possible aspiration???

Welcome to the H&N Group of the CSN

Welcome to the group. You had radiation, but what else was done if anything. Don't mean to pry, but it will help if I know what was done and where was the cancer. Did they di any surgery? The hard time swallowing might be from the RAD. When you cought is it when you are eating or drinking, or not related time wise. Do you cough hours after you ate. Look at what came up with the phlem, like small particals of what you ate hours ago. I ask this because I had silent aspiration[not going down the right pipe and I never new] Normal aspiration it when food or liquid goes down your treah instead and you should choke and cough it up. This happens when the epiglottis is not working correctly, mine didn't. You need to drink slower and not large amounts for now, if it doesn't go down it will go up. It is going to go the path of least resistance. It does not feel good, I know first hand. As for the phlem watch the color, green or yellow can mean infection. Drink some liquid slowley and do you cough right then, if so that is asperating. 

As to your question about getting pneumonia, the odd are very small. You would have to have bacteria your mouth to get it. You won't get it from aspirating, I asked my Dr because I was aspirating some on everything that went in my mouth.

You said you took amoxicillin on your own? Did you have extra from another time you did not finish, and why would you have it. Most doctors will prescribe Z-pac and a steroid to protect the lungs [for COPD] it works better than amoxicillin. I have servere COPD for several years.  You have had two swallow studys with no mention of aspiration, just difficulty swallowing, you probily don't have aspiration.

I would call your ENT and have him take a look for asperating, which can be quite serious. You might try eating a popsicle or milkshake and see if you start to cough hard and bring anything up with it. Have him check your vocal cords also. Hope it juse a side affect from thr Tx and not serious.

Bill

 

 

theoldnose said:

apserate

Wow I am impressed with your knowledge. No surgery and cancer at base of toungue HPV related. Just had pet scan last month at Sloan and it n was clean.Seeing my ENT Feb 3rd. While I was at Sloan the Dr said my vocal cords looker Red or inflamed and she advised me to see my ENT never told her of my chest problems with the feeling of congestion or coughing. Phglem is not yellow or green that is coughed up. I cough all the time now not just after or during eating. Funny thing is I never cough when I am sleeping but as soon as I get up it starts. 

Thank you for the information....

Remember i'm not a doctor, just some who has gone through this and has COPD, [both chronic bronchitis and severe bullous emphysema, stage 3] It sounds like you might have a touch of bronchitis and it's not serious. You are having a productive cough and might want to get some Mucinx DM. It will help thin the mucus and the DM will help you cough it up and out. It sounds like you have what is called "a smokers cough" doesn't matter if you ever did smoke. You might see your family Dr and let him know, he will most likely get a two view X-ray just to make sure are clear. You might have some COPD starting and it might just be a touch of bronchitus [ you cought a cold]and not to be too concerned. Drink extra water to also thin down your phlegm. This is bronchitus season. Remember to wright down your questions for your ENT, so if he asks a question you won't forget yours. You should be just fine in a few weeks, but you can always call your doctor and ask his nurse if you should be seen.

Don't worry and have a wonderful day.

Bill

traceyd1 said:

Aspiration

What you are describing may very well be aspiration.  I am a speech pathologist and perform these on children quite often.  The thing about a swallow study is that they are not 100%.  Just because you weren't aspirating during the study doesn't mean you aren't aspirating at other times.  I always liken this to taking your car into the shop for making a funny noise only to have it run perfectly when you get there! I hate to disagree with others posting, but you can in fact get aspiration pneumonia from what you eat.  This is why we recommend diet changes.  When food goes into the lungs, bacteria can grow and can develop into pneumonia.  Sometimes this happens and sometimes it doesn't.  As far as the feeling of liquid going up your nose, that's a condition called nasopharyngeal reflux.  Sometimes this happens when the walls of the throat and soft palate don't meet properly during the swallow and food goes back up into the nose.  The danger with this primarily with infants who drink a bottle and breathe through their noses during feedings.  I would encourage you to work with a speech pathologist to determine the diet that is easiest for you to manage safely.  

No apology needed. Glad you posted.

Traceyd1:

Glad you chimed in on the possible asperation. I was very concerned because I was asperating and they even kept me in the hospital until I stoped. I did not agree with my SLP saying the only way I would get aspiration pneumonia was if my mouth had bacteria in it already. I know bacteria pneumonia is very hard to get over. At the time she told me this, I had a laryngertomee and leaking around my TEP. very heavly. That is why I sugested getting an X-ray and to see his his ENT as well.

The asperation is a small part as to why I had the laryngectomy, and bad lungs and tumor was the main cause. My swallow study I had before the surgery did not show the tumor, just bone spurs affecting the bollos as it passed. 

Bill