NPC Tongue Paralysis

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Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member

    Paralyzed tongue

    I, like you were never informed by my MD Anderson doctors this might occur.  My tumor was on my left tonsil so most damage to left vocal cord and left side of tongue.  I have found it easier to eat solid foods by cutting them up in very small pieces.  For breakfast I use Cheerios, milk, bananas, protein powder, liquid vitamins, and any other fruit I may want to add.  I then blend the hell out of it and drink away.

    on another note, I have been receiving injections into my left vocal cord that helps with my swallowing.  More times than not prior to injections food would invariably get caught which induced a round of coughing.

    Hope some of this helps and good luck.

     

    Hi wmolivertx

     

    About six years after me second treatment of radiation for NPC I started to have problems speaking. It was not long after that I could not swallow very well, then lost the ability to swallow anything and had to get a PEG tube. None of my doctor at MDA or here in Lafayette said anything about late side effects of Radiation treatment. What happened is the radiation damaged the nerve that works the tongue and voice there is no reversion the damage. I have been like this for just about two years now and it does not bother me anymore just another part of my life that I live every day. I am still working full time with some very wonderful people who accept me as I am, God has been so good. I use to preach but can no longer speak so I now write my sermons and post them on my web-site I call it Restoring Gods Truth. I am still here no sign of anymore cancer just trying to live as normal a life I can everyday with God’s help.

     

     

    Hondo

     

  • mnictakis
    mnictakis Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2016 #23
    Paralyzed

    I'm just happy to be on this side of the dirt.  My tongue is paralysed.  I'm NPO so everything I eat and drink is via a feeding tube, and my speech is terrible.  But I get to tuck my girls in every night so I'm not complaining.   A couple of recommendations.  If you need a feeding tube, get a Mickey Button.  The tube is modular and works thru a port in your stomache.  Way cool.  NO NOT try Vital Stim.  I went thru 70 sessions.  Hurt like heck.  No benefit.  Lastly, I'm from Louisiana.  Pour a couple of cold ones down the tube every now and then.  Won't hurt nothing, and you'll feel like one of the guys. 

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    edited November 2016 #24
    Hi Mnictakis

     

    i too First let me say Welcome to CSN H&N, like you i too had NPC, my first treatment was in 2002 and my second treatment was in 2004 so I am about 12 years from last treatment. About 4 years ago I lost the ability to swallow and my tongue was numb and dead, so I got a PEG tube and have been doing well on it. Please open a post on yourself as there are many other NPC users still here to help others get through this trial in life.

     

    Tim Hondo