Don't know what to do!

[Babydolltina]

My wife finished Radiotherapy for S.C.L.C 2 weeks ago. She had 8 shots to the head and 20 to her lung. Over the last 2 weeks she has stopped eating due to pain and being sick and sleeps about 20 hours a day. Her fluid intake is minimal also. The weight is dropping off her and she is also confused some of the time when she is awake. Her breathing when she is asleep is fast and then she jitters and jerks through it. What is happening? Is this normal?

[Nimrod2]

Please speak to your lung nurse or oncologist. There is medication available to help with issues of eating and drinking. There are also supplements available if she cant eat solids. You should be referred to the dietician for advice. Dont leave it . The sleepiness is not unusual. My husband was affected like this last year after radiotherapy. Seek advice please.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi,

Nimrod 2 is giving you good advice.If you haven't already done so speak to your wife's GP re the pain and being sick.If she has not been eating and drinking she could be dehydrated.It may be that she needs a blood sample taken to assess this.The sleepiness may be due to post radiation. I have attached a link to one of our radiotherapy booklets roycastle.org/app/uploads/2...

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy Castle Foundation

[Babydolltina in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank You all. It has been dealt with. The hospice nurse has sorted it.

[Nimrod2 in reply to Babydolltina]

Hi thats good. We get support from the team at our local hospice and they are brilliant. Not sure how we would cope without them. Hope things improve for your wife. Best wishes

[Babydolltina in reply to Nimrod2]

Thank You Nimrod2. God Bless You

[Billcul]

Hi, I'm sorry not to have responded sooner, but I was away from home. I hope you've got things sorted out now. My radiotherapy was so long ago (19 years) that things will have moved on by now - I would hope. I was lucky back then, as my r/c didn't cause any major problems, only difficulty in swallowing, which was easily rectified, and extreme tiredness.

Any problems I din encounter, I contacted the CNS, who always sorted them out.

Best wishes,

BillCul

[Babydolltina]

Hi everyone who replied to my post. I'm sorry I didn't report sooner but my wife was in hospital. Her oesophagus was burnt that much the dead cells found their way into her bowel and infected it. With her vomitting and having no solids in her she ruptured her oesophagus but they have managed to glue it and get the infection out of her bowel. Well on the mend now. Thank you all again.....x