10 days post radiation treatment

Sorry for the delay in the update. Dave is finally on the upswing and we are starting to notice the healing process. His skin is noticeably better, he still has a few areas that are tender, but the intense burning sensation is now gone. I would put it into the "missed sunscreen" sunburn category, you know those spots that you forget to put sunscreen on (ears, back of the knees or shoulder, right along the edge of your clothes) and then stay out in the sun too long. They are sensitive, but not to the point that you can't do anything. That is about the stage that Dave's skin is in, so that lets him move his head more.
Unfortunately, his throat is not quite healing as fast, which is as we expected. The radiation was directed at his tonsils - thus more intense radiation burns equals longer healing time. Thursday we saw Dr. Hollis (gastroenterologist), and he took a look at the tube and listened to Dave's lungs as well. All is well - as soon as Dave starts eating again (once the swelling in his throat subsides), just to make an appointment and he'll take out the tube in his office, otherwise we are to see him in three months. If we end up making that 3 month appointment - then Dave will have probably gone off the deep end by then. He so wants to eat something, it is to the point that I really cannot eat anything around him without him giving me the sad puppy dog eyes.
Speaking of puppy dog, Coho is doing much better after his back trouble in January, the chiropractor and the restrictive diet we have Coho on seems to be working. He has a ton of energy and is always ready for a walk or a rumble with his rabbit. You know how it seems that dogs seem to imitate their owners, right now Dave is so imitating Coho's behavior in January, just that heart wrenching look that says I feel miserable all the time, and please make it better.
Dave is getting through this, and once he is able to swallow again, I know his spirits and attitude will improve immensely. And maybe I'll be able to get the outside projects done finally...I am pretty much at the point that I need to truck to get the supplies - and Dave's current state will not handle me or David taking the truck to the store (as silly as it may be - that's my husband). Oh well - he'll be back up and going shortly, my garden will just have to wait a couple more weeks - hopefully by mother's day, I'll be able to have the raised beds built and the garden in.
Other side effects that Dave has mentioned - his ears have been ringing constantly now, we think it is from the Carboplatin, and will talk to Dr. Debo about it on Monday. His weight is on a slow decrease - he's down to 153. Dave begrudgingly takes that 4th can of ensure before bed. We are pretty much in a routine of something going in every 2-3 hours. I finally had to write down everything that he took to make sure that he got all of his meds and to stop the disputes about how long it had been since the last session, as it seems that I am constantly coming at him with a glass of something (ensure, juven, pedialyte) to put in the tube.
Well I think I have rambled enough for now. Thanks again for the comments, emails, thoughts, and prayers, your support is nothing short of outstanding.

Wednesday Night - through one week of recovery

Well here it is Wednesday night and Dave is still miserable. Today was blood work at Dr. Atienza's office, and Dave was low on WBC and platelets, so we will have to go back again next week and get it checked again. We talked to the nurse, Sara (she is an absolute angel), and she explained what is going on with Dave's blood - essentially with the chemotherapy the lowest point in blood counts occurs 7-10 days after the treatment. Which is today, and although it is expected, they are still concerned - thus going back next week. So in the mean time we are going to be avoiding anyone who is sick, continue with the consistent hand washing, and doing what is necessary to keep Dave healthy.
My apologies for the missing pictures - every time I go near Dave with a camera, I get the look, and have to acquiesce to his wishes. On the bright side, the skin on his neck is looking better. It is still painful, but it has gone through the flaky stage and is now that tender new skin. He will probably peel/flake again, but I can see progress. The pain in his throat is not easing at all, and is really wearing on his outlook. I know that he is wanting to eat something again, but doesn't want to chance going through the pain of dry heaves when it won't go down. He has had about two dry heave sessions a day, just trying to get the mucus/spit out of his throat, he is still not at the point for it to go down. He hasn't even tried the ice chips as Dr. Debo had suggested.
Tomorrow we are going to see Dr. Hollis (feeding tube). This is the first that we have seen him since Dave started the radiation. I've noticed a little redding around the tube and some minor drainage, which also goes along the same lines as his lower WBC. We saw this same thing happen when Dave was going through chemo back in Nov and Dec. I don't think he is at the antibiotic stage, but we are keeping it clean.
Well that is about all I have for now. Will try to update this again tomorrow after our appointment and maybe I can get Dave to agree to a photo. Take care and thanks again for everything.

Monday - Recovery week 1

Needless to say - Dave is miserable, but still doing very well according to his doctors. We just got back from seeing Dr. Debo (ENT), who is Dave's primary doctor through this whole ordeal, and although Dave is miserable, he is looking as expected. Dave went into this treatment very healthy and although it will take some time, he should be back to 90 percent in a month or so. There is light at the end of the tunnel, just the road isn't very pleasant.
Dave's current state:
- Tonsils/throat: still extremely irritated, he does have a fungal infection (very normal), which we are taking medication for, but Dr. Debo would like to see Dave taking the lozenges instead of the ingested liquid. Once Dave gets past the constant gagging stage, then we will switch to the lozenges. Since this was the first of his side effect - it will probably be the last of the painful side affects to subside. Dave's radiation was directed deep into his neck (tonsils and lymph nodes) so that area has the most damage right now.
- Thick saliva: this one will probably be around for a while. Dr. Debo would like to see Dave trying ice chips to put more fluid in Dave's mouth - hopefully loosen up the spit, make it easier to swallow as well as getting his throat back in the mode of swallowing. Also increasing the fluids at night. As it is now, Dave is sleeping pretty much through the night, but when he wakes up he is very congested and his saliva/snot is thick, causing him to gag and dry heave to get it out of his system. Dave welcomes the sleep, just doesn't relish waking up to the hacking.
- Skin: Dave's neck is definitely in the healing mode and his outer layers of skin are becoming very dry and starting to flake and peel. It is also extremely painful, to the point that I have to be very gentle when I put the cream on his neck. If there was a way that I could spray it on I would. Any sort of rubbing just causes pain. To put the degree of sunburn into perspective...take your worst sunburn, and then neglect to take your skin's warning and continue to go out in the sun every day for a month. Essentially burn upon burn upon burn, so now he has to heal from it...it takes time, and the pain has to be endured.

So Dave is hurting on the inside and outside of his neck - moving his head, stretching the skin, swallowing, all bring about pain - although the good thing is that our bodies are remarkable and this will all heal - time, patience, hydration, and nutrition. We are taking things one day at a time and Dave should start to feel better in a week - until then we press on.

Pictures in tomorrow's update.