Diary of Radiation Symptoms

I had IMRT radiation to the head and neck (mainly the right side) for 30 sessions, a total of 66Gy of radiation.  I found that the radiation symptoms changed quickly, so I hope by documenting them here, it will help others who may be going through something similar.

Day 1 - Radiation #1

• muscle tightness

Day 2 - Radiation #2:

• muscle tightness
• eyes very tired (like after being in sun)

Day 3 -

• no soreness in jaw muscles
• no more fatigue like Day 2

Day 4 -

• no soreness or fatigue
• blister on left lower jaw behind molar, appear during dinner

Day 5 - Radiation #3:

• blister on left cheek during lunch, grew larger during dinner (put aloe patch on blister)

Day 6 - Radiation #4:

• blister popped overnight
• roof of mouth itchy, then blister formed on roof of mouth on the right side (swished salt water, then put aloe patch on blister) 
• **Note: started salt and baking soda mouth rinse

Day 7 - Radiation #5:

• blister on roof of mouth gone in morning/ mouth feels drier and stickier
• **Note: started prescription mouthwash - Nystatin and Diphenhydramine, alternate with salt and baking soda mouth rinse

Day 8 - Radiation #6:

• no mouth sore problems
• breakfast and lunch hard to eat (mouth sticky), after radiation took 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon aloe, dinner was easier to eat
• **Note: started taking 1 teaspoon aloe after radiation from now onwards

Day 9 - Radiation #7:

• no mouthsores or fatigue

Day 10- 

• no mouthsores or fatigue
• bleeding right upper gums when dental floss

Day 11-

• blister on left lower back of mouth (feel better after prescription mouthwash and 2 doses of Lysine)

Day 12- Radiation #8:

• right tongue feels raw after breakfast, got worse during dinner and at night - right tongue and gums feel inflammed even with constant mouth rinsing
• **Note: used straw for liquid diet

Day 13- Radiation #9:

• right tongue, cheek and gums feel inflammed
• white spot on right lower back of gums and cheek
• hard to eat without pain
• **Note: resident recommend painkiller, I didn't take.

Day 14- Radiation #10:

• mouthsores on right cheek, right lower back gums and right tongue
• **Note: Radiation oncologist recommends painkiller and numbing rinse/gel
• **Note: started to put dental rolls between cheek and teeth during radiation

Day 15- Radiation #11:

• mouthsores on right cheek, right lower back gums and right tongue
• **Note: hard to eat even pureed food

Day 16- Radiation #12:

• mouthsores on right cheek, right lower back gums and right tongue
• some ache pain inside ear
• nose bleed a bit, right nostril more inflammed than left
• **Note: hard to eat pureed food, soy milk+almond butter+coconut oil liquid OK.

Day 17-

• mouthsores some skin peeling away
• no ache or pain in ears/ no nose bleed (nose wash 3x)
• **Note: liquid diet OK, drank coconut juice and flesh very fast!

Day 18-

• mouthsores on right tongue, cheek and gums
• no bruised feeling behind ear
• no nose bleed

Day 19- Radiation #13:

• mouthsores on right tongue, cheek and gums
• gums feel sore
• clump of hair fell off after radiation on the right
• **Note: did nose wash 4x

Day 20- Radiation #14:

• mouthsores on right tongue, cheek and gums
• **Note: radiation oncologist said can add more dental rolls

Day 21-Radiation #15:

• **Note: 2 rolls between tongue and teeth, 1 roll between teeth and cheek (this is on both sides)
• mouthsores almost all gone and the area doesn't hurt!
• tongue less swollen after radiation
• tip of tongue feels a bit numb

• nose bled in morning
• when yawn, the left jaw doesn't creak but the roof of mouth and throat are sore
• right side of tongue doesn't hurt with fluoride treatment even though a big mouthsore is still there
• tongue is not swollen
• saliva less thick
• tip of tongue still a bit numb
• **cannot taste salty or sweet

• could eat some soft solids
• right side skin very red even with the proper creams
• when yawn, roof of mouth and throat is sore but left jaw doesn't crack
• tongue does not sting with fluoride treatment
• some blood from nose wash 

Day 24-

• right side skin a bit red/ blood from left nostril

Day 25-

• right tongue, roof of mouth and gums sting with fluoride treatment
• not much blood from left nostril
• blood from right upper molar gums when dental floss

