First real meal... kind of

Mikemetz said:

ER dilation
As usual, we went to the ER once the one hour rule kicked in. The ER doc called in a surgical team and they did it in one of the ER rooms, rather than have me wait to be admitted to the hospital. It was no problem.

mike

Dilation, eating and more
My first food after treatment was cream of potato soup and then I choked on it (this was two weeks after treatment ended)> I still had my PEG tube in. I got scared, decided never to eat again! Came to my senses and called my ENT. I had a swallow test the next week and two months of electrode therapy and two stretches. PEG came out in July and I have never looked back.
I have to tell myself to slow down eating! Some foods are tricky and like Sweetblood I drink alot of milk especially when eating things that want to stick (chicken, stew meat).
I consider myself a lucky woman to have come so far after a bout with Stage 4. My ENT told me the other day that he refers to me as the miracle woman
I think getting to the best hospital is important! And docs, and therapists. I lucked out on all counts and credit them for keeping my quality of life so high. I shudder to think of what could have been.
I hope all of you can get the help you need to improve. We sure don't realize what a gift it is to be able to eat. I loved food and when I found it tasted like cardboard and wouldn't go down my throat I was so sad. I thought I could get better, but had no idea to what extent. I guess we all find out sooner or later what our new normal is, don't we?
As the holidays are upon us, my wish is that each of us gets to enjoy Christmas, even if it is different than what we thought it would be. I know I will!!
Peace and bon appetite!
Nancy