Hi Ian 

in marathin terms you’ve hit the wall ! Or in other words as low as you probably go I liken it to week 8-12 on gamma ray Gary’s blog  we all hit it at different times in the process .its a vicious circle to break sleep is good but what we are suffering from is radiation tiredness and as daft as it’s seems exercise is the way out . Start baby steps as always just walk to end if your street next week then maybe a little further. We flew off to Spain start if week 8 and it was around your time now that’su  inwas low and John and I had words he just didn’t get it inwas sleeping and not eating  at all I said I can’t do a 2 hour car ride 2.5 plane ride etc etc but as u know I did it. Git my rollers  out fit my bike n did 1/2 km a day nit much but a start .by now it was October so wrapped up well and we started to venture out we live in the country’ so never walked far but 1;2 mike slowly increased to a mile. The sleeping I got into routine in day time 30 mins around 12 o clock and 30 mins around 5 pm put alarm in if need be and get up. 

I know u like to read get a book not a kindle or tablet a good old fashioned book set your self small target so you don’t over tire yourself then move in to a chapter .

i managed spain atbweek 8 and first day walked 6 km bybstart if week 9 I git in my bike and did 8 km by time we came home week 11 inwas doing 22 km ok nit dine as much now as me n cold don’t agree . Give it a try.

te your mouth if thrush it’s white and u can scrape it off otherwise it could be like my tongue atrophy is what consultant called it basically dead nnre generating  .

food try toast with chees and a poached egg on top calorie s is the name din the game jelly n custard think back to when we were kids and hi to comfort food .have you tried ice creamI couldn’t stand it for weeks them one day I tried it out it in cake it softens it and increases calaoeies mix complan with Ensure as well thins it downs increases hydration and increases calories  

I used to aim for 1800 calories a day and had a notebook where I wrote everything down  it was two fold gave me some control over what u was doing plus made sure I kept my weight stable.

being lethargic us making u lethargic 

xmas was far better than I thought possible a month ago , I am now cooking and baking which atbweek 5 I never thought possible don’t despair dust yourself down and look forward to next 5 week s week 10 spring will be justbeound the corner wellmat least it might be lighter a little bit at 5 pm .

one last thing unfounded a lymphatic massage site last night I had asked my nurse if it would be okmand she said yes try anything wow I slept until 0430 without getting up for water to unblock  the mouth yiu May have that delight to come 

go online Rochelle Clark lymphatic massage of course  I can’t teccomend it but I felt it moving the gunk afte about the 2 nd session.

I am slowly reducing the co,codomol now 3 tablets atb8 mg and 5 at 30 mg the aim is by mid January all then Ben 8 mg then start reducing to 4 8 mg and 4 paracetamol but like unsay I keep reassessment of utbas I don’t want pain.

hope above helps and thank you for comments in blog I hope it is helping people as much as it helps me 

john and I echo your sentimentsnfor a blessed and happy new year to everyone .

Hazel  

Hi Hazel im at the end of week 4 radio now, my mouth is so dry at night, Im rinsing with mouthwashes when I get up which a bout 4 times each night but the dryness at the back of throat is back straight away, roof of my mouth is still bleeding from sore areas, food has become horrible to me I cant stand the taste of anything and had to have a smoothie last night while holding my nose, also Im now constipated all the time, I have a doc appointment today aswell as the treatment and Im going to tell him everything.

Dave

Hi Dave,I also got the constipation real bad at around the same time as you during radiotherapy and I  didn't go for 9 whole days! I put it down to the oramorph and codeine.Anyway they prescribed some Laxido at the hospital and I think I had a large dose and it shifted it.Dropped down to a single sachet at night and it solved it for me.I still take it every day now until I get into a normal eating regime.I'm 19 weeks post radiotherapy.

John.

