This is for all the other caregivers wondering what can I do...
This blog won't make much sense to family and friends reading, but to the spouses of other head and neck cancer patients, it will help them try to get in front of the problem. I have seen so many post about "what can I do to help". Of course other caregivers speak up with sound advise. I thought I would put it all out there in one shopping list.
The doctor will have told you at the initial cancer diagnosis that treatment will be terrible. Immune systems will be compromised and you will watch your loved one's health decline day by day. I highly recommend you start doing whatever you can to help reinforce their immune system as much as possible. Give them multivitamins. Substitute herbal teas instead of coffee. One of the few things Ryan has been able to continue drinking the entire treatment is the sore throat tea I started making him.
Multivitamins have been a challenge. At first it was the regular adult vitamin. After a couple of weeks, we downgraded to the chewable mint vitamin. Eventually, the mint got to be too much, after which we switched to the gummy vitamins... for 1 dose... Ryan said with his raw throat, it was like eating a ghost pepper. The children's liquid vitamins were just as bad orally. We thought once he gets his feeding tube in, we could put it in there. Unfortunately, it almost clogged his tube. Now, we forgo all vitamins except the iron pill (still hard to swallow but easier than the adult horse pills) and the zinc sulfate.
Now, about the zinc sulfate... this is not the stuff that you find at the local pharmacy or Walmart. The only place I found it was on Amazon. Zinc Sulfate 220 mcg is supposed to help them with the loss of taste buds. Supposedly, patients who take it get their taste back quicker than those who don't. One of Ryan's biggest complaints is he can smell all the wonderful foods, but when he tries to eat it, it taste like shit.
The first thing your doctor will tell you to do is to go to the dentist. Our dentist has been great. We knew the treatment would wreck havoc on Ryan's saliva glands and damage his teeth. We are working hard to protect his teeth with help from our dentist. He gave a fluoride treatment right away. He sent us home with a stronger prescription fluoride toothpaste as well as a fluoride rinse. He also made Ryan a mold in which he can soak his teeth in fluoride every night to help protect them. Ryan has to be diligent in his dental care, brushing more than twice a day and flossing faithfully even once cancer treatment is all over.
Between radiation treatment and chemotherapy, Ryan's skin has take a beating so it's important to protect it as much as possible! At first it looked like the common sunburn, but as time and treatment passed, certain areas started looking like bad burns. For this, I highly recommend something like Silvadene. I put this on after radiation treatment on any areas that look raw morning and night. Once it's soaked in some I apply moisturizers. Aquaphor came highly recommended, though a good healing lotion and vaseline works the same. From here on out if you are planning on being outside, make sure you also apply sunscreen even after treatment is over. The sun is not your friend.
Within the first week of Radiation treatment, Ryan started having dry mouth. There is no good that can come from dry mouth, but fortunately, there are things to help combat that. My darling daughter-in-law, Taylor, took it upon herself to make sure we had plenty to keep dry mouth at bay. Biotene mouthwash, Biotene mouth spray, and Biotene mouth gel have been essential. Ryan keeps some in his drawer at work, spray in his truck, and I keep all of them in my purse just in case he needs them when we are out and about. The Act and TheraBreath Lozenges have xylitol which helps with dry mouth. Ryan stopped using the TheraBreath a few weeks ago because of the mint taste.
Having a sore throat will become the new norm. It's sad to say, but nothing really helps this. All we can do is try to ease the pain a little. Sipping on Aloe Vera gel throughout the day helps some. I make Ryan herbal sore throat tea with a little honey. While soothing, these are only half measures. The doctor should prescribe Comfort Gel/Banophen/Lidocaine aka "Magic Mouthwash". While it does numb the throat, it also can make our patient more susceptible to choking. Ryan took this religiously while he was still taking food orally to aid with swallowing. Now that swallowing is next to impossible, he has stopped. All he takes orally now are a few medications and some liquids.
No one likes to talk about poop but one of the unfortunate side effects of pain killers is constipation. Even though I knew this, I failed to plan accordingly, and it caused Ryan a great deal of pain later after he had his tube put in. Do better than me. If you notice your system slowing down just a little, then maybe it's time to add a stool softener into your daily meds for preventative measures.
Once treatment is well underway, mucous will start building in the sinus passages and throat making your loved one gag. A simple solution of 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda and a pint of water works wonders. Swish and rinse with it as often as you like. We keep a jar made up on the bathroom counter and a small baby food jar in my purse (inside a ziplock of course). I also suggest you keep a large cup with you especially when you travel. You never know when they will start gagging on mucous (which sometime leads to vomiting). All those cups we got at UT games that I never threw away are finally coming in handy.
If you still can't get enough out try taking Guaifenesin (brand name Mucinex). Make sure it is just Guaifensin and not something for head and chest congestion. It works by thinning out the mucous secretions in your body. Once those are thinner they become easier to expel by coughing or blowing your nose.
Something else that I find helps rid yourself of unwanted mucous is the Sinugator or a neti pot. (https://www.walmart.com/ip/NeilMed-Sinugator-Pulsating-Nasal-Wash/19599319) It feels weird and can take some getting used to but once you do, it really helps clean out all the excess mucous in your sinuses. (Bonus, it helps control seasonal allergies).
