Hi Bill:     I agree with Captain about experimenting...although my bout with the Nasty Taste got nowhere close to what you guys experience...I wonder if Ginger Tabs may help (yes you're probably going to have to pre-wet the palate or, as I did, crush a bit at a time and drowned it in water before that painful swallow.     Since ginger tabs killed the nausea and minimized my gag reflex, I was actually able to drink more water.    Hope it works for you.   PS update...four months past last chemo/Rad I still have the same pain spots in the throat as thru treatment and am walking around with a swollen neck, mostly feeling like there's a stranger with his hands around my throat, like the song goes.    Regards, JoeAzTrucker ... View more

Hi CAP,    The best nausea fighting stuff I came across during those Dark Days was GINGER tablets.     No side effects and thankfully went past a mouthful of sores and a completely raw throat (using plenty of water, of course).     The anti nausea results were almost instantaneous after the first bits went down the hatch.     JoeAZtrucker ... View more

   Your playlist sounds like my utube favorites list (excepting Twilight Zone which would definately get me into guitar). At one time I got into Blues Harp, so "Heart of Gold" and Neil Young are close to my heart... But seriously, you sound tired and any veteran on the Cancer Wars has a right to be. Let me share the following, however: when I was in the depths of just getting acquainted with side effects that convinced me I'd never be the same again...when for the second time in my life I acknowledged Fear and Vulnerability...I read Captain Australis' piece on learning the guitar, just because To Be Alive Is reason enough to take up a challenge and Live, thrive and Grow. That little essay has kept me afloat thru my weaker times and inspired me. Now I have a few familiar songs to reinforce the feeling having read those words. I'd like to give back a little in saying that your words and your sharing in these last few years certainly has made a positive difference in my outlook. So Captain, go ahead and take a vacation and be human...I'm sure I'm not the only only person you have inspired to find Living amidst this interesting and turbulent times... Cheers and Thank You Joe (Ex) AzTrucker ... View more

Hi Captain...    Yup, three months out that lump is still there (though much dimished in size) and hard as a rock.   It still hurts from time to time depending on my sleeping position.  I am told it's mostly scarring from the RadioZapping.    Lately I've also noticed a small lump on the oppositte side, but again it seems to be part and parcel with the overall swelling of the neck-quite possibly caused by my nasty habit of working outdoors under the Arizona desert sun.  Of late I have taken to using a sweatband around my neck to protect the area...    Other than the neck swelling and the inability to make any headway gaining back that 20 pounds lost (as well as that ever present unchancing original lump), all's well.    I've pretty much given up both my concept of my "Old Self" and wondering what a "New Normal" is supposed to be or when will it arrive.     How's your guitar pursuits going, by the way?    Regards,    Joe The Retired Trucker          ... View more

Hey BugZap!      And I thought the Neck Swelling thing was either the too many hours in the Arizona Sun or too many Pabst Blue Ribbons!     Yah, the neck swelling started two months out...after last Rad, but I had already started working in the sun.  I'm doing a better job at covering myself and that seems to stabilize it.    Night dryness is pretty fearsome...but I've found that gargling with baking soda stretches the hours and gives me sleep time.   I think I'm down to one salivary gland...sometimes, when dryness just won't let me rest, i just lick some baking soda (which can cause gastric probs is some people...).       Unfortunately my insurance ran out and I kissed my friendly neighborhood Oncologists goodbye...and will let things take their course until I can get back to work or make it to retirement age in three years.     Otherwise life is good.  Glad to hear yer hanging in there and making the best as can!    Regards,    Joe ... View more

Hi BugZapper...     Wondering how ye be faring in the aftermath.    I'm still dealing with an issue or ten but all in all still waiting for life to settle.    Hope all's well with ya.   ... View more

Hi Phil...    Careful with the Textbook case mindset, since we're pretty vulnerable when going into Chemo and Radiation...and you might be prone to psychosomatic problems needlessly.    Yes, we all generally experience same symptoms sooner or later but as in my case ("Not as bad as I feared") I found that educating myself as to possible causes of symptoms and taking corrective measures helped enormously.     With a "Can Resolve" approach to side effects you may be able to lead a fuller life through treatment and beyond.    Regards,    Joe AzTrucker ... View more

Hi Julia...    Fatigue with me didn't really start until the 4th week...by that time my blood work was already showing a slight deficiency in Iron absorption but my Docs didn't bother to mention the impact iron defiency has on fatigue.    You might want to take a closer look at your Iron and adjust your diet.  Apparently Chemo and Rad tend to curtail your body's ability to absorb Iron.    Regards, Joe AZtrucker ... View more

Hi Captain...     Agree with that laundry list.  Three months outta Chemo N Zap my last Salivary gland set online takes a vacation anytime I reach for a Pabst (and God Help me if it's a Heineken!).  Same goes for that old Latin Espresso.    I'm still able to enjoy the Arizona Summer Sun if I ignore the swelling of the neck (no more Tanning-now its Swelling after sun bathing...).    I've taken a regime of extreme exercising and have found that gaining that 23 lbs I lost seems like a pipe dream (and never mind gaining muscle density-I'm Super Sparse)...but only hard work and exercise keep fatigue at bay.    Weird but the day I take it easy means two days wanting to play couch potato.     Its a different life and outlook...for us Cancer Veterans.     Regards ... View more

Hi Kate...I believe so.  Took thee weeks of ferrous sulfate pills 2x daily and Geritol multivitamin 3x per week.     Fatigue is now behind me, thanfully!    Regards, JoeAztrucker. ... View more