2 weeks post treatment

Spider3 said:

I hope my path is doing well and I'm on course.

Similar to mine. Your RT effects are at their very peak in the next week. 
My NG stayed in till six weeks. 
Diet ginger ale was good for my mucous. 

Hi Mark

Trying to juggle the Laxidos and pain relief is great fun!!!

Mucus does lessen with time as does mouth and throat pain.

Reflux also lessens with time, overnight pump feeding frees up much of the day for other things, trying to get the feed rate to a comfortable speed also takes a bit of experimentation.

Dry mouth can be exacerbated by Pregabalin...

Looks like you're well on course to recovery

Peter

Hi Mark

As  the others have said you’re in the peak of the bad times. 
I remember I never thought my thirst would be quenched again but it was. If all takes time you’re on track. The laxidos   are because you are on opiate s. When the times right you need to do a phased withdrawal then your bowel movements will return to normal. 

It’s a marathon not a sprint you’ll get there good luck with jigsaws they do my head in. 
hugs 

Hazel  

Thanks Peter ,glad to hear I'm heading in the right direction 

Hi Hazel ,it's comforting to know I'm heading in the right direction, even though I'm at the peak of treatment!

Hi Mark

1. I would say your are about where I was at that stage although I did not really have the mucus. Instead I had bad ulceration.  Other than that I recognise much of what your are experiencing. The blood streaks are fairly normal and result from the trauma of the treatment to your throat.  If you get clots that is a different matter.  If you are the slightest bit unsure check in with your CNS or the oncology emergency number you've been given. 

I was totally pump fed for around a month before I gradually introduced foods orally. I pump fed during the day using special food (not fortisips). I found when I wanted to I could pump in the fortisips quite quickly using a syringe, but the bags of feed had to go in really slowly otherwise I too got reflux.  Sleeping elevated helped. I slept most of the first month post treatment. 

For oral hydration I found sparkling water best as it had a nice effect on my throat.  Others report it can also help with the mucus. 

My PEG came out at 12 weeks post treatment although I'd stopped using it long before.

Really think carefully about a slow and controlled draw down on the opioids.  I and a few others had bad withdrawal symptoms.  Although there is a desire to come off the drugs quickly a very slow reduction in quantity can really help minimise the effects.  That said you're a way off being able to reduce the painkillers.  For me it was at around 3 months.

All said it sounds like you're managing quite well at this stage. 

Thanks Peter, it's always good to hear off people who have already walked the walk