So there you have it... my list of essentials. Others may have more things that has helped them, but at least now you have a place to start.
Slàínte!
The doctor will have told you at the initial cancer diagnosis that treatment will be terrible. Immune systems will be compromised and you will watch your loved one's health decline day by day. I highly recommend you start doing whatever you can to help reinforce their immune system as much as possible. Give them multivitamins. Substitute herbal teas instead of coffee. One of the few things Ryan has been able to continue drinking the entire treatment is the sore throat tea I started making him.Multivitamins have been a challenge. At first it was the regular adult vitamin. After a couple of weeks, we downgraded to the chewable mint vitamin. Eventually, the mint got to be too much, after which we switched to the gummy vitamins... for 1 dose... Ryan said with his raw throat, it was like eating a ghost pepper. The children's liquid vitamins were just as bad orally. We thought once he gets his feeding tube in, we could put it in there. Unfortunately, it almost clogged his tube. Now, we forgo all vitamins except the iron pill (still hard to swallow but easier than the adult horse pills) and the zinc sulfate.
Now, about the zinc sulfate... this is not the stuff that you find at the local pharmacy or Walmart. The only place I found it was on Amazon. Zinc Sulfate 220 mcg is supposed to help them with the loss of taste buds. Supposedly, patients who take it get their taste back quicker than those who don't. One of Ryan's biggest complaints is he can smell all the wonderful foods, but when he tries to eat it, it taste like shit.
The first thing your doctor will tell you to do is to go to the dentist. Our dentist has been great. We knew the treatment would wreck havoc on Ryan's saliva glands and damage his teeth. We are working hard to protect his teeth with help from our dentist. He gave a fluoride treatment right away. He sent us home with a stronger prescription fluoride toothpaste as well as a fluoride rinse. He also made Ryan a mold in which he can soak his teeth in fluoride every night to help protect them. Ryan has to be diligent in his dental care, brushing more than twice a day and flossing faithfully even once cancer treatment is all over.
Between radiation treatment and chemotherapy, Ryan's skin has take a beating so it's important to protect it as much as possible! At first it looked like the common sunburn, but as time and treatment passed, certain areas started looking like bad burns. For this, I highly recommend something like Silvadene. I put this on after radiation treatment on any areas that look raw morning and night. Once it's soaked in some I apply moisturizers. Aquaphor came highly recommended, though a good healing lotion and vaseline works the same. From here on out if you are planning on being outside, make sure you also apply sunscreen even after treatment is over. The sun is not your friend.
Within the first week of Radiation treatment, Ryan started having dry mouth. There is no good that can come from dry mouth, but fortunately, there are things to help combat that. My darling daughter-in-law, Taylor, took it upon herself to make sure we had plenty to keep dry mouth at bay. Biotene mouthwash, Biotene mouth spray, and Biotene mouth gel have been essential. Ryan keeps some in his drawer at work, spray in his truck, and I keep all of them in my purse just in case he needs them when we are out and about. The Act and TheraBreath Lozenges have xylitol which helps with dry mouth. Ryan stopped using the TheraBreath a few weeks ago because of the mint taste.
Having a sore throat will become the new norm. It's sad to say, but nothing really helps this. All we can do is try to ease the pain a little. Sipping on Aloe Vera gel throughout the day helps some. I make Ryan herbal sore throat tea with a little honey. While soothing, these are only half measures. The doctor should prescribe Comfort Gel/Banophen/Lidocaine aka "Magic Mouthwash". While it does numb the throat, it also can make our patient more susceptible to choking. Ryan took this religiously while he was still taking food orally to aid with swallowing. Now that swallowing is next to impossible, he has stopped. All he takes orally now are a few medications and some liquids.
No one likes to talk about poop but one of the unfortunate side effects of pain killers is constipation. Even though I knew this, I failed to plan accordingly, and it caused Ryan a great deal of pain later after he had his tube put in. Do better than me. If you notice your system slowing down just a little, then maybe it's time to add a stool softener into your daily meds for preventative measures. 
Once treatment is well underway, mucous will start building in the sinus passages and throat making your loved one gag. A simple solution of 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda and a pint of water works wonders. Swish and rinse with it as often as you like. We keep a jar made up on the bathroom counter and a small baby food jar in my purse (inside a ziplock of course). I also suggest you keep a large cup with you especially when you travel. You never know when they will start gagging on mucous (which sometime leads to vomiting). All those cups we got at UT games that I never threw away are finally coming in handy. If you still can't get enough out try taking Guaifenesin (brand name Mucinex). Make sure it is just Guaifensin and not something for head and chest congestion. It works by thinning out the mucous secretions in your body. Once those are thinner they become easier to expel by coughing or blowing your nose.
Something else that I find helps rid yourself of unwanted mucous is the Sinugator or a neti pot. (https://www.walmart.com/ip/NeilMed-Sinugator-Pulsating-Nasal-Wash/19599319) It feels weird and can take some getting used to but once you do, it really helps clean out all the excess mucous in your sinuses. (Bonus, it helps control seasonal allergies).
So there you have it... my list of essentials. Others may have more things that has helped them, but at least now you have a place to start.
Slàínte!
Nice post. Well what can I say is that these is an interesting and very informative topic on biotene oral rinse
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