Day 21 After Last Treatment

Went to the Chemo Doctor and he was sure I would have seen more improvement on the throat, but is not too concerned.  Thinks the Chemo held me back but he's convinced I'll see a big turnaround this coming week.  The crude is not quite as bad today, so maybe this is the time.  Got two IVs and that always helps.  Energy level still high and feel great other than the throat.  Still not able to eat yet, but I'm ready for some MEAT. 

Day 20 After Last Treatment

Okay, finally starting to see real progress.  Had a great day yesterday, worked out 20+ minutes on the treadmill, good tripcep routine on the bowflex and worked all day.  Still having some trouble eating but mainly because of the crude stuck in my lower throat.  Thick as melted cheese and could not get it out of there.  When I cough it up I have pull hand over hand trying to get it out, but not quite consistent enough to stay together.  Did have some success with hot tea, so today I'll use that tactic again and try to break it up and flush it down.  Have seen a significant slow down on the spitting though so I'm happy about that.  Sleeping very well.  I've been up a couple of hours today and the spitting seems to be about the same as yesterday so looking forward to another good day. 

Day 17 After Last Treatment

Sunday and Monday was able to eat small amount of mashed ptotoes and
gravy and some slices peaches, but still having problems with thick
saliva. Managed to get some decent sleep last night despite a short
period of gagging around 2AM. Outside of neck is just about healed,
some skin peeling, but sores are pretty much gone. Putting Vitamin E
oil to reduce scarring. Still some pain in the throat but the main
problem is the saliva overrun. Be glad when that stops.

Day 14 After Last Treatment

Pretty good night, only up once. The spitting reduced quite a bit
today so far. I'm getting two IVs today as part of followup for Chemo.
Had a great visit last night with an old friend who as in town.

Day 13 After Last Treatment

I think Elroy is finally starting to run out of steam. Woke up this morning with a much better grip on the spitting/coughing thing. Throat is still sore, but pain is managed. Feel pretty good and expect a better day today than yesterday. Yehaaaa.

Day 12 After Last Treatment

Having a much better day today.  Was having some problems yesterday with my sinus' but in much better shape today.  Got on the treadmill and did 20 minutes then some tricep pulldowns on the bowflex.  Got some good sleep and feel much stronger today.  Starting to see that corner I need to turn. 

Day 10 After Last Treatment

Well, had a rough weekend, lot of spitting and no visible progress in my mouth sores.  Actually looks worse than it did after the last radiation treatment.

Today, I woke up and went all day until around 4 without spitting, without gagging, and without throwing up.  After 4 the coughing/spitting picked up a bit, but nothing like this weekend.  Don't understand the problem, but Elroy is still giving it his best shot.  I can deal with it but I'm ready for this to be over.

As long as I'm on the Chemo, another 10-14 days worth, then of course the "healing" process can't really begin, because the Chemo keeps the immune system suppressed.  Must continue to push the fluids. 

Day 7 After Treatment-Neck Burns

The neck is starting to heal up but is very raw.
Still has a way to go, but the area is getting smaller.

Had a good night's sleep for the first time in several days.
I had stopped using the honey for no good reason, and last night
decided to start using it again. Good move. Feel pretty good today
and of course started hydrating immediately when I woke up.

Dehydrated

Today, I ended up at the hospital getting 3 IVs because over the past
three days I got dehydrated. It started on Wednesday when I couldn't
hold anything down and despite any attempt to catch up, it obviously
didn't work. The doc also prescibed some meds in the IV to help the
vomiting that comes on from the gagging caused by the throat sores. He
is pretty sure that the next couple of days should see a turnaround in
how I feel. Will come back Tuesday and get more IV as well. One the
Chemo thins out my body can really start healing, so right now it's
not taking care of business like it should. Hopefully this is the
bottom rung on the ladder and I can start the climb back to normal
soon.

Day 5 After Last Treatment

Elroy making a comeback.  Last night I was up all night coughing and in pain.  Guess the doc wasn't kidding that the effects from Radiation would continue for a couple of weeks after they stopped because my throat is on fire.  Even with the painkiller, if I swallow if feels like somebody turning on a blow torch down there.  Causes me to gag constantly and eventually throw up what little I've tried to take in today. 

