I had my thyroid removed and had rai. My mouth is drier than it was before, but my salivary glands weren't removed. I have to always have something to drink in order to eat. I had my surgery about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, so you can imagine swallowing turkey was difficult, so I dipped it into my mashed potatoes and gravy to get it down. There are things to help a dry mouth, Biotine mouthwash, gum, toothpaste, etc. Your onc should be able to make specific suggestions for you.
My Goodwill
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ratbpk asked a questionThyroid Cancer
Coughing
6 answers-
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spunky
almost 7 years agoI have no solution for the coughing either. But maybe if you start using products for dry mouth, that may lessen the coughing, which may be from the dry mouth. I use Act mouthwash that is made specifically for dry mouth. Biotine makes a whole line of products for dry mouth. I had a high dose of RAI and now have chronic dry mouth.
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Meera
almost 7 years agoI think Time will help, and going to a Speech Therapist helped my throat and even cough the most. I think we might cough also because there is a void in our throats where the thyroid glad was. So we have to re-learn how to and what muscles to use for talking, drinking and eating (even breathing!).
Most heat with salt helps the throat a lot. I took nasal and throat inhalations that really helped, with salt in it, and also the CVS saline nasal spray. Do try it and do try and go to a Speech Therapist.
Best wishes!
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ratbpk started following
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ratbpk asked a questionThyroid Cancer
what to say to people when they say 'you look great for what you've been through'
16 answers-
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gwendolyn
almost 8 years agoAlthough it may feel as if they are minimizing what you've been through, they probably aren't. Assume they mean well and they can only imagine how difficult things have been for you. Depending on your relationship with the person you could say something witty (some good ideas have already been posted) but you can always just say thank you.
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Elinwill
almost 8 years agoMy husband really worries about looking old and sick, so whenever someone tells him he is looking great he takes it as a positive. He feels that family and friends notice how much he has recovered from his last major surgery, so maybe people don't know what to say and it sounds bad to you, but try taking it as a positive, they may be saying it as an encouragement.
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ratbpk shared an experience
Celebration (Breakthrough): It's a little over a week since my second surgery of the remaining left lobe of my thyroid. Stitches came on 1/23 and test result was negative. Onward and upward! I have a consultation with a radiation oncologist soon, for iodine radiation. I am new to this site and look forward to sharing my
testimony with others. -