Cannot swallow

Hi Brad
I get this too something it is called aspiration where the food goes into the lungs. With me it is caused by the damage nerve on the side of my face, I can’t remember the name of the nerve. But it has a lot to do with my swallowing and numbness in the left side of my face as well. Sometimes it also comes up and out of my nose when it gets hung up and can’t go down. Then a day or so later when I rinse out my nose there is some stuff I ate a few days before.

I can’t find a doctor either that really cares enough to give me any help. What they say is you should be glad just to be alive, I am so sick of hearing that. I tell them I can’t be the only person in the world with these problems, what can be done to help, that is about all I get from them.

My wife has been making me some soft food and I try to eat only when I feel the throat and swallowing is working as best as it can. I eat very slow and little bites at a time, I also found that putting my head down in a 45 degree angle helps in swallowing.

I am sorry to hear you have to live like this too, I am looking at getting a PEG tube put in to avoid having to eat.

Another guy on CSN Denny has the same problem and that is what he done and it is working well with him.

If you do find a doctor to help please remember me and let me know what he gives you to do.
Hondo

Several important things have been mentioned
First, I've had lots of swallowing problems for the last year, though I think your exceed mine by quite a bit. Hondo mentioned the angle he has to acchieve to facilitate swallowing. So do I. I've completely re-learned how to swallow, or fluids absolutely pour out of my nose. I do mean this, I literally flood my shirt, the plate, everything. But if I'm careful and swallow properly, I don't leak at all.

Lymphedema was mentioned as a possible cause. That's a good thought to. You need a proper evaluation to determine some of these contributions to the mechanism. A swallowing study would be very helpful. I had one, done by a very determined, helpful speech pathologist years ago. It was most helpful, as were the exercises she worked with me on.

Lastly, you talked about eating some things I have learned I can simply not eat, or else I pay a high price. Anything solid that chews down to particles. Not for me. I aspirate the pieces, and I just don't need the aggravation.

I'm sure some of this relates to your odor. And odor is never a good thing. Sorry for rambling a bit. If you aren't getting help from your local guy, but it will be awhile to find a new doctor, how about asking the current one for a referral for a swallowing study/ speech pathologist?

Happy holidays.

Pat

rmkbrad said:

I agree with the swallow test and a speech pathologiest
I can't talk worth a darn either, so this is definatly on the correct path. I will make a call tomorrow and see what I can get done. It is so frustrating having a doc that really does not care, the last time I seen him I walked into the exam room and he ignored me for a bit while he read my chart, and then he turns to me and says, what am I suppose to do for you. I said, heck I don't know examin me, see if anything has changed. So he uses a peice of gauze and pulls my tonge out and looks in my mouth with his flash light and says, yep looks normal. I give him a few of my complaints and he tells me, your doing better than I would have expected. Urggg. Anyway I agree with the tests since I have never had one done, I want to eat so bad it's not funney, I meen I really have an appatite now. I could really chow down if it was phyisicaly possible. Thanks again, and Hondo if I can squeeze any info from someone I will deffinatly let you know.

Brad

A reasonable exam......
I've probably been examined 50 times by ENT Oncology in the last 14 years. I've also been examined by regular ENT, Nuclear Medicine, and Medical Oncology, as well as Family Practice. The ENT Oncologist is the expert a my exam, by far. None of the rest of these guys are trained to do the office exam that he does. However, what my exam consists of, at a minimum, is the following:

1) a thorough history, which means he doesn't cut me off when I haven't had a chance to tell him every symptom I have, and he has a chance to further quesion me if I haven't been clear

2) palpation and visual inspection of my face, head, neck and chest

3) visual inspection of my entire oral apparatus, including the use of gause to move my tongue around. This is always done with the use of a head mirror and light, and a hand-heald mirror in order to do indirect laryngoscopy. During this, of course, he has me do the old Eeeeeee..... and Ahhhhhhhhh.... sounds in order to open my glottis for better inspection.

4) Selectively, he also does a fiberoptic exam by running that uncomfortable scope up one of my nostrils.... Unpleasant, yes, but he's skilled enough at its use that he doesn't even have to use a local gel.

5) Thorough discussion of diagnostic impressions and potential testing.

6) Treatment recommendations, referrals are always discussed.

7) Personal discussion, like how our favorite football teams are doing, how's the wife, etc.

This is what you have a right to expect. Every time, without fail. I've known my doctor for 14 years. I like the guy. More importantly, I respect that he has my best interest at heart, and will do everything within his power to insure I survive and do well.

Best wishes

Pat