Running on empty right now.  The outside of my neck is really sore, fortunately as long as I keep the creme or lotion on it, it's okay, but the little sleep I did get last night would usually end when I rubbed off the creame onto the pillow and then wake up in pain.  Painkiller is doing okay, but when I swallow it really hurts, so hopefully this won't last too long. 

Hard to take the liquid painkiller, because I can't hold anything down, so usually just spit it up.  Not a good day, but I'm still standing.  Just have to suck it up a few days, because Elroy ain't gonna win.  No way.

Update

Okay, this morning while getting my followup IV fluids, we had a lengthy discussion with the Chemo Doc about what happens next.  Basically the feeding tube stay in until I can eat/drink without it, so maybe another two-four weeks.  Will do a complete PET scan of the entire body in about a month to set the standard for followup exams.  Looks for any cancer that may have floated to another area of the body, but we don't consider that a possibility at this point, but you never know.  Anyway, once that's done we'll talk about removing the IV port in my chest.  If they were to find a cancer somewhere else, back to Chemo treatment, if not I won't need it and can get back to working out without restrictions so I'm anxious to get this over with.  Everything looks good, I feel really good and the throat is coming along.  Actually drinking a little water today, so just have to get on with it.  Elroy was a punk.

Day 4 After Last Treatment

Another good night's sleep, spitting is down to almost nothing now.  The outside of my neck is really starting to peel and leaves raw skin underneath which is pretty painful until I put on more cream or lotion.  With one of those on it does not hurt, but when I wake up it has been rubbed off by the pillow, so the neck is pretty sore. 

Mouth feeling better today, throat still raw and pain killers still needed but making progress.  Going in for IV fluids as part of the Chemo followup today, takes about an hour.  Physically feel really good.

Day 3 After last treaments

Good night's sleep.  Hardly spitting anymore, but a lot of pain on the outside of my neck.  The bad "sunburn" is peeling away and leaving some raw skin under there to deal with.  Putting oil on it so feels better with that.

Still having a hard time not gagging when trying to drink water or take pills.  The throat is raw but I can tell I'm getting better already.  Just have to force it down and hope it stays down.  Still maxing out on the protein shakes and fluids.

Did about 25 minutes on the treadmill this morning and good tricep pull down workout.  Physically feel fine. 

Day 1 After End of Treatment

Best night sleep in at least two weeks.  Slept upright and that seemed to help with the choking and gagging, so that will be the standard for the next few days.  Needed the rest.

No effects whatsoever from the Chemo today.  Made a point to really push down the liquids because looking back on the first two Chemo treatments, the only two day I had any problems because I seemed to get a little de-hydrated, so won't make that mistake again.  No one time did I feel sick.

Still pumping in the protein shakes, fruit juices, and gatorade.  Adding the USANA vitamins to the gatorade and letting them disolve.  Great day.

Elroy vs. Radiation Treatment

Radiation Day 32-Last One-Mouth Sores

First time we've seen the dark spots. Must be the deep
burns. Will track this and hope to see improvements soon.

Chemo Treatment-How it works

Radiation Treatment Video of Last Day

Neck Burns from Radiation

As you can see the outside of the neck gets burned also. Keep in mind I grew up in the south and this neck has seen some pretty intense sun, mostly unprotected, all over the world, so it was pretty used to getting burned, but this punk Elroy needs a little more heat. I'm putting on some pretty good stuff the docs prescribed so should heal up pretty fast.

Is that a Turkey neck up front or what?

Day 32 Radiation - Chemo Number 3

Today is the last day for both radiation and chemo treatments.  Elroy is giving it his best shot, kept me up again most of the night with the choking thing, but what I guess he doesn't realize is that 72 hours with no sleep is no big deal, been there done that, but was humping a 75 pound rucksack through the jungle, so how hard can it be staying awake watching HD TV?  Hello!

