Briefly : had all but five of my teeth (five front teeth, lower jaws still
'standing') ripped out on strong advice of oral surgeon and RO five weeks
prior to 7000 rads (gyr) of RT for lower tongue primary cancer Sq. cell
carcinoma, fully differentiated, T2-T3, 3cm. in size with some left-side
lymph node involvement. Two heavy-duty courses of chemotherapy requiring 4
day hospitalization pre RT. CarboPlatin once per week during some weeks of
RT.
Now taking Fluconazole (third course, 1 200mg. horse-pill per day) for
recalcitrant yeast infection which I understand is all too typical for
post-radiation immunity-compromised throat.
Using the bi-carb mouth rinse so recommended here, frequently. Sometimes
using artificial saliva.
Here's what I am noticing :
1. while I am not aware of any specific aching or pains in my jawbone, or
the healed over places where the teeth were extracted, I find myself
"naturally" wanting to put my fingers on the areas (where the teeth were
extracted) and press down hard. Something about the pressure feels good and
"healing" though there is no pain being relieved. Or put one finger over
several ex-tooth areas and bite down hard applying pressure to both upper
and lower places where the teeth were. While I am having dentures made
currently, I have undergone no irritating procedure of any type, and the
dentures are not ready yet and I haven't been wearing any type of appliance
or using a flouride tray (as I probably should).
2. rubbing the interior of my mouth with vaseline jelly seems soothing.
3. I seem to be avoiding automatically all cold beverages, and it gives me
some kind of good feeling to rinse with the hot beverages I am drinking
(typically the soy milk plus supplement powders).
4. rinsing with olive oil seems soothing.
5. eating triggers often extremely rapid swelling of what I assume are small
persistent ulcerations in the mouth ... most of the time, but not all the
time. These swollen ulcerated well-defined centers can also reduce very
quickly in size and degree of "irritation."
In trying to construct a "mental model" of what the inside of my mouth is
like, the metaphor I use now is to view it as a recovering "2nd. degree
burn" tissue area. I have no scientific information to back-up this "mental
model," however.
A friend has strongly recommended that I take acidophilus and/or eat yoghurt
to help with yeast infection. Thoughts ? I normally like yoghurt very much,
but it is one of the "cold foods" I have been avoiding.
Appreciate any comments or thoughts !
thanks, Uncle Sally
post-RT/ Chemo oral/throat care for H&N ... throat ... tongue ... cancer patients ? 
Linear Mode