Thanks Hazel and I was kinda thinking about moving my butt after new year and getting back to our health club. I used to go every morning before work for about an hour on the bike ands one that supported my back, Ill leave swim just now in case of infection, but I guess your right and need to try and baby step back to exercise and dust some of these cobwebs away.

I like your analagy to hitting my marathon wall and if its as low as I can go then the only way is up!.

Determined to keep positive as not in any real discomfort apart from constant tiredness and little niggle re mouth/gums/jaw.

I stay in small village so will get out at the weekend for a small walk and start from there so thank you , again !

You make me dizzy with all your bikes rides etc and Im sure you have superpowers..

Still keep taking ipad to bed but dont really manage at all, but again baby steps.
I guess trying a little of things is a better mode rather than high expectations of awake/exercise/reading and eating even at this stage and will pop my positive sensible hat on again and re start my engines and thought process.
Like you I find recording a little blog is quite therapeutic and was determined to do so from the get go. If it helps anyone along the way as well then thats great,

Will wrap up and thanks again as feel little more encouraged now and will also put my cloak on to see if I can get my superpowers to work.

Onwards and upwards

kind regards

ian

No problem Iam I glad  I can help I will let’s face none if us asked for this !! So a problem shared is a problem halfed.just build up slowly it’s a case of hare and the tortoise .

re reading pick something that’s easy for starters as it’s like watching tv I e only just started watching documentaries and things that need my brain up to now it’s been masterched  n bake off anything else hurt my head !!!!

look forward to next catch up.

Hazel

Hi Dave Yep you are on track ,dry mouth is the worst side effect of all , try a glass of water at side if bed and a bowl just sip the water to try nd break the seal  mouth stuck  roof of mout I i liken to to ripping a piece of Velcro .weel 4 for me was our big bust up with John all over poached egg well insend 9 poached eggs back as he wasn’t cooking them to my exact needs. Oops !!!Ne laugh about it now. It was around this time that u succumbed to the feeding tube which did help left me to concentrate on everything else as I was struggling with the 2000 calories that they wanted me to have some days I was lucky to get 800. I really do sympathise a season I have been there read the book wore the t shirt.if you haven’t been given the food supplements ask for them plus if you find them too thick get some complan make it up water them down two fold increases calories and increases liquid. I was given Movicol or laixido early in the process and still likemJohn take one every day ask your dr or nursedor prescription,your dentist or nurse can also provide saliva spray they do  help .i also bought on line mouth mouth called bioxtra very very very mild. I rinse last thing  at night with it and usually get a good few hours. Also a company called the mouth lozenge sellmquite a few products one being xymelts I couldn’t get in with them but know,people who swear by them.  Also in day time try chewing gum sugarvfree with xiytol in it to encourage saliva 

Don’t know if you’ve read my blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com I have a few tips in there and more or less a weekly review. I am now week 15 still have dry mouth in night but only up twice Keep in touch Hazel

Hi Dave n julie

how Julie coping tell her it’s ok to cry or rant 

i know it’s so strange the things we share with total strangers is hilarious at times ie toilet talk but we know what each other is going through.

i totally know what you mean re taste one guy with me didn’t have any taste and he could eatbanythung me like you had altered taste buds and it was so hard. 

The only plus point I can give you now mine are back to normal about week 3 post radiotherapy it helps whereas the other guy still can’t taste and it’s really getting to him. Just use your imagination to remember what it tasted like in our previous life. Sstveating a toasted fruit tea cake with melted cheese on for breakfast it’s delightful still all about calories .

thank u for reading blog

hs rl n jihn 

Julie is coping well most of the time she had a few meltdowns early on but is ok now, she`s pushing and organising me and is my rock i`d be lost without her help being a typical bloke I keep taking my eye off the ball and forgetting one of my routines but she pulls me back in line. Julie lost her mum at 42 with cancer, a long time ago she would have been saved if it was now.

Dave

Hi Laura the waiting to start the treatment did my head in I just wanted to get on with it, once it starts Im sure you will feel better, stay strong.

Dave