Pain In The Neck and Jaw

Bodyfirst said:

Is this a normal thing to happen?

Yes it is. Radiotherapy hits the brain stem and causes radiation fatigue. It can poleaxe you out of the blue. You can’t work through it. You just have to let your body rest and take its time. It’s not permanent but you have to listen to your body.  You can’t bully it away. 
Radiotherapy is like no other treatment. It has residual effects for years. 

Bodyfirst said:

For the last four days my jaw has started really aching, I have a sore throat, my mouth is becoming restricted again and the fatigue I'm feeling is totally out of this world.

My mouth feels trashed and dry. The heat is affecting it. I’m using masses of BioXtra and abandoning any adventurous diet. 
Are you doing your jaw and swallow exercises? 

Bodyfirst said:

Tried getting in touch with my team but My Cancer Nurse Specialist is off sick, my speech therapist has moved to another hospital and other members where just unobtainable.

It’s Sunday. There will be other CNS available. Try again tomorrow or ring your consultants secretary. When is your next review? 

Have you done a Covid test ? 

Hi Radiation fatigue can hit us at anytime .I was around the 3 month mark when I got hit with it. It’s comes like a wave and floor you all you can do is listen to your body and rest. I became the queen of the z0 minute power nap. The more you try to fight it the worse you will be.Are you eating enough ?Radiotherapy and chemotherapy takes it’s toll on our bodies yiu loose muscle mass which I’m sure you are aware of. I was advised by my dietician and SALT team romain for 2000-2500 calories a day including 85 gram of protein for my body to repair its self.  
I did exercise daily in moderation and slowly built myself up to where I was pre cancer. I’m not an athlete by any stretch but now happily cycle 60-70 km but took me time of course in older than you. 
You will  be coming up to scan time in the nextb6/weeks or so ?

Are you still doing mouth and jaw exercises ? I was told I would need ti do them for rest if my life which I do every day usually in the  car.!

As for your  cancer nurse there should be others in her department that are covering her sick leave try again tomorrow ?

Sore throat could well be attributed to the warm weather even now my tongue suffers in teh heat. Touch wood I've nit had a sore throat but many do 

hope this helps 

Hazel 

Yes I'm doing jaw exercises and using my Therabite. I t was Friday when I tried getting in touch with my team. Just found all the numbers I need for consultants secretary.

Had my scan a week last Tuesday, just waiting for the results. I shall trying phoning again tomorrow. Just worried that cancer is picking a fight with me.

No I haven't had a covid test. I didn't think about it to be honest. 

I didn’t know your trismus was bad enough for a Therabite. Maybe you’ve been overdoing it? T4 is quite large so the RT has probably hit a big area. I know it’s not in your makeup but this isn’t a fight. RT does DNA damage. It takes a long time to fix. You need to rest up. 

Bodyfirst said:

Just worried that cancer is picking a fight with me.

I reckon you’re  picking a fight with your body. 
Fingers crossed everything is ok. You should hear as soon as your MDT has met. 

I couldn't even get one finger in my mouth at one stage. Last week I could get 2 in my mouth and the last 4 days back to 1 finger.

Wow yiure lucky to get a therabite both Dani and I know people who had to wait months for one ! Did you buy it yourself ? 
It’s rare for our treatment to fail in the first instance so try not to worry over that. The rule of thumb is once we’ve got the 12 month reoccurrence is rare and after 2 years we’re pretty much on home run. 
Just listen to your body make sure you are well hydrated 2-3 litres of water daily as well that can have an effect on throat .

Hope you  get somewhere tomorrow please let us know. As Dani says  once the results are in they are discussed at MDT then you’ll see oncologist. 
Hazel