Today we attended a meeting about head and neck radiation. There were
about 5 patients and their care-givers. We were given a packet of
information and lots of procedures like checking in, making sure we tell
the nurses about changes in pain, saliva, eating ability and BMs so that
they can take care of things before bad stuff gets worse. Lots of
information to digest.    One interesting thing: They have found a direct
correlation between how fast people heal after radiation to how little
weight they lost. The more weight one loses, the longer it takes to recover.

One thing that was suggested and that I will do is make a chart that I
will keep showing what and how much I’ve eaten (they are concerned with
calorie consumption) and how much liquid I’ve imbibed. Nutrition and
hydration are very important to recovering quickly from the effects of
the radiation. On the chart I will also keep track of my meds and BMs
(sorry this is so gross) so that they can make sure I’m taking the right
amount of stuff for the elimination process.  Keeping the records will
give me something positive to do and make me feel “in control” to
whatever extent I can be. For a type A,
obsessive-compulsive-anal-retentive personality, this could be a good
thing.  I will get to see a nutritionist regularly throughout the
treatment.

After the class we were all sent to exam rooms where we froze our toes
off waiting to see the doctors.  Of course, they saved the best for
last.  Me. All of the Head and Neck ROs were there and at least 4 of
them gloved up and stuck their hands in my mouth and halfway down my
throat.  A mild form of gang-rape?  They were impressed with the job my
surgeon had done. Have to tell the ENT that.

I was handed my schedule. I will start Tuesday with a dry run. I have to
pick up my finalized plastic stent earlier in the morning. Wednesday
will be my first day of radiation. They will radiate both sides of my
neck with low doses to make sure there isn’t anything living in the
lymph glands and they will give my tongue 6 grays.  Thirty treatments.
Not too bad compared to what others have had to go through. No chemo,
either.

Gary, the nurse was there. He’s very upbeat and funny and quite a
looker! He suggested that I spend the weekend and  next two weeks eating
everything I love because there is a chance that my taste buds won’t
ever get back to normal. I appreciated his honesty.

I signed up for doing studies as long as I didn’t have to pay for them.
I’m participating in a study about radiation treatment for MDA.  I’ll
have to answer questions each week and then by phone for several months
after the treatment is done.  Having an understanding of the physical
and mental changes a person goes through while undergoing head and neck
radiation might help the next ones after me.

We had to wait 45 minutes for the next shuttle back to the RV park, so I
went to the cafeteria and got a big parfait of chocolate pudding and
whipped cream. It was delicious (but stayed stuck to the roof of my
mouth for an hour.) I am sure my tummy will have a slight rebellion, but
I want to remember what chocolate pudding tastes like in case my
chocolate tasting buds die.

We are going home tomorrow and will come back to Houston on Monday.

Love, good thoughts and prayers to all,

Janet