Here's one I haven't seen

Outfield
Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I am right now dealing with a result of chemo that just has me feeling beaten-down right now.  

My chemo was in the summer of 2010.  I don't know if it was the chemo itself, my adherence to the advice to brush my teeth after every time I ate, or what I'm sure was some malnutrition because I had a precipitous weight loss, or a combination, but whatever the cause my gums receded badly.  9 days ago I had a soft tissue graft across the front of all my bottom teeth.  I have already used easily more than three time as much Vicodin for this mouth pain as I did during my whole recering from my BMX.  I'm using ibuprofen round the clock.  I feel so worn down by pain in my mouth.

To add to that, I can't eat much.  Really no raw vegetables or fruit, and no nuts or seeds, for a month.  I have been eating so well since my diagnosis.  Really, really well.  And now I'm eating Rice Dream daily because it feels so good to have something smooth and cold I can squeeze around my mouth.  

I never thought I would crave carrots so much.  But mostly, it's the pain.   

I have a surgery to release scar tissue in my axilla scheduled for next month.  Now I'm beginning to second-guess my decision to do that because I just don't know if I can stand another wound anywhere on my body right now. 

Cancer is so hard.  Before I got it, I always thought the hard part would be worrying that I was going to die.  And that is the hardest part.  But there are so many grindingly difficult parts of it that just never seem to come to an end. 

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  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited March 2012

    Ugh, the gift that keeps on giving! Sorry you are going through this. I know what you mean about more surgery also. I hve to have another port put in, lost my other one due to infection and I just don't want to do it! They have to put me out because I have weird veins, so that scares me too!

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited March 2012

    I've always had a pretty high tolerance for pain, and a good thing, too, since the SE's from the AI I'm taking are all joint pain. But that tolerance only extends up to my neck. Any pains above there, especially in my mouth, and I'm a total wuss.



    Nine days is still early days after surgery, but I've always been told that the mouth heals very quickly, so I'm surprised you are still having pain. Does your dr think this is normal?

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  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 872
    edited March 2012

    Outfield, theres a great product called "Green Goodness" made by Bolthouse available at Publix and Walmart, I get mine better deal at BJs, here's info I copied, I add more super greens, kiwi, pineapple, brocolli, etc and blend it to make a great morning smoothie...

    Hope this helps...

    Bolthouse Farms® Green Goodness® starts with wheat grass, spirulina, spinach and blue-green algae. We add apples, kiwis, mangos, bananas, pineapples and dragon fruit to make it a good source of iron and Vitamin B6, naturally rich in Vitamins A, C, and B12, and packed with powerful phytonutrients found in nature's most nutritious greens.

    • Blend of 8 delicious juices/purees.
    • Packed with 14 powerful nutrients delivering unmatched healthy green phytonutrients.
    • No preservatives and nothing artificial.
    • Flash pasteurized and cold-filled for longer shelf life and superior nutrition.
    • 100% Juice, 100% Natural and no sugar added.
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  • Octobergirl
    Octobergirl Member Posts: 334
    edited March 2012

    Hi Outfield, just want to let you know you're in my thoughts and I send healing energy. I know well how hard it is to deal with mouth pain and surgery. Several yrs. ago, I had major vascular surgery through my mouth and including my tongue. The pain (and bleeding) lasted months...simple movements reopened the wounds and I lived on thin, egg- rich custard and runny mashed potatoes sometimes infused with other pureed veggies mostly sucked thru a big straw. It was before green/carrot juices were in supermarkets. Physically, it was worse than going thru cancer tx. I can only imagine how it is for you, following on the heels of tx. Hang in there. October

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited March 2012

    Ugh, 

    So sorry you are going through this!  It's insult to injury!  NOT FAIR AT ALL!  I saw somany recommended the Green Goodness (which btw, is YUMMY), but they also make pure carrot juice!  I know it doesn't satisfy that texture thing, but maybe the flavor and coolness of it would make you feel just a bit better.

    (((Hugs))),

    Sharon 

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  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited March 2012

    Thanks all.  Seem to have rounded some corner today and it's feeling a lot better.

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