Hi to everyone, my husband has been recovering from tongue and neck cancer, having had lymph nodes removed from the left side of neck and a tumor at the base of his tongue. This has been very difficult time for us as you are all aware of how bad it can be, 2 weeks before our first marriage of one of our children he was in having this huge surgery. I have been at a loss to help with all the pain and eating issues he has and I so pleased I have found this site now to talk to everyone. The main issue at the moment is eating, swelling of the morning and pain. The good news is he has been told he is in REMISSION, fantastic, but if you could give advice on his ongoing pain and problems I would appreciate this. We are just always told by Doctors this is the norm with what he is suffering. Thanks for any info you maybe able to give and Bless you all out there who is suffering at the moment.

Hi Tracey Lee.
Sorry to read about your husbande and the struggle he's going through.
Although the pain and swelling may be normal he shouldn't have to suffer. You should talk to your doctors about pain control. Maybe it should be increased or changed to something more adequate.
Does your husband eat anything at all? Is he PEG fed? How long since your husband finnished treatment?
All the best to you both,
Michelle

Hi Chelle, No the Doctors avoided the peg for him saying it would be worse, he did drop about 20kilos though and I just gave him protein drinks and very soft foods, at one stage even baby food, which he did not like at all. The dietician said we were doing very well with what I could get down his throat. He did end up in hospital quite a few times being drip fed to help as well. He has finished treatment now not quite 4 months and feels he isn't much better. The doctor said today it will just take time and has only given him panadol to help with pain.

Hi Tracy
I would have thought at least he would have had a nasal tube for feeding if his operation was to his throat and neck.
I would of thought some kind of anti inflamatory medicine im on voltorol and if the panodol is not working most peaple on this forum have oramorph either as syrup.patches or 12 hour sachets as they say here all the time no need to be in pain

Its a long haul but things do improve

Best wishes Dave and Sue

Many thanks David and Susan, I will take the names of these pain relief and see what they say. The doctor did say today that he may need some form of anti-inflamatory medicine to help. It is amazing that he has struggled through without peg or tube but he has been very strong but very unwell with it all. He was cut from behind the left ear down his neck and across to his throat box huge surgery. I thank you for your time and I have shown Darrel your reply. Best Wishes, Tracey

Hi Again Tracy and Darrel
I had a neckdisection ,Lynph nodes removed and flap from arm then pec flap
You both seem to support each other
Keep strong things WILL improve

Dave and Sue

My pain relief started with a codein/paracetamol mix in liquid form as my throat was ulcerated from R/T. This was then changed to Oramorph (liquid morphine) when the pain became worse.
If you don't speak up to the doctors they wont know to help. I was a nightmare for playing things down - not wanting to make a fuss .
I went 3months with no food passing my lips and dropped to 6 stone 10lb - not a great place to be! when i started to eat again i had things lilke home made soupd, custard, milk shakes, ice cream, hot oat cereal with honey. I'm now 8 stone 6lb.
I finnished treatment in december and went back to work beginning of april. So things do improve and you'll get there!
Be strong and take care of eachother.
All the best,
Michelle