do you think having chemo alongside the radiothearpy intensifys the effects? 

Miclee said:

do you think having chemo alongside the radiothearpy intensifys the effects? 

Yes, it does

Thank you for your response.

Thanks! My partner has just discovered tea as well! Hoping it will really help. He hasn’t tried the aspirin though. Thanks for your reply. Nice to know he isn’t alone with the tea thing. 

You’re right, he has a chance to try again this weekend, but he will have to have a tube if that doesn’t work. Did you have to be in hospital with the tube? 

Mandalu16fc94 said:

. Did you have to be in hospital with the tube? 

I was admitted because everything crashed over a weekend and by the time I turned up for my next RT on the Monday I was quite dehydrated and in pain so I was admitted for a drip and to have my NG put in. I was sent home, pump fed overnight and never looked back. 

Just wanted to confirm my total agreement with what Dani has said about the importance of feeding tubes.  I went through a short period after treatment when I was suddenly unable to eat or drink.  I couldn't even manage a sip of water and I couldn't swallow my tablets.  I'd say that my feeding tube paid the biggest role in my good recovery from treatment.  

Thanks, did you have to stay in hospital while you had the feeding tube? If at home, how did you manage with the feeding? I am willing to try, but they say he needs to be in hospital.