Hi 

dilute the protein drinks if too gloopy. But honestly my advise is take the nasal feeding tube I had it ftom week 4 of treatment and ok it’s not pleasant

There not many of us who are struggling to eat nbdrjnk  at Marks stage who can manage without help. Whbut you can get medication down via it but more import nutrition and hydration read mine n Ian’s blogs again   as hydration is the key to recovery and nutrition no matter how much is vital. Don’t want to be a downer but have been there and done it. Otherwise hospital s will become inevitable for feeding and drinking.  What’s marks problem with the nasal tube ?  If it’s fear tell him if I can do it anyone can

lecture over. 

Keep in touch 

hazel 

Hi Ian

hope dr not taken my best mate status !!!!! We are like a pair of swans now u r stuck with me for life. 

Lol

yeo our insurance covers me for all usual stuff soartvfrom anything cancer related. So will go with that as like I say will hop on a plane. Go on book Majorca surprise Fiona I date u to. 

Bevmy mate u should watch all 21 avengers films  binge watch guaranteed to get your sleeping back on track.packing fine temperatures s bit high for my liking but sun god John will be happy stick me in shade with s book n my kindle. Although just got new glasses vari focus not happy with them distance I am ok with but middle n reading getting worse so z£500 later n as u can imagine John has no sympathy. Yesterday’s comment take s hammer to them. Oops. 

H xx

Ian, a wee update on flying, as you asked other week. So, my flight 7 weeks ago i used 2 litres each way Tenerife to Edinburgh. Last week was so different, used half a litre each way. Huge change. On the return trip i had the xylitol melts i  ordered so, i even had a few vinos in the lounge first!  Time deffo helping, i never thought of it much till now, good measurement. Still get dryness but right there is proof of improvement, 17 weeks since last radiotherapy now.

Hi Jo

I didnt have a PEG and was on the Ensure drinks for a while. I did call them the Bushtucker trial drinks but you get used to them after a while. My mindset was they were medicine at them time and needed to  be taken whether I wanted to or liked them or not. Same as my medication. They are all part of treatment and recovery I'm afraid. Just make sure they are nice and cold from the fridge and not warm room temprature. If you are using Complan then make up with really cold milk.
On advice re making them more palatable, I would think of the alternatives to not taking them as that eventually focussed my mind when I didnt take them or drank enough of when I was supposed to.

Ian

Graeme

Brilliant news. You have done so well and better than you think Mr Half Empty lol

On dryness, both myself and hazel still dont have 100% dry free mouths and I constantly have to drink water and have available.There are some things that will be pretty much be permenent that stay with us and I've been advised that dryness and having to drink a little more will be one of them. In the big scheme of things its a very small price to pay but I'm really chuffed you are feeling and doing so well and are even now pleased with your own progress. Who hoo....

Your the opposite huh and organising insurance from Spain and assume that you would just get any treatment required in UK.
Not that any of us will ever need it with positive heads on and its just there as s total emergency.

Onwards & Upwards

Ian

Hi Hazel

nah you jjust edge it over the doc but mind you he doesnt bully me like you do.

John's great for you and can obviously sort you out when you press brat mode button lol although ouch at £500 just for glasses.
Im sure you will be more happy in the sun and/or in shade than depressing weather we are having and will do you good. At least you will be back out on your bikes and up mountains again on your triathlons. Just curious but do you cover your neck up in sun at all over and above sun factors or just leave exposed?
That makes sense re insurance and falls into what I've heard from others at work in that cover ok but it can exclude cancer related treatments, but as you say as well its only a few hours flight home if worse case scenario. Will also need to wait and see how the Brexit thing pans out and how healthcare abroad will be effected in Euro countries re UK

I'm gonna wait re abroad until I get a few weekend breaks and maybe UK holiday next year under my belt first.
I also tend to book my holidays a year in advance or so and as soon as brochures come out online as I'm not a great flier/claustrophobic and make sure we have seats 1B/1C on Easyjet or I wont go or will choose an alternative fornight/3 weeks. 
I'll hear how your both doing at some point during your latest 12 week holiday.

ian x

Hi isn glad I am above dr. Ok will let u off re holidays I am ok as long as I have window seat or i paddy !! Plus have to blow kisses 3 times when St top of aircraft stairs apart from that not as o c d as you my friend that’s why we get along together ying n yang. Re glasses ouch indeed but they are all bells n whistle s hard fisted reacts to din etc just shame I can’t get used to them might improve my typing. Taking them on holiday so will try harder plus no hammers in apartment for me to smash them with. 

Enjoy weekend n get to pictures !!!!! U need to see toy story 4 soon if I will tell u the spoilers only joking james st 8 now doesn’t want to see it ! Kids today  

h xx

h xx

Hi everyone 

good news from us, husband’s PET scan clear thank goodness.   Like everyone he found the treatment very tough with the worst difficulties being with the chemo nausea and the desire for food being turned off.   Weight loss has been as expected, clothes he last wore 25 years ago fit again, but happily weight is now maintained.   Re feeding tubes - it’s there to help you, don’t fight it, easier said than done I know.  Re the dreaded ensures/fresubins etc - down in one so you’ll not taste it.   Alcohol - stout ( a tin/bottle a day) was a good source of calories in the early stages after treatment finished but cut short because suddenly reflux has become a problem.  We have been told it’s a common problem after treatment along with sleep apnoea and lymphoedema in the neck which has resulted in what looks like a flesh coloured wattle.  Fortunately we have been reassured that all will settle.  Getting back to eating has been challenging and most of our meals are now planned very last minute, simple things work better and sadly spicy food is a no go at the moment.   

I read today about the HPV vaccination programme being set to roll out to boys, sadly a catch up exercise seems currently planned which clearly is a missed opportunity.

Best wishes to all of you 

x

Hi all. my partner is near the end of his treatment for throat cancer and he is finding it difficult to keep anything down I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem