Choking and Food getting stuck

Cherbear15

My husbands tumor is at the GE junction where the esophagus meets the stomach. Increasingly the food getting stuck more and more often and harder to dislodge.

Last night was a rather frightening episode to say the least, and I was wondering if anyone who had something similar could offer any advice on the best course of action

when this happens to help relieve or dislodge or push it along. We have several weeks to go before surgery and should be beginning chemo by next week...

 

Thanks in advance!

Cherie

callerid

Food Lodging

You may want to consider soft foods for now. Mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, smoothies, pudding, yogurt, etc. If that is not an option for him, my only advice is to take smaller bites, chew it really well, then chase it with water.

Cherbear15

callerid said:

Food Lodging

You may want to consider soft foods for now. Mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, smoothies, pudding, yogurt, etc. If that is not an option for him, my only advice is to take smaller bites, chew it really well, then chase it with water.

Thanks

I was afraid the only remedy would be prevention. I guess he is at that point where he may need to eat softer foods. They did tell him to chew better and smaller bites

so I'm sure that will have a bigger impact on him at this point. Thanks for your help

 

luby

Cherbear15 said:

Thanks

I was afraid the only remedy would be prevention. I guess he is at that point where he may need to eat softer foods. They did tell him to chew better and smaller bites

so I'm sure that will have a bigger impact on him at this point. Thanks for your help

 

Soft Foods

Eating soft foods and chewing good, and washing it down with water helped my husband.  After his 2nd chemo treatment, the swallowing problem was gone due to tumor shrinkage.  I hope this will be the case with your husband.

 

Cherbear15

luby said:

Soft Foods

Eating soft foods and chewing good, and washing it down with water helped my husband.  After his 2nd chemo treatment, the swallowing problem was gone due to tumor shrinkage.  I hope this will be the case with your husband.

 

Thank you luby! 

Thank you luby! 

Deathorglory

Stuck Food

Hello,

 

When I started out in Spring 2008, food got stuck occasionally and I was able to dislodge it fairly easily.  This is what originally caused me to see my gastroenterologist who did an ERCP and diagnosed the cancer.  When I started the treatment of chemo & radiation prior to the surgery, my esophagus became essentially fried shut by the radiation and it was very difficult to eat.  My wife made soft foods for me (meatloaf & mashed potatoes over & over & over).  My doctors gave me liquid morphine, which really helped and "magic mouthwash" which was lidocaine based.  I found that less helpful and infinitely less pleasant.  

 

I hope you find something that works well for you guys,

 

Ed

Cherbear15

Deathorglory said:

Stuck Food

Hello,

 

When I started out in Spring 2008, food got stuck occasionally and I was able to dislodge it fairly easily.  This is what originally caused me to see my gastroenterologist who did an ERCP and diagnosed the cancer.  When I started the treatment of chemo & radiation prior to the surgery, my esophagus became essentially fried shut by the radiation and it was very difficult to eat.  My wife made soft foods for me (meatloaf & mashed potatoes over & over & over).  My doctors gave me liquid morphine, which really helped and "magic mouthwash" which was lidocaine based.  I found that less helpful and infinitely less pleasant.  

 

I hope you find something that works well for you guys,

 

Ed

Thanks Ed
I've read about

Thanks Ed

I've read about the damaging effects of radiation, that's sounds awful that you went through that.  

Thanks for the feedback it really helps! The soft foods will certainly have to be considered probably even before radiation. 

Cherie

scoot108

Hi,
I was stage 3 T2 N2.
Hi,

I was stage 3 T2 N2. Went through the chemo and then 25 radiation treatments then transhietal surgury September 20th, 2012. Before I started chemo I was having a lot of difficulty getting food down I was eating chicken with wild rice soup but picking the chicken out. Mashed potatoes with gravy. Kfc coleslaw and mac and cheese. Spaghetti run thru a food chopper were what worked best for me. Wiithin 10 days of first chemo the tumor shrunk enough to eat normal. It was fantastic till a couple weeks later all food tasted like crud and it became no fun eating again. I used to weigh 238# but now average 185# but everyone keeps telling me I look good. Good luck through all this.

Scott

Heeran

wash down w/ water

My mom would chew small amounts of food and then take a drink and use the drink to push the food down past the tumor. I found out later after she was diagnosed that she would "choke" or feel like she was choking and instead of alarming us or going through the choking process, she would quietly get up from the table, go to her bathroom, and suffer there so the family wouldn't see.  WHY THE HECK DID SHE DO THAT?

 

She did this for a along time before we got to see the GI doctor.  The GI doctor was "booked" and we didnt know better to push for an earlier appointment or go see another doctor.  We waited 3 months to see the GI doctor.  My mom just quietly suffered so she wouldn't worry the family. OMG!  I'm still upset to this day.  Who knows if it would have made a difference and she would be cured now instead of slowly dying.  I wish I would have thought about it more logically and gotten her to the doctor sooner.

