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| Filling prescriptions from home on a radiation evening |
Radiation treatment was undertaken so that Ben could swallow better. However, one of the effects of the radiation was that it irritated his upper GI tract, and swallowing became painful. He would eat softer and softer foods, also taking things in slower and slower. Eventually, he couldn't take in enough calories each day, so he began supplementing with intravenous nutrition (TPN) that got pumped into him 14 hours per night.
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| sporting his new TPN backpack |
At the time radiation treatment ended was when he could no longer eat or drink anything by mouth without experiencing enough pain to induce vomiting. The doctor increased the number of calories in his TPN, but even so, without real food, his energy dropped significantly and he was forced to take a hiatus from work. This made Ben so sad, because work, and helping his patients, is so fulfilling for him. We waited impatiently for the day his body would heal from the radiation, he could take in food and get back to normal.
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| receiving IV fluids |
From that day to this, Ben has relied solely on TPN for all his nutrition, except being able to swallow popsicles, then water and kool aid. He has struggled to control his pain and nausea, trying medications in non-swallowing form that ended up not being a good fit. The great news is that in the last day and a half, his vomiting has reduced by more than two thirds! To help him conserve his energy, we moved our bed downstairs, and having a bed nearby is helping him get better quality sleep during the day. Crossing fingers that this is the turning point we have been waiting for!
