Hvp16 + right tonsil and tongue base cancer. 3 weeks post treatment.

Hi Floss. Where are you? Around 4 weeks out of treatment? That’s still very early. I was on morphine till 12 weeks though I did manage to eat a little mushy food by six weeks. 
If you have oromorph you could try swishing that around your mouth five minutes before trying something soft like a mousse or a yoghurt. Ready brek is good too, it’s softer than porridge. 

PS are you doing your swallow exercises? 

Even sipping water can be very difficult at times, my wife and CNS were at me constantly to keep trying, not easy, keep hydrating regularly through the RIG until things improve, about a month or so after finishing treatment should see things start to ease off.

Try sucking small ice cubes.

I ended up being admitted so I'm now making sure I'm getting enough hydration through the rig. I honestly can't bare are feel of the thing in the mouth. I'm getting really cross with myself!  I'll give it a go x

I haven't been given any swallow excercises,  but I've got an appointment on Monday with slt, dietitian etc. So I'll see what they say x thank you 

Getting cross with yourself? Most of us have been there, it is frustrating but we have to start somewhere. How long were you in hospital for? quite a few on here have ended up in the cancer ward for help with the side effects and weight loss.

I was in for 2 weeks. Dehydration,  low magnesium and potassium 

Dear Emma

4 weeks is very very early stage of your recovery. During my treatment and a few weeks after my treatment I could not drink water, it tasted horrible and my mouth was full of ulcers . The only thing I could have for some reason was frozen diet coke that I used to sip regularly during the day out of a small bottle. Water had to go through my peg. We all at some point have felt frustrated and upset for not doing something as straight forward as drinking water, but we should not as this is something out of our control. Be kind to yourself and take each day at a time. Just remember to keep hydrated though your rig, you will be able to drink again soon. 

Fab1

Hi Emma it’s still early days for yiu. Please keep hydrated and fed through your peg keep trying to sip water it will happen I remember standing at kitchen sink taking forever to sip things. I found flat Diet Coke I coukd manage also flat soda water . Just keep trying it will happen we’ve all been through it and totally understand. Frustration sets in but babybsteps will getbyiunthere. I was still on oramorph uo to week 12  albeit I could sip the ensures and was eating soft food but obtained no pleasure form food for a good while. I took the attitude food is fuel and got the calories in. 
Hugs Hazel