 

Sorry, having a bad memory relapse.  Ensures, Boosts, nutritional smoothies, soft foods.  It's not worth the feeling of chocking.  

Cherbear15

Heeran said:

wash down w/ water

My mom would chew small amounts of food and then take a drink and use the drink to push the food down past the tumor. I found out later after she was diagnosed that she would "choke" or feel like she was choking and instead of alarming us or going through the choking process, she would quietly get up from the table, go to her bathroom, and suffer there so the family wouldn't see.  WHY THE HECK DID SHE DO THAT?

 

She did this for a along time before we got to see the GI doctor.  The GI doctor was "booked" and we didnt know better to push for an earlier appointment or go see another doctor.  We waited 3 months to see the GI doctor.  My mom just quietly suffered so she wouldn't worry the family. OMG!  I'm still upset to this day.  Who knows if it would have made a difference and she would be cured now instead of slowly dying.  I wish I would have thought about it more logically and gotten her to the doctor sooner.

 

Sorry, having a bad memory relapse.  Ensures, Boosts, nutritional smoothies, soft foods.  It's not worth the feeling of chocking.  

(((HUGS)))

Heeran my husband was doing that too until it came so suddenly he would have that panicked look in his eye and he couldn't hide it

Our brains sometimes amazingly work for us, and other times against us. He had swallowing issued for years (at least 20 since I've known him) so he was able to tell himself all was ok and he "was fine" or that it would eventually go away. We figure our loss of time to be a few months as well and we knock our heads together on why we just didn't or couldn't "act" 

Thank you kindly for sharing your experience and your thoughts with me. I know that couldn't have been easy and I'd give you super tight hugs if I could  

I will be thinking of you from here on in!

Cherie

 

Cherbear15

Deathorglory said:

Stuck Food

Hello,

 

When I started out in Spring 2008, food got stuck occasionally and I was able to dislodge it fairly easily.  This is what originally caused me to see my gastroenterologist who did an ERCP and diagnosed the cancer.  When I started the treatment of chemo & radiation prior to the surgery, my esophagus became essentially fried shut by the radiation and it was very difficult to eat.  My wife made soft foods for me (meatloaf & mashed potatoes over & over & over).  My doctors gave me liquid morphine, which really helped and "magic mouthwash" which was lidocaine based.  I found that less helpful and infinitely less pleasant.  

 

I hope you find something that works well for you guys,

 

Ed

Radiation

Thanks Ed. I will keep that in mind as we begin treatment on Monday...

Radiation seemingly is the tougher or the 2 from what I hear

JKGulliver

Food getting stuck

During my husband's treatment, his nausea got so bad he could only eat things that melted or dissolved in his mouth.  It finally boiled down to mashed potatoes, peanutbutter, ice cream, and gnocchi.  He could not drink water and still, on occasion, will have water "stick" in his throat.  This is a constant battle and it changes with different stages of treatment.  Good luck.  

 

Splodge

Food getting stuck

I had the same problem before surgery and it is very frightening . I found meat and bread particularly problematic. Soft foods and small mouthfuls and water helped. After chemo the tumour shrank a bit and swallowing got easier again. Good luck with the surgery too. 

Doug1

Food Swallowing

I have been through chemo, radiation and chemo and finally surgery. I found that eating soft foods and it sounds crazy, but leaning forward and slightly to one side seem to help with swallowing.  My tumor was just above my stomach very similar to your husband's. After my first round of chemo the tumor shrank slightly and greatly improved swallowing.

Cherbear15

Doug1 said:

Food Swallowing

I have been through chemo, radiation and chemo and finally surgery. I found that eating soft foods and it sounds crazy, but leaning forward and slightly to one side seem to help with swallowing.  My tumor was just above my stomach very similar to your husband's. After my first round of chemo the tumor shrank slightly and greatly improved swallowing.

Thanks everyone

Thanks for sharing offering advice  

tcaba

me too

Shortly after completing my radiation therapy, which oddly enough made swallowing easier towards the end of treatment, anyway about two weeks after my last session I became so blocked that even liquids were difficult. I did find that cool as opposed to cold and warm instead of hot helped but basically anything had a difficult time going down.  The biggest danger, other than choking, obviously, is loss of weight. At one point it was 3 cans of Ensure and whatever else I could get down.  I did have a script for a lidocane slurry.  That negated the pain but did nothing for the stricture.  Eventually at week 5 I was dilated and again at week 9 as well.  So far so good!

Little t

Food stuck,

This is a scary place to be.  My husband was diagnosed May 27 2014. We quickly went through radiation and chemo to shrink the tumor.

  Surgery was on September 11, 2014.  We are now just about 6 months out. We have had this problem with food a time or two.

