another question from a concerned daughter

[MilliBr1]

My mom finished her radation Monday the 21st and I was wondering how long it should be till her throat and esophagus are feeling better. It has been getting worse for her this week. I just talked to my Dad and he said she went to the hospital today because she is dyhdrated. They are pumping her with fluids and the doctor will decide this afternoon if she needs to stay overnight.

My other question is, she says her chest hurts and that it feels like there is a rock or rocks stuck in there when she swallows, is this normal? I guess I thought it would burn but I didn't think it would feel like something was there.

Sorry to bother you with these questions, but I don't live close by so I don't hear first hand what the doctors are telling them. Thanks!

[Justakid]

I had so many problems with my throat/esophagus that I didn't think it would ever end. My last radiation treatment was in August and I still have throat problems.

I'm not the norm, I have had my esophagus stretched 3 times also and think that maybe it is finally starting work. Things aren;t getting stuck as much. Hang in there, it takes a long time to heal!!!!

[MilliBr1]

Yikes that doesn't sound fun at all! I'm glad it is starting to get better, hope its back to normal for you soon! I like your avatar, btw, makes me smile everytime I see it.

Well she just called and they sent her home. She's to stay in though as she has no white blood cells.

[kimblanchard]

I know it took a little while for my dad's to go away, quite a few weeks in fact. As far as that chest thing, I think what you are describing is what my dad described as feeling like there is a lump when you swallow....if that is the case, his doc said to expect it and it was normal. Hang in there,

TAmmy

[cindi o'h]

For me, the burning from the radiation...the raw burned feeling went away and healing began almost immediately after the radiation stopped. Thank Goodness. I don't think that I could have taken much more.

The food that went down often felt like I was swallowing a brick. A brick with very sharp corners. That feeling did eventually subside.

Every so once in a very while, I have swallowing difficulties, but they are managable. I did have my "tube" checked by GI doc and said everything looks fine.

With time, things should become more tolerable and comfortable.

Good luck.

cindi o'h

[Snowflake]

My experience with radiation was that it got worse before it got better. The week AFTER radiation was horrible, couldn't even swallow a sip of milk to go with my Double Stuf Oreos! Slowly, it did get better and (unfortunately) I was stuck in the cookie habit by then...

If her pain is severe and unbearable, she should be in contact with her doctor as some people have bigger problems that need medical care (one example being Beth - Justakid).

[Frank Lamb]

I've had trouble with radiation both times I had it.Radiation is cumulative.It keeps building up and working inside.It also keeps on working 4 to 6 weeks after completion.(in my case about 5 weeks).

Every couple days after completion your mom should start feeling better and better.

[Hebbie]

Sorry your mom is having lingering radiation effects......it seems to be the gift that keeps on giving

In my case, I finished radiation/chemo the beginning of June (2003) and didn't have much relief until mid-July! With lingering pain from food/vitamins getting "stuck" when I swallowed them continuing for several months before finally resolving itself.

I guess it depends on exactly where they are radiating, how intense the throat pain can be (and it sounds as though she's got it bad), but it should work itself out over time, with a little patience and lots of soothing foods/drinks.

Hopefully she'll be feeling better in no time!!

[kimblanchard]

Jim started feeling better about two weeks after the radiation treatments were done. In the meantime, he could barely eat, barely swallow, lost a lot of weight. They gave him magic mouthwash (lidocaine, benedryl, mylox, ask your doc about it) so that he could eat at all. But once it started to improve, it did so consistantly. Margaret

[MilliBr1]

Thank you all for your replies. I talked to her today and she sounded better.

They gave him magic mouthwash (lidocaine, benedryl, mylox, ask your doc about it) so that he could eat at all.

I think she may have that because I know she drank something at Easter that she said was suppose to help.