Day 26-Radiation #18

• some bleeding from left nostril
• tongue felt swollen after radiation

Day 27-Radiation #19

• right tongue mouthsore hurts a bit
• gagged when took supplement (Dr. said may be due to thicker saliva)

Day 28-Radiation #20

• yawning still hurts (feel sore throat)

Day 29-Radiation #21

• gagged in middle of drink

Day 30-Radiation #22

Day 31-

• jaw hard to open
• talking with minimal jaw opening

Day 32-

• jaw hard to open
• throat dry
• large white patch at roof of mouth

Day 33-Radiation #23

• hurt when swallow
• feel a lump in throat on the right side
• throat gets irritated more easily, leads to hard coughing
• hard to take meals through straw (better with spoon)

Day 34-Radiation #24

• more raw skin on neck where radiation is hitting the original surgical wound, doesn't hurt though (**Dr. said better to have let her know the day it happened)
• eating better, can swallow better (did more mouth stretching exercises)

Day 35-Radiation #25

• jaw more tight
• raw area on neck increased, but is dry
• **Note: started glutamine rinse and swallow

Day 36-Radiation #26

• face feels hot after radiation
• hard to swallow and tongue sensitive to particles and slightly to raw banana
• feel more tired
• **Note: Dr. said dry wound is good, continue with Domboro

Day 37-Radiation #27

• very tired after radiation
• tongue and cheek pain and headache (napped 2hrs)
• cheek feels very warm/ thick liquids hard to swallow (took all clear liquids for dinner: beef broth, miso, whey powder)

Day 38-

• right inner gums (upper and lower) hurt even with very neutral foods
• **Note: took 7mL Tylenol+Codeine at night

Day 39-

• top of tongue hurts, also on the right side
• **Note: took Tylenol+Codeine before meals, twice today

Day 40-Radiation #28

• notice white dots on tongue (took 1 Clotrim tablet - anti-fungal)
• some blood in saliva (from throat?)
• back of mouth and throat sting with drink
• **Note: took 5mL Lortab twice today before meals

Day 41-Radiation #29

• blood in saliva from back of throat (Dr. said mucus lining there is very thin)
• still have white dots on tongue (took fungicide tablet)
• felt "water sounds" in ear (Dr. said keep ear dry, see some irritation in ear but no water in middle or inner ear)
• **Note: took Lortab once before lunch

Day 42-Radiation #30 - END of RADIATION!!!!

• still have white dots on tongue, but smaller (took fungicide once)

Day 43-

• still have blood from throat
• less white dots on tongue (took fungicide once)
• tongue looks scalloped (ie-swollen)

Day 44-

• some coughing from trachea
• tongue is scalloped
• 2-3 white dots on right side, under tongue in the front

Day 45-

• tongue hurts
• throat feeling more moist

Day 46-

• have to take single gulps
• tongue hurts (took 1 dose Lortab)
• ate more

Day 47-

• much of radiation burn dead skin came off
• thin liquids easier to drink than thick ones
• **Note: no Lortab needed

Day 48-

• felt very tired throughout day
• not much pain on tongue or throat, but find it hard to swallow - needed to be intentional

Day 49-

• not as tired
• skin ok
• **Note: Dr. said today that will be more tired at the end of radiation, need to keep up mouthwash and exercise jaw

Day 50-

• could eat soft solid food (select dim sum)
• almost all dead skin shed off

Day 51-

• could eat soft solid food (wonton)

Day 52-

• could eat solid food (lamb stew, yam, bread, salmon, cake, watermelon)

Day 53-

• ate solid food
• nose stuffed in middle of night (may be due to humidifier pointed away)

Day 54-

• solid food (wonton, ice cream bar)

Day 55-

• solid food (but couldn't chew beef too well)

Day 56-

• could do 25 mins of exercise but very tired afterwards
• blister and red patch at the right back of mouth

Day 57-

• solid food (lasagna - but **could not taste the salt)/ blister and red patch at the right back of mouth

Day 58-

• blister and red patch at the right back of mouth

Day 59-

• blister and red patch at the right back of mouth got larger

Day 60-

• blister and red patch at the right back of mouth smaller

Day 61-

• no more blister