My question to you is when this happens can your husband still breath and talk?

 I have been told the best thing to do is relaxe if at all possiable. When you body relaxes the food will either come up more easily or finish going down.

Believe you and me relaxing to wait for this is the hardest thing ever.  Your first instinct is to get it out asap. 

I am knew to this board and site so forgive me if I speak out of turn.

The best of luck to you both.

Hang in there.

paul61

Little t said:

Food stuck,

This is a scary place to be.  My husband was diagnosed May 27 2014. We quickly went through radiation and chemo to shrink the tumor.

  Surgery was on September 11, 2014.  We are now just about 6 months out. We have had this problem with food a time or two.

My question to you is when this happens can your husband still breath and talk?

 I have been told the best thing to do is relaxe if at all possiable. When you body relaxes the food will either come up more easily or finish going down.

Believe you and me relaxing to wait for this is the hardest thing ever.  Your first instinct is to get it out asap. 

I am knew to this board and site so forgive me if I speak out of turn.

The best of luck to you both.

Hang in there.

It normally gets stuck far enough down so it does not interfere

Most of us who have been through surgery have had this event a time or two. Normally the food gets lodged far enough down the esophagus that it does not interfere with breathing. It is just uncomfortable and can be very frightening wondering how long it is going to take to clear. The best thing is to relax, take a few deep breaths, stay upright, and try tucking your chin into your chest and swallowing. Most people thing the best way to open your esophagus when you are swallowing is to tip your head back but actually the best way to open your esophagus is to tip your head forward.

I am now a little over 5 years out from surgery and I have learned some “rules for eating” the hard way. They include:

1. Be very careful with bread and other things that tend to clump together.

2. Chew very thoroughly and put my fork down between bites to slow my eating down.

3. Take sips of liquid between bites (I find Diet Coke tends to work best for me)

4. Don’t talk while eating

5. Take your time

6. When taking large pills take them with a sip of liquid and tip your head down before swallowing.

 

If find if I follow these steps I have far fewer emergencies. If it happens too often it is time to see your gastroenterologist about an endoscopy and possible expansion of the narrowed area.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina
DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

 

faithinlord

paul61 said:

It normally gets stuck far enough down so it does not interfere

Most of us who have been through surgery have had this event a time or two. Normally the food gets lodged far enough down the esophagus that it does not interfere with breathing. It is just uncomfortable and can be very frightening wondering how long it is going to take to clear. The best thing is to relax, take a few deep breaths, stay upright, and try tucking your chin into your chest and swallowing. Most people thing the best way to open your esophagus when you are swallowing is to tip your head back but actually the best way to open your esophagus is to tip your head forward.

I am now a little over 5 years out from surgery and I have learned some “rules for eating” the hard way. They include:

1. Be very careful with bread and other things that tend to clump together.

2. Chew very thoroughly and put my fork down between bites to slow my eating down.

3. Take sips of liquid between bites (I find Diet Coke tends to work best for me)

4. Don’t talk while eating

5. Take your time

6. When taking large pills take them with a sip of liquid and tip your head down before swallowing.

 

If find if I follow these steps I have far fewer emergencies. If it happens too often it is time to see your gastroenterologist about an endoscopy and possible expansion of the narrowed area.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina
DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009
Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Four Year Survivor

 

dilatation

Hello! Paul

Did you ever have to go through dilatation of esophagus anastmosis after surgery. My husband went through dilatation fairly early 2 months after surgery. I am hoping that we don't have to go again and it stays patent. 

paul61

faithinlord said:

dilatation

Hello! Paul

Did you ever have to go through dilatation of esophagus anastmosis after surgery. My husband went through dilatation fairly early 2 months after surgery. I am hoping that we don't have to go again and it stays patent. 

I did not need dilatation

I was very lucky and did not need dilation after my surgery. I do have an annual endoscopy but so far I have had no issues

Tina Blondek

Little t said:

Food stuck,

This is a scary place to be.  My husband was diagnosed May 27 2014. We quickly went through radiation and chemo to shrink the tumor.

  Surgery was on September 11, 2014.  We are now just about 6 months out. We have had this problem with food a time or two.

My question to you is when this happens can your husband still breath and talk?

 I have been told the best thing to do is relaxe if at all possiable. When you body relaxes the food will either come up more easily or finish going down.

Believe you and me relaxing to wait for this is the hardest thing ever.  Your first instinct is to get it out asap. 

I am knew to this board and site so forgive me if I speak out of turn.

The best of luck to you both.

Hang in there.

Thank You

Hi Paul!

So great to see you continuing to post on this board. Thank you so much for your extremely helpful tips. They have always been wonderful.

I am thanking God that you continue to do well. Thinking of my dad daily, but am confident in knowing he is with our Lord, and we shall

meet again...without him having cancer! Keep up the good work. Hugs to you.

Tina in Va