hi all
sorry i have not posted latley but have been in and out of hospital.

blockage of the bowel
sickness what a pain

have completed 2 doses of chemo cisplatin

last one on Tuesday still being sick yellow bile,sick bucket in front of me now (any tips).

Mouth and tounge large ulcers using difflam mouthrinse and gelclair,

5 treatments left total Rt dose 55 grays.

I have lost 11.5 pouds due to the blockage.

Hard to get any type of food down (no peg).

Thanks to my wonderfull wife for being so supportive.

would welcome any advice on the above topics ,or in fact anything related to my treatment.

Thanks guys for your support
David David and Susan

Well done David you're getting there!
I used to take my blue sick bowl EVERYWHERE with me!
Something to bare in mind with the Difflam -
The doctors told me it only has any benefit for about 10 days at a time as your body becomes used to it. So i switced between Difflam & Corsodyl every 10days and found that helped my mouth ulcers improve. Also Difflam spray helped alot with the sore throat.
It must be a struggle with no PEG. Keep up wioth the Fortisip/Scandishake also, they do a neutral Scandihake that you could add to things like mash,custard, eggs or whatever you're finding easiest to get down. That will boost your calories too.& if you try to eat when you've just had pain killers that could help.
Make sure you get some Lactolose or something because i found the shake and things to be quite binding. & the Cisplatin can have that effect.
Tell your chemo nurses your problems with sickness and they'll get something better perscribed for you. Good luck with the last leg of your treatment all the best to Susan.
Michelle

Robin found the most effective mouthwash one teaspoon of salt one teaspoon of baking soda and lukewarm water.this as also brilliant and cutting through the "gunge" which he produces by the bucket load.It didnt burn his mouth like the difflam .His mouth is just one great big sore and he has thrush as well so after day 15 he had to have a PEG fitted.This was great because then the only thing we had to do was care for his mouth all his nutrional and hydration needs can be dealt with by the tube.
We finished on Wednesday and the effects are still doing their worst but every day sees a little improvement
good luck

Hi Michelle

Thanks for the tip with the difflan & Corsodyl I will bare that in mind. My bowl is silver and it is my constant companion at the moment.
Dave

Yesterday while in hospital, our Dr explained that the sickness is a side effect of the chemo, only a few people get this type of sickness 48 hours after treatment and nothing given will take the sickness feeling away it will only reduce it, and unfortunately Dave has had this side effect. We are taking each day step by step and today the amout of times Dave has been sick has reduced, and we are trying to keep water down, and hopeful that tomorrow we can start with Fortisip/Enshakes. Our GP and the hospital have been great with giving us laxatives so once Dave starts eating I will start giving them to him.
It is great being able to ask for help and recieving some great tips from everyone on the site.

Sue

Will keep you updated of my treatment.
Dave & Sue

Thanks for the tip cookey, I will give this a go but would you let me know how much water the salt and baking soda was mixed in, was it just one cupful.

Dave & sue

Sorry to hear of your bad time. I didn't like difflam. I was prescribed soluble aspirin mixed with water and glycerin. I took this about 20 mins before having a go at eating. I did have a peg so it took the pressure off. You can be prescribed fortisips with fibre to help you out. Other wise the fortisip normally given doesn't help with bowel movements.
Please drink loads of water- it does help!
All the best
Anne

Perhaps it has been suggested before but just want to say that Movicol is an effective remedy for constipation. All the medication and things like Scandishakes do bung you up but Movicol gets things moving without the griping pains. They are on prescription. I hope you get some relief. Best wishes. Brenda

Thanks All
for the advice and support.

David and Susan

I used to use soluble aspirin as a mouthwash as it acts like a mild local aneasthetic. It made eating a bit easier and cut down on the mouth pain,even if only temporarily. Just hold it in your mouth and then spit it out. You can use it more often if you dont swallow it. Hope it helps a bit.

Hi David and Susan
Sorry to hear that you are having a bad time, I was there 2.5 years ago - my sickness bowl was green and I used to take it everywhere with me too! My husband Barry was my rock, we got through it together as I am sure you both will too. Everyone else has said what I would agree with other than I prefered build up drinks that were made up with milk to the fortisips, not available on prescription though so worked out a bit costly but worth it for me. I did have a peg but did not tolerate the feed very well so it does not suit everyone. Custard, soup and rice puddings, biscuits dunked in tea helped keep me going even though I lost 2 stones at the time. Am now putting the weight back on have gained back 16lbs but it took a long time. Looking back to my experience you do wonder how you get through it but I can assure you it will be worth it in the long run, just try to stay positive and have patience. It will take some time for your body to recover fully - I was off work for 10 months. Take care and all the best, regards Sheila

Hello David & Susan

Keep your chin up, you are now counting down the days.

Like David I did not have a peg fitted and found it hard to get any food down, ended up in hosptial went from being blocked to really loose, (10 or more times a day) Dr's put it down to the morphine,I found Movicol was helpful (still using daily), it take a while to work.

Can I suggest that if you are starting on the Fortisip you dilute them with a third water to start with it makes the Fortisip easier to swallow.

As soon as you can keep liquds down ask you Dr for calogen, it will help put the weight on

I am in my fourth week after treatment, I am starting to eat some real food (it's more like baby food), there is light at the end of the tunnel.


Bicarb & salt really does help with the ulcers, I am still using 4 or 5 times a day.

All the best to you both.


Tony

Thank you all for those tips and support

David and Sue

Another day over 4 RT to go
Tired quite a lot, long trip to the hospital 60 Mile round trip
At preset,
Using enshakes mixed with milk
For Pain relief Voltorol and Parecetomol

Regards

Tony
Pleased to hear your starting on solids.

nice to talk to someone who also had no peg fitted

good progress for you

Dave and Sue

one teaspoon of each in a tumbler of lukewarm water.Hope it helps.