Sorry I haven't been on in a while, I have been having so many appointments and with nurses and dieticians coming to the house aswell as hospital appointments all I have been fit for is rest.
To bring you all up to speed, I still have my feeding tube, I though it was coming out this week but my weight continues to fall and they are concerned about that, It is really a catch 22 situation because they discovered after putting the camera back down my throat (which was very painful)that I have two very large ulcers at the base of my tongue so anytime I try to eat it is scraping the ulcer and making it swell so eating is very painful and I have no appetite, but I am sure once the ulcers clear up I will be eating better.But they are healing very slowly.
So how is everyone else, let me know what has been happening.

Oh I almost forgot my voice is getting stronger and I am going to try a rehearsal at the weekend with my band,hopefully I will be able to go back to work soon!!

love
Tracey

Hello Tracey

Thanks for the update. Things will get better but it takes time. Don't overdo it with the voice and tire yourself. Take care.

I recently added a conference dinner in Edinburgh in the Royal Museum where 'the Jouncey Brothers' band played. Know them?

Best wishes
Vinod

I haven't heard of them, The rehearsal went great, better than I expected so hopefully I will be working again soon, who knows I might be singing at one of your conferences!

Love
Tracey

Hi Tracey, I had constant ulcers on the right side of my tongue, so try to eat very bland food, as any irritation, seems to make them flare up, during my ulcer period, I ate loads of rice pudding fortified with eat. Glad to hear the voice is getting better.
BIG BEAR HUGS<

My diet has consisted of milky puddings, as anything with a hint of flavour hurts so bad, but it is so boring, no wonder my weight drops as I am fed up eating the same food!

love
Tracey

Hi Tracy, I just kept eating the rice as it was the only thing that was not painful, hell I told myself the chinese managed on it for hundreds of years.

Have you tried the courgette soup, it is a change and goes down well.

I used to sit for hours infront of a plate of food, as each mouthful was pure pain.

I went from a size 16 to a 10 in a short space of time, am putting weight on, this time last year I looked very skinny.
BIG BEAR HUGS we all feel for you.

My figure is the only good thing thats came out of all this!
I have lost 2stone 8pounds, everyone says I am too thin, but I like the way I look now, I've never been this size since I was at school!
Of course I wouldn't recommend it as a way to lose weight.

love
Tracey

Tracey,

Quote: Of course, I wouldn't recommend it as a way to lose weight.

Good one Tracey!

Regards, Fridge

Hi Tracy and Fridge, remember sitting in the sun, if it ever comes, is not good for us, after Rad treatment, so do take care.
Big Bear Hugs to you all

Had a good day today had my nasal tube removed, THANK GOODNESS
Doctors are very pleased with me, I have started to eat 'normally' my weight seems to have stabillised. I am trying to wean myself off the painkillers as I am going on holiday in 5 weeks and will need a letter from the consultant if I am still taking it, but will just need to monitor it and see how it goes.

I have decided to do a charity gig for the hospital that has been treating me, I mentioned it to the doctors and nurses today and they were thrilled, it would be my way of saying thankyou and also to show how successful my surgery and radiotherapy has been, considering they thought I might not sing again!!!

Love
Tracey

Congratulations Tracey, Its a real sign of progress when the tube comes out isnt it? You,ve made really good progress in the last couple of months, its onwards & upwards from now. Ill be looking out for your gigs from now on.

Tracey,

Re your proposed charity gig.

What thoughtfulness and courage, you're a real trouper!

Your recovery progress surely has much to do with your positive attitude. Congrats.

Regards, Fridge

Thanks both

I think it is a true saying 'BE POSITIVE' from day one I thought I WILL SING AGAIN there was no way I was going to let this beat me, singing is my life and I was so unfortunate to have the tumours in my throat, there of all places. There were times when I doubted I was going to do it when the left hand side of my mouth and tongue were paralized and the slurred speach. But sheer determination and hard work with the exercises worked.
So anyone reading this in the early stages of treatment, stick in there and BE POSITIVE you will beat this and it DOES get better.

lots of love
TRACEY

Hi Tracey,can I ask you what excersizes you have done for your mouth? The right side of Hubby's mouth is still giving him problems & he is very sensitive sbout his appearance when he smiles.

I can understand how he feels, I tried not to smile because the left side of my mouth just wouldn't move and I felt like everyone was staring at me, so I always put my hand over my face which actually drew more attention to me.
The exercises were very subtle movements, opening and closing my mouth, and trying to move my bottom lip from left to right, this one was a bit painful but that was because it was using the damaged muscle, the tongue wouldn't move to the right so I had to try and push it over and up onto the roof of my mouth which was very sore and took perseverence, but it did work and both are working perfectly. Just tell him not to give up as the saying goes @no pain no gain!'

Love
Tracey