I'm in the final stretch of treatment. This week I have four more radiation treatments ending on Thursday and my last two chemo treatments on Thursday and Friday. The pain in my mouth and throat really hit me hard last Thursday and Friday, yesterday and today it's even worse. I had to up my dosage of Hydrocodone to 20 ml which I'm taking three times a day. It's cutting the pain overall pretty good, but there's still spots in my mouth that hurt whenever I try to drink something.
The ringing in my ear from the Cisplatin seemed to be almost gone when I woke up his morning. Since then it's returned but it seems quieter. I shook some keys yesterday and they seemed to make a flat noise, different from how they usually sound. I'm not sure if that's from the Cisplatin or if they've always sounded like that. I which I would have gotten my ears checked before beginning treatment so I could establish a baseline for hearing loss.
My g-tube has been fine. I picked up the lotion my dermatologist prescribed for the rash and I've been applying it a couple times a day. It's helped with the itching and my skin has cleared up around it. My weight had dropped to 146 pounds but I'm back up to 150 now. I also ordered some dumbbells online to that I can start lifting some weights and get some muscle tone back. I'm excited to start lifting again.
So, I just need to keep my pain under control, make it through this week of treatments then start focusing on healing. Really excited about being done.
Showing posts with label Cisplatin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cisplatin. Show all posts
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Day 16, 12/35 days of Radiation
Pain in my throat and mouth has been pretty high the last couple days. This morning I spoke with my doctor about this and he said it will probably be like this the duration of treatment and may even get worse. Right now I'm taking liquid Tylenol which is only taking the edge off. I'm only taking it a couple times a day to avoid the negative affects of taking pain medicine for an extended period. Likewise I want to hold off on taking something stronger as long as possible.
The pain really isn't too bad as long as I don't talk, cough, yawn, sneeze or try to open my mouth too much. It's very similar to how my throat felt after my surgeries, but this will be lasting 5+ weeks instead of the 2 weeks of recovery post op.
I've pretty much switched to using my g-tube for nutrition. Yesterday I was able to get 5 cans down it. The bolus syringe is really a PITA. I have to hold it the whole time and if I relax it will pop out of the tube making a mess. I'm also having to constantly refill it because it only holds 60 ml and a can of formula is about 240 ml. I have to apply a steady pressure so it goes in, but not too fast or else it might cause me to get sick. It'll be nice to switch to a gravity bag so I can just fill it once and let it drain. I'll have to follow-up with my primary doctor tomorrow to make sure the order went through. If not I'll just order some online and pay for them out-of-pocket.
I saw my dermatologist this morning about the contact dermatitis around my g-tube. He confirmed does look like classic contact dermatitis. He gave me a better ointment to put on it. It looks like it's healing so I'm not that worried about it anymore.
This is a new dermatologist that saw me out of the same office I usually go to. He was super nice and was very compassionate about what I'm going through. It's always nice to get a doctor that really seems interested in helping you.
Let's see, what else. Oh yes! The ringing in my ears has all but gone away. It's very faint now and I barely notice it anymore. That's a relief. That took almost two weeks to go away. Hopefully next time it won't last as long.
That's about it. I keep thinking about all the other people made it through this and it helps give me the confidence that I can make it too. My radiation nurse did tell me this morning that the treatment for throat cancer is one of the most difficult to endure. On the bright side it's highly curable. So, in the end, it should all be worth it.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Day 10, 8/35 days of Radiation
Starting to feel more like normal today. I felt less nauseous. Big plus! It was still there but I didn't need to take any medication and I was able to eat pretty well, though nowhere near normal. Certain things still made me feel like I wanted to hurl though.
Speaking of medication, I happen to read the script info on the Ativan that I was prescribed yesterday for nausea and the first line reads, "Taking [Ativan] with opioid medications such as codine or hydrocodone (which I also have) may increase your risk of very serious side effects, including death." Wow! Glad I read that! That's one of the reasons I don't like taking prescription medications; the side effects are often more profound than the benefits especially when used with other medications. Lesson learned to read the prescription info on everything. So, I'll probably be staying away from that, especially when things get worse and I need to be on the pain meds.
