A couple of questions for Pat (Longterm survivor or anyone knowledgeable)

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Mrs. Sarge
Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I'll ask my onc Dr. Thurs. but I wonder what is causing me to choke so badly on saliva, just about any liquids, if I'm not very careful. I assume it's the swelling to my vocal cords (rads only to vocal cords, not to nodes)/throat? Also my mouth isn't dry since it's not being radiated but my lower throat is so incredibly dry that I feel like I'm choking. The usual remedies for dry mouth and even the Lidocaine solution RX they gave me hardly helps as it doesn't get to the dry area....UG! Any suggestions? I haven't tried honey, but I just thought about putting some of that in some warm tea and trying that or pure honey? I do have some Oasis spray gel that helps for a little while.

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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
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    throat issues
    Mrs. Sarge,

    I choked a lot, mainly when trying to clear my throat and when swallowing to a lesser degree. My wife and I have a special sink in the utility room for me to rinse, gargle, choke, gage and spit in (I still use it). For me it was small sips of MM down the throat to sooth the soreness. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the honey, it seems alright, but I doubt that I could have gagged it down. As for the Lidocaine, I used that for mouth sores, it did not seem to help my throat.

    Keep swallowing and drink lots of water.

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
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    I have trouble my dry throat too....
    I didn't try honey, but I imagine that honey mixed with a litt hot water might help (I think it would be too thick to do straight).

    Milk has been my lifesaver for almost everything...even the Instant Breakfast VHC was too thick without washing it down with whole milk.

    My MM says you can swallow it if the esphagus is involved...well, mine isn't but the lower throat is, can you swallow your mouthwash?

    p
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #4
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    Liquids
    Hello !
    Have you had a swollow test done yet ? Sometimes we don't even know we aren't able to swollow properly. Also with that lidocaine...suggest to your doctor to mix it half and half with benydrl....it's just like magic mouth wash. I used half and half mixed it together. Helped tremendously and kept my butt out of the hospital. But be sure to ok this with your doctor please ! Best wishes sent your way, Katie
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #5
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    Not much fun, thats for sure
    Could be swelling around the epiglottis, or simply dysfunction of a portion of the mechanism, where things are simply not moving properly right now. Both causes will improve later, but can be quite a problem for awhile. I counted how many swallows it took to get eight ounces of ensure down. At my worst it took 22. Now it takes only 9, three months after rads. Unfortunately, beyond what has been said, this situation isnt very treatable.

    best to you
  • Mrs. Sarge
    Mrs. Sarge Member Posts: 206 Member
    #6
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    Not much fun, thats for sure
    Could be swelling around the epiglottis, or simply dysfunction of a portion of the mechanism, where things are simply not moving properly right now. Both causes will improve later, but can be quite a problem for awhile. I counted how many swallows it took to get eight ounces of ensure down. At my worst it took 22. Now it takes only 9, three months after rads. Unfortunately, beyond what has been said, this situation isnt very treatable.

    best to you

    Thanks
    for replys. It feels like swelling, but I will bring it up with the Dr. If I talk a little too much or even just swallowing I choke and cough but guess it is, what it is!! Have eaten pretty good up to now, but it's got to be VERY soft for me to get it down now. Probably will lose some weight now, but that's fine! Courage for all of us on the "bus" and recovering from the ride!!!

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