9. Post treatment first 3 Months

Best news during this stage is no more new damage can be done, as treatment has been completed on 11th September 2020, although as I had previously stated the radiation still works away for the first few weeks after last session. 

Certainly medication getting from GP, is much easier, either order through link and get picked up, or can be delivered also. Abbots also call to check on level of Milkshakes and equipment for PEG tube. Hospital certainly give you lots of information and contact details. 1st follow up video call 1 week after last session, video call was with Oncologist nurses, as well as dieticians and Speech therapist (video calls much easier rather that trailing out etc) Covid has certainly brought in better ways of doing things. Appreciate still off work as levels of energy still low and inability to eat and drink makes life a bit harder. It is something that we all take for granted, is the ability to eat and drink more or less what you want, years of finding what you love and hate, to suddenly have that all taken away should not be under estimated, getting well is the priority, but losing this takes a bit to get used to, and you will. Sleeping gets better as days go on, and remember to to try and get any meds reduced ASAP, especially if you are still taking Morphine. 

In the early weeks after therapy I could not eat, drink anything. It got to the point where I fell out of love for food, just could not be bothered even trying to try things, I was conscious I had lost some weight, and did not want to put to much on?. 

After 1 of the video calls, I agreed to try harder with food, as I knew i had to see food as medicine, as I’m had to get back to some level of normal, or the PEG tube could not be removed, so i started doing things in reverse, trying custards, rice pudding etc first, early days could still not take tea or coffee, so was relying on water to eat things, each week managed to eat a bit more, although very little taste. TBH I was finding I could maybe taste some of the first mouthful, but then very little after that, so it was only heat and texture I could feel, but try try try,,,,defo found plain things tasted better again, and processed foods were not very good. It was strange that I had found taking a notion for certain things, Bagels which are not the easiest to eat with a dry mouth, but every morning I have a cinnamon and raisin bagel with butter, as weeks months went on was able to start drinking hot drinks, although stayed away from Dairy and soft drinks, as they tend to leave a bit of a furry mouth. Mouthwashes 4xday certainly helped a little to cleanse the mouth, and still using electric toothbrush now, certainly helping. 

Best tip here is keep trying to eat and drink things, and exercise little more each day

Top few pics at Xmas, other ones early December showing skin on neck all improved, and also some effects from Morphine.....also had a go at growing some facial hair ( funny as nothing was growing on neck, hair grew quicker and thicker around face)