My weight stayed the same over the last couple days. I'm now 149.2. Hopefully with the Cisplatin leaving my system and my nausea diminishing I'll be able to eat a lot more. I'm going to use the next couple weeks before my next chemo treatment to eat as much as possible to fortify myself for the next round. Problem is that food tastes very different now. Very bland for the most part, if they're not making me sick. The only thing still enjoyable is fruit. My wife bought some Kiwi's that are just saving me right now. They're so perfectly ripe and tasty. Strawberries are also incredibly good. I feel like I'm learning what foods I like and dislike all over again.
The dryness in my mouth hasn't really changed much. If anything it might have even gotten a little better. However the tightness around my scar seems more prominent. I think the metallic taste in my mouth is more pronounced as well.
My energy level today is feeling more back to normal. I feel more like my old self again. A lot more active and engaging. So it seems like there's a cycle where I'll feel like shit for the five days following chemo and on the sixth start feeling better. I'm glad I'm not going to feel like that the whole duration of treatment. At least I'm hopeful I won't.
The ringing in my ears seemed less bothersome today. I don't know if I just didn't notice it or if it actually decreased. Right now it seems rather loud, so I guess I'll wait and see what it's like tomorrow. I do want to mention that yesterday at work, when I was outside and cars would pass by I could hear their wheels make a noise I never really noticed before. Like I could hear the spokes cutting through the air. It was very odd, but that's the only thing I've noticed out of the ordinary with my hearing.
Last but definitely not least is sleep. I slept very well last night My god I needed that. It may be the reason today was so positive. So, without further ado, I'm off to bed looking forward to yet another good nights rest. Onward and upward!
Speaking of medication, I happen to read the script info on the Ativan that I was prescribed yesterday for nausea and the first line reads, "Taking [Ativan] with opioid medications such as codine or hydrocodone (which I also have) may increase your risk of very serious side effects, including death." Wow! Glad I read that! That's one of the reasons I don't like taking prescription medications; the side effects are often more profound than the benefits especially when used with other medications. Lesson learned to read the prescription info on everything. So, I'll probably be staying away from that, especially when things get worse and I need to be on the pain meds.
My weight stayed the same over the last couple days. I'm now 149.2. Hopefully with the Cisplatin leaving my system and my nausea diminishing I'll be able to eat a lot more. I'm going to use the next couple weeks before my next chemo treatment to eat as much as possible to fortify myself for the next round. Problem is that food tastes very different now. Very bland for the most part, if they're not making me sick. The only thing still enjoyable is fruit. My wife bought some Kiwi's that are just saving me right now. They're so perfectly ripe and tasty. Strawberries are also incredibly good. I feel like I'm learning what foods I like and dislike all over again.
The dryness in my mouth hasn't really changed much. If anything it might have even gotten a little better. However the tightness around my scar seems more prominent. I think the metallic taste in my mouth is more pronounced as well.
My energy level today is feeling more back to normal. I feel more like my old self again. A lot more active and engaging. So it seems like there's a cycle where I'll feel like shit for the five days following chemo and on the sixth start feeling better. I'm glad I'm not going to feel like that the whole duration of treatment. At least I'm hopeful I won't.
The ringing in my ears seemed less bothersome today. I don't know if I just didn't notice it or if it actually decreased. Right now it seems rather loud, so I guess I'll wait and see what it's like tomorrow. I do want to mention that yesterday at work, when I was outside and cars would pass by I could hear their wheels make a noise I never really noticed before. Like I could hear the spokes cutting through the air. It was very odd, but that's the only thing I've noticed out of the ordinary with my hearing.
Last but definitely not least is sleep. I slept very well last night My god I needed that. It may be the reason today was so positive. So, without further ado, I'm off to bed looking forward to yet another good nights rest. Onward and upward!
