STILL FEELS LIKE THERE'S A GOLF BALL IN MY THROAT!

rrman
rrman Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My cancer began on my right tonsil. It spread to one lymph node on the right side of my neck. I finished treatment 5 weeks ago; 6 chemos and 39 radiations in the neck area. I also have a peg tube for feeding. Before radiation, every morning, I was given a shot of Ethyol (sp?) which is supposed to protect the salivary glands from radiation. It's a relatively new part of the treatment. It made me as sick as chemo did. My question is has anyone had experience with this method of treatment which was radiation/chemo/Ethyol all at the same time? Also, it's been about 3 weeks since I've been in recovery "officially" and I'm no longer on pain meds for my throat but it still feels like there's a "ball" stuck in my throat. I've been told it's the healing process and that it's just tight. I have no appetite and it's uncomfortable to swallow. So, I use the feeding tube exclusively. Any suggestions or experiences would be more than welcome. Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • phattpig
    phattpig Member Posts: 29
    #2
    Hi and welcome to the club. I too had the radiation, chemo treatments going at the same time. I had 40 radiation treatments, and 10 weeks of chemo. During the last third of my radiation, I was started on the ethyol treatments to keep my glands from drying up. This was the only time I really got sick. I finally convinced my doctors that the ethyol was making me sick, when they stopped the ethyol, I stopped getting sick.

    As far as the "golf ball" in your throat, it will get better. I still wake up feeling that way, although I have a tracheostomy tube. I finished my radiation treatments on July 13, 2000. I just finished my second round of chemo last week, April 18, 2002. The only advise I can give you is to not give up. there are a lot of us here to give you moral support. Please email me if I can help.
  • amy_evan2005
    amy_evan2005 Member Posts: 39
    #3
    phattpig said:

    Hi and welcome to the club. I too had the radiation, chemo treatments going at the same time. I had 40 radiation treatments, and 10 weeks of chemo. During the last third of my radiation, I was started on the ethyol treatments to keep my glands from drying up. This was the only time I really got sick. I finally convinced my doctors that the ethyol was making me sick, when they stopped the ethyol, I stopped getting sick.

    As far as the "golf ball" in your throat, it will get better. I still wake up feeling that way, although I have a tracheostomy tube. I finished my radiation treatments on July 13, 2000. I just finished my second round of chemo last week, April 18, 2002. The only advise I can give you is to not give up. there are a lot of us here to give you moral support. Please email me if I can help.

    going through same thing
    My husband is currently going through same thing. He just found out his esophagus is completely blocked. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Amy & Evan
  • BeenThereDoneThat
    BeenThereDoneThat Member Posts: 33
    #4
    amy_evan2005 said:

    going through same thing
    My husband is currently going through same thing. He just found out his esophagus is completely blocked. Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Amy & Evan

    Esophagus
    I too had a 'benign esophageal stricture' from the radiation...... a fancy word for 'food gets stuck'!

    I have had 2 'stretch' procedures to open it up. It is a simple, fast procdedure. No pain, and much gain. I would check on this. Worked for me. It's been almost 3 years since my last one, and I can eat anything (as long as I have water, and chew like mom taught me!)

    Good luck

    George
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    BeenThereDoneThat said:

    Esophagus
    I too had a 'benign esophageal stricture' from the radiation...... a fancy word for 'food gets stuck'!

    I have had 2 'stretch' procedures to open it up. It is a simple, fast procdedure. No pain, and much gain. I would check on this. Worked for me. It's been almost 3 years since my last one, and I can eat anything (as long as I have water, and chew like mom taught me!)

    Good luck

    George

    Hi George
    That’s why it is always good to do what Mama said, I have not had to do the stretch thing just yet but getting close to needing it. It is getting hard to swallow a small pill these days.
  • amy_evan2005
    amy_evan2005 Member Posts: 39
    #6
    Hondo said:

    Hi George
    That’s why it is always good to do what Mama said, I have not had to do the stretch thing just yet but getting close to needing it. It is getting hard to swallow a small pill these days.

    complete blockage
    Hello gentlemen,
    They aren't sure if they can get it open enough to stretch without doing surgery first to make an opening for the scope & balloon. Have either of you or anyone else had to have surgery to open enough to get in?
    Thanks again,
    Amy & Evan

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