Going in early today to get blood work and Chemo started.  The Chemo process takes most of the morning because they start off with an IV to get me hydrated, then give me a couple of pre-meds to keep the nasuea under control, then the Chemo, then another IV.  I'll go back a couple of times in the next week for more IVs to make sure I stay hydrated.

The outside of my neck is official "toast."  Worst sunburn you can imagine.  Can't see, but suspect deep in my throat it's much worse, just can't put any cream on it like I can the outside.  Have pretty much lost the hair on the lower half of the back of my neck, so I don't expect to see any hair there for the next 1,000 years......

One more to go and then we start rebuilding. 

Update

The harder Elroy gets, the harder I'm going to get.  Did 25 minutes on the treadmill and bicep routing on bowflex.  Have increased the amount of fluids and protein to speed up the healing process. Pushing the honey. 

Day 31 Radiation

Elroy is still hanging on.   Kept me up a lot last night with the gagging/coughing routine.  Some bloddy mucas coming up, but actually felt better after that.  Mainly just spitting a lot and couldn't get much sleep until I leaned my head forward and put my chin on my chest.  Seemed to slow the flow, but was rough on my neck.  Pretty sore when I woke up, but fine now.

Somewhat sore throat when I first woke up, but not that bad.   Same as yesterday.  Once I get going during the day it's not noticable. 

Two more treatments to go. 

Radiation Day 30-Elroy Makes a Comeback

Apparently Elroy is not ready to quit yet. Last night he kept
me up quite a bit, this time fluids coming up from deeper in the throat.
Feels like something stuck down there and I was coughing up blood
and spitting out a lot of thick saliva all night. The honey finally got
it under control somewhat, but it has bothered me all day. The best
I felt all day was right after the radiation treatment, but that lasted
only a couple of hours and now I'm gagging and spitting up again.

Not nearly as bad as those 3 days just before I stated drinking the honey
but enough to make it uncomfortable.

Two more treatments left. The sores up in the back of the mouth look
pretty good, but I can't see farther down where it's bothering me now, so
just have to get happy!

Pain still not an issue.

Day 29 Radiation Over

Okay, three more to go and I'm done.  Have had a little more saliva problems tonight, but still pushing the fluids and honey and seems to get it under control.  Am ready for this to be over.  Saw the Radiation doctor today and she confirmed what the Chemo doctors told us the other day, usually after the 4th week, should have been in the hospital so I'm doing great with this thing.

She wants me to start eating something so the muscle don't fail me later, but I figure the honey is about a thick as anything I could eat and I'm putting down plenty of that, but will try some pudding or applesauce tomorrow. 

The white stuff in my mouth is a good sign that the sores are trying to heal, so again, the honey is having a positive effect and should help heal up quickly once Friday is over.

Elroy, you got three more shots at the knockout hoss, better do something quick because I'm getting my second wind. 

Back of the Neck Toastier

Oh Yeah, that's what I call a Crispy Critter!

The doc prescribed some new cream for this dude.

Neck Getting Toasted

Neck getting toasted from the Radiation.

You can see the Line just about at the ear opening.

Scar looking good.

Mouth Sores after Radiation 28

Kind of hard to see the sore through the saliva
tar!

Day 29 Radiation

Well, Elroy must have run out of steam, because last night was another good one.  After 28 sessions under the gun, the pain is completely under control using the Fetynal patch, and the honey continues to keep the choking checked.  Happens every once in a while, but not much. 

Feel great this morning.  Four more to go. 

Day 28 Radiation-Only 4 More to Go

So far, so good. No major issues today. Dr. Gupta prescribed Radiation Creme for my neck that seems to work better than what I've been using. Certainly took away the burning sensation right away. We'll see if it heals up the sores I had on the very back of my neck. The honey still working on the throat.

Plenty of shakes today and have not had to spit since early this morning, so that is the best part of the day. Actually fell asleep on the table today.

Elroy has four more shots at me, he'll have to do better than this. Punk!