Monday, January 2, 2017
Meeting With New Oncologist, Friday Dec. 30, 2016
I met with my new oncologist last Friday to go over treatment. I chose to change oncologists because this one was a lot closer to home, right next door to my radiation oncologist and has a working relationship with my other doctors.
After going through my history and a brief exam we discussed treatment. I told him I was already set to start radiation and just need to get my chemo plan so that they could be started in tandem. He recommended Cisplatin which would be administered via IV. I asked him about Erbitux being that was what my ENT recommended. He told me that he didn't feel there was enough evidence of it being as effective as Cisplatin. That was kind of a bummer to me because I was looking forward to a more mild form of chemotherapy with fewer side effects. However, I also want the most effective treatment available. I want this to be done and done for good. So I agreed to proceed with Cisplatin.
We went over the treatment and side effects and then I had another meeting with the nurse manager detailing those side effects. Nausea and vomiting, of course. Sensitivity to sun, loss of hair and appetite, diarrhea, constipation, neuropathy. They gave me guidelines on what to do depending on what I experience and at what point to call them.
I was also told this used to cause kidney damage, back in the 70's, until they discovered that that could be averted with substantial hydration. They're going to hydrate me during the treatments but prior to and after I have to drink 96 oz. of water a day. I'm not a big water drinker to begin with so that much water is going to be a challenge. I get to a certain point and I just start feeling water-logged. Anyway, it's got to be done. I certainly don't want kidney damage.
I'm going to be doing 3 sessions spaced 3 weeks apart. Each session is 2 days, 4 hours per day. I start this Thursday and Friday, Jan. 5th & 6th. I'm going to try and work from the chemo room otherwise I'd just be sitting around for 4 hours. I already checked and they have wifi and power and my boss OK'd it. So we'll see how it goes.
That meeting was pretty overwhelming. I was really hoping for the Erbitux, that and everything I have to do on top of the chemo as far as monitoring my bodily functions was a bit much. But right now I'm feeling optimistic.
I did a test run on whether I could drink that much water today and I succeeded. I just keep thinking about all the people who went through this and not only did it but are now cured. I keep focusing on positive thoughts. I just have to make it through this and I'll be cured. I can do this!
After going through my history and a brief exam we discussed treatment. I told him I was already set to start radiation and just need to get my chemo plan so that they could be started in tandem. He recommended Cisplatin which would be administered via IV. I asked him about Erbitux being that was what my ENT recommended. He told me that he didn't feel there was enough evidence of it being as effective as Cisplatin. That was kind of a bummer to me because I was looking forward to a more mild form of chemotherapy with fewer side effects. However, I also want the most effective treatment available. I want this to be done and done for good. So I agreed to proceed with Cisplatin.
We went over the treatment and side effects and then I had another meeting with the nurse manager detailing those side effects. Nausea and vomiting, of course. Sensitivity to sun, loss of hair and appetite, diarrhea, constipation, neuropathy. They gave me guidelines on what to do depending on what I experience and at what point to call them.
I was also told this used to cause kidney damage, back in the 70's, until they discovered that that could be averted with substantial hydration. They're going to hydrate me during the treatments but prior to and after I have to drink 96 oz. of water a day. I'm not a big water drinker to begin with so that much water is going to be a challenge. I get to a certain point and I just start feeling water-logged. Anyway, it's got to be done. I certainly don't want kidney damage.
I'm going to be doing 3 sessions spaced 3 weeks apart. Each session is 2 days, 4 hours per day. I start this Thursday and Friday, Jan. 5th & 6th. I'm going to try and work from the chemo room otherwise I'd just be sitting around for 4 hours. I already checked and they have wifi and power and my boss OK'd it. So we'll see how it goes.
That meeting was pretty overwhelming. I was really hoping for the Erbitux, that and everything I have to do on top of the chemo as far as monitoring my bodily functions was a bit much. But right now I'm feeling optimistic.
I did a test run on whether I could drink that much water today and I succeeded. I just keep thinking about all the people who went through this and not only did it but are now cured. I keep focusing on positive thoughts. I just have to make it through this and I'll be cured. I can do this!
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