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dysphagia

denistd
denistd CSN Member Posts: 597
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

10 years ago I had chemo and rads for larynx cancer, I have slowly been losing swallowing ability. Had a surgical procedure late November, swallowing was almost impossible after surgery, had to have a peg tube put in, I becysphagiame severely dehydrated and developed dysphagia. Doc says it's due to the rads. Getting somewhat better now but thin liquids like water tend to aspirate, had a short bout of pneumonia in the hospital. I am relying much less on the peg and have a speech pathologist guide me through this crap. Denis

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  • ERomanO
    ERomanO CSN Member Posts: 327
    #2
    You beat the cancer, now beat

    You beat the cancer, now beat the dysphagia.  Just another "bump in the road".  Be religous about the therapy and get things working as close to normal as possible.  Hang in there and best wishes to you!

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  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz CSN Member Posts: 465 Member
    #3
    Similar timing and story

    Your timing and symptoms mirror mine, a lot.  I had rads 10 years ago, which led to a stricture in my esophagus.  So, my swallowing had been limited for many years.  About 6 months ago it became noticeably more limited and I had a bout of pneumonia--from aspirating thin liquids. I started to lose weight quickly and felt very weak from the lack of nutritious calories I could get in. Bottom line, I had my third g-tube placed about a month ago, and take about 1/3 of my calories orally, and 2/3 through the tube.  The tube is intended to be temporary, but I suspect I'll always need it.  No matter how hard I try, I can't get nearly enough calories and proper nutrition with oral feeding alone.

    Know that no matter how hard you try, sometimes the 'gift that keeps on giving' will do just that--give you more and more side effects to cope with.  It ain't easy, but it sure beats the alternative!

    Mike

     

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