Swallowing exercises

peggylulu

rachel12yrsuv said:

Deb and T,
My shoulder, right
Deb and T,

My shoulder, right side, is bad. When I am in shower I have to climb the wall with my hand to shave my under arms. Getting dressed not so much, but I try to put hair in pony tail and that takes like 5 mins instead of couple and curling my hair when doing right side have to rest my elbow on wall. The new exercises for speech are helping. The ones to stretch the cervical, you are supposed to lay on. Flat surface, but I can't lay down for hour after eating by peg so sometimes I do them sitting up and when I reach around head and pull to shoulder, when I put arm down to switch sides it cracks all the way down, and I have noticed a little more movement in shoulder with that release. So try that sitting up once in a while, it works.

As far as weight goes I lost 70lbs in 9 months of treatment, and sad to say once I figured out how to eat I slowly put it back on. First, when you body is in starvation. Mode like mine was due to severe food aversion, when you start eating as a defense your body stores as fat in case you starve again, and then the rest was bad marriage and depression thinking I was stuck. I have since lost 320lbs, well 260 belong too ex husband, and 60 to me! So be careful when you eat normal. Eat well, not what's there. Just a tip!

Take care,

Rachel

T, hang in there praying everyday for you, no negative thoughts like what happens after initally winning, you start "Living" that's what you told me!

Exactly Rachel !

I have the same problem with right arm . It is very hard to do anything with my hair and even hard to eat. Same problem in shower. Has your arm/shoulder been like this for 12 years ?

Peggy

rachel12yrsuv

peggylulu said:

Exactly Rachel !

I have the same problem with right arm . It is very hard to do anything with my hair and even hard to eat. Same problem in shower. Has your arm/shoulder been like this for 12 years ?

Peggy

Peggy,
I wish I could tell
Peggy,

I wish I could tell you no, but yes, from the time I remember after tx(I blocked so much, there are events in tx I must have chose to block away, even if my family tells me I hve no recollection of it. The mind is powerful) till now my shoulder has been like this. It used to hurt from time to time, but I have since gotten used to it. However, I am sure a lot of it and other side effects that I live with, are my fault. I was so afraid of doctors and hospitals, especially the one I was treated at, if I see it still today my insides shake. I did what I had to do and didn't look back. If I would have pursued these issues I may have been able to get ahead of them, therefore suffering less pain as I try to reverse them. I have noone to blame but myself. That. Is the reason I started this thread. I want you all to exercise so you don't need a feeding tube at 12yrs like me and even though its working, try to reverse the damage. That is why I am telling you all to give your fears to God and go on with whatever you have to face, its somewhat selfish, its kind of therapy for me while I do that as well in this recent chapter of my life after "slim fast".

Much love to you all,

Rachel

lorig01

Question for you

Hi.  I was not referred to a swallowing therapist after treatment. My dentist was the one , (along with folks on this site), that said to practise everyday opening mounth wide and to the sides several times a day.  I also read on this site that you should practise putting your tongue between your teeth and swallowing.  Are these the excercises that you are referring to?  Are there any other things that you are doing that everyone should be doing?  Your comments about swallowing excercises have really got my attention as I have been really depressed about my difficulty eating. I can swallow but I just got my permanent dentures and lack of saliva and taste are making eating really unpleasant.  In the last few days I have made some progress as my taste is waking up and I am almost starting to enjoy some foods. I can't believe how much this "small" thing has improved my attitude! So, now more then ever I would like to maintain what I have. Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks, Lori

rachel12yrsuv

lorig01 said:

Question for you

Hi.  I was not referred to a swallowing therapist after treatment. My dentist was the one , (along with folks on this site), that said to practise everyday opening mounth wide and to the sides several times a day.  I also read on this site that you should practise putting your tongue between your teeth and swallowing.  Are these the excercises that you are referring to?  Are there any other things that you are doing that everyone should be doing?  Your comments about swallowing excercises have really got my attention as I have been really depressed about my difficulty eating. I can swallow but I just got my permanent dentures and lack of saliva and taste are making eating really unpleasant.  In the last few days I have made some progress as my taste is waking up and I am almost starting to enjoy some foods. I can't believe how much this "small" thing has improved my attitude! So, now more then ever I would like to maintain what I have. Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks, Lori

Lori,
When I first came on
Lori,

When I first came on here it seemed that you all where being told, since I started this its not the case. Yes the exercises you are doinging is a part of it. If I can figure out via phone how to show you them all I will, you don't want to loose that ability especially with the dry mouth. When first done I learned to drink water(once it stopped tasting like salt, lol) to help break down and swallow food. Your taste buds will come backand may be different. You may like things you never did before and hate things you used to love, its like a new birth. But watch, that food grabs on, and eventually if not careful that weight will climb. I myself still have some real teeth, have to finish getting them out, my dentist refuses dentures and will only help me with implants, which 1 I can't afford and 2 don't want. So must find new dentist.

Feel free to ask anything inregards to new life and ill help best I can, I have to get hair cut, if didn't yet that grows all back too!) Then I will try to post these exercises on here. They are from St. Mary medical center in middletown township pa I don't know if they have website that shows them. Ill check when I get home.

Keep up good work Lori,

Rachel

lorig01

rachel12yrsuv said:

Lori,
When I first came on
Lori,

When I first came on here it seemed that you all where being told, since I started this its not the case. Yes the exercises you are doinging is a part of it. If I can figure out via phone how to show you them all I will, you don't want to loose that ability especially with the dry mouth. When first done I learned to drink water(once it stopped tasting like salt, lol) to help break down and swallow food. Your taste buds will come backand may be different. You may like things you never did before and hate things you used to love, its like a new birth. But watch, that food grabs on, and eventually if not careful that weight will climb. I myself still have some real teeth, have to finish getting them out, my dentist refuses dentures and will only help me with implants, which 1 I can't afford and 2 don't want. So must find new dentist.

Feel free to ask anything inregards to new life and ill help best I can, I have to get hair cut, if didn't yet that grows all back too!) Then I will try to post these exercises on here. They are from St. Mary medical center in middletown township pa I don't know if they have website that shows them. Ill check when I get home.

Keep up good work Lori,

Rachel

Thanks for the info

Thanks for responding.   I would love to see the exercises.  I saw your comment on dentures and wanted you to know that there is a middle ground. I have implanted dentures.  They put 4 posts in gum on top and bottom and then you have dentures that are "snapped" in.  They are supposed to make eating easier than traditional dentures and they stay put and don't move or float. I am still trying to get used to them.  You may want to ask about those. They are a lot cheaper then getting individual implanted teeth.