Day 28 Radiation

Had a great night's sleep and got some work done.  I think possibly I've healed up some over the weekend and am ready for the final 5 day push.  Have pushed the protein shakes hard over the weekend and lot of honey.

The outside of my neck is getting pretty fried right now.  The very back along my spinal cord seems to be the worst, but I wonder if it's from drying out the skin so much using a heating pad I was putting back there to keep it loose and help keep me warm at night.  Probably overdid it.  The left side of the neck is very red but not nearly as "dry" so I suspect that is the case.

Was a happy camper last night when the Giants and my boy Eli made that great comeback to win the Super Bowl.  Man what a game.

Super Bowl Sunday

Having a pretty good day.  Was up and down a lot last night due to saliva problem.  For some reason and without any warning, I ended up vomiting my first set of juice/vitamins this morning.   Started second Fetynal patch this morning but still need to drink the liquid lanacaine every once in a while because of pain.  Walked 20 minutes on the treadmill this morning and got in a short bicep routine on the bowflex. Am zooming in and out, and have already taken a short nap today, so feels like I'm getting run down finally.

Day 27 Radiation Mouth Sores

Day After Radiation 27

Radiation Day 27 Down - 5 More to Go

Day after number 27, Elroy has decided to kick the pain up a notch.  Fentanyl having little effect today, but it only hurts when I swallow so just have to minimize that.  My Fentanyl patch is 25 mcg/hr, applied to the skin every 72 hours (Guess that means it releases 25mcg per hour).  I am 48 hours into this patch. I keep pushing on it like it a button to get some medicine to "release" but apparently it doesn't work that way.  Needs an "Easy" button..................Yeah, I'm just goofing off, I know you can't push on it to make it work..duh.

Fentanyl as described on the DEA Website:

First synthesized in Belgium in the late 1950s, fentanyl, with an analgesic potency of about 80 times that of morphine, was introduced into medical practice in the 1960s as an intravenous anesthetic under the trade name of Sublimaze®. Thereafter; two other fentanyl analogues were introduced; alfentanil (Alfenta®), an ultra-short (5-10 minutes) acting analgesic, and sufentanil (Sufenta®), an exceptionally potent analgesic (5 to 10 times more potent than fentanyl) for use in heart surgery. Today, fentanyls are extensively used for anesthesia and analgesia.

Duragesic®, for example, is a fentanyl transdermal patch used in chronic pain management, and Actiq® is a solid formulation of fentanyl citrate on a stick that dissolves slowly in the mouth for transmucosal absorption. Actiq® is intended for opiate-tolerant individuals and is effective in treating breakthrough pain in cancer patients. Carfentanil (Wildnil®) is an analogue of fentanyl with an analgesic potency 10,000 times that of morphine and is used in veterinary practice to immobilize certain large animals.

Day 27 Radiation Done

Feeling good.  Get a two day break, and then only 5 more treatments to go. 

Day 27 Radiation

Just when I thought Elroy was on his last leg, he staggers back up and tries again.  Was doing great all day, got an IV infusion which always makes me feel good, have little pain, and the spitting is non-existent, then I take a swig of honey, it somehow manages to creep into the lungs and I start coughing to get it out.  Not bad at first then it gets worse and I start gagging, then vomiting up blood.  Quite a bit, obviously from the sores deep in the throat.  Doesn't last long, but certainly long enough to lose my last Protein shake.  Is back under control, but despite the pain killers, I can feel it when I swallow now.  Six more treatments, we'll see what else he's got.

When I was as the Chemo doctor's office today he decides to spring this on me.  I tell him how well I'm doing thanks to the honey, which he is not all that keen on, but since it's helping tells me to keep doing it, because "normally at this stage in the radiation treatment we usually have to hospitalize the patients, because this is by far the worst treatments on a body we have. (Chemo and Radiation to the Throat).  Somehow he failed to mention that to me before.......Just as well, because I ain't going to no stinking hospital without a fight.  Guess if I could ever figure out how to keep my airway clear of honey and spit, I wouldn't have any problems. Duhhh, okay.

Physically I feel great.  SIX MORE ELROY!!!!!