Something in the back of the throat

Purplemountain
Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi All,

I had NPC (stage 2) and finished treatment 2 weeks ago.  When I swallow water or air, I feel there  is something scraping the back of my throat.  It feels like hard and sharp.  Anyone had that?

Or is it just  the dryness and radiation burn of the throat making that sensation?  Wound visiting an ENT who might put a camera down there and see what's down there?

Any recommendation?

I  can swallow water but have not try anything else.  Thinking of trying porridge but worry I might choke.  Tried chewing gum to help promote saliva  stimulation but the gum just breaks up into little pieces.  It seems the saliva has different chemistry and break up everything into pieces causing me to choke.

I've gained 10 lbs in two weeks from feeding tube alone.  Is that healthy  or is it too fast?  Body still feel weak as before but fatique improve a little. 

I'm just throwing all these symptoms out there and hoping someone might give some insight so I don't feel like I'm in the dark.

Thank you  for listening or reading.

PM

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    You're only 2 weeks out...

    I would imagine if you could look down your throat, you'd see one little spot that is still highly irritated from the rads....it doesn't take much (when you're talking about mouth/throat) to seem like a huge area that still hurts.

    I'd be tempted to try some mush, too....but if you're afraid you'll choke, thin it out with milk or half 'n' half so it's more of a gruel, take a tiny bite and see how it goes....it it doesn't work, then the worst thing is you have to dump it.  Have you tried sipping on milk?  It's a little thicker than water, that might give you an idea of how mush might go down....thinned out, it would just be a bit thicker than the milk.

    Your weight is gain is wonderful.....I don't know if you can gain it back too fast.....I only gained 5 of the 16 I lost back....but would think the docs would be happy to see it. 

    The whole eating thing after treatment is over is one big experiment.....everyday I'd try something just to see if I could stand it and if it could be done.  Generally speaking things that take a LONG time to get back to are meat and breads.....Soft smooth foods are in the experiement range....mac and cheese diluted with milk, all soups (but especially veggie soups, since you might be able to taste them plus they squish up easily and go down the hatch)....cream soups, also.  Make today's experiment thinned out mush Laughing. 

    p

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #3
    I bet you do feel something

    PM,

    That (100 watt) Phrannie should bring you out of the dark!

    Your throat feel sounds oh so normal.  Radiation is brutal. My throat doesn’t feel as flexible as it once was.

    If an ENT scoped your throat, he would probably see irritation and all signs of normalcy.

    Yes, if you feel like eating or drinking, try it, just be careful.  Many of us drank smoothies; they are generally H&N safe and delicious. 

    I always have a glass of water or milk or something with every meal.  The days of grabbing a bag of chips and eating freely are no more (for now).

     Matt

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #4
    Something in throat me also

    I too have a feeling of having piece of biscuit stuck in my throat when I swallow. On swallowing it rises up and I feel it makes me want to gag. I can swallow but nothing goes down so I think my throat has radiation scars and needs stretching.  I haven,t been able to swallow for 3 weeks, I,m getting worried I never will again. I rely on my PEG tube. I don't think you need to worry as your water swallow is OK. When I could swallow I found baby cereal like ready break mixed with a lot of milk went down easily and blended sieved soup.

  • Purplemountain
    Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
    #5
    phrannie51 said:

    You're only 2 weeks out...

    I would imagine if you could look down your throat, you'd see one little spot that is still highly irritated from the rads....it doesn't take much (when you're talking about mouth/throat) to seem like a huge area that still hurts.

    I'd be tempted to try some mush, too....but if you're afraid you'll choke, thin it out with milk or half 'n' half so it's more of a gruel, take a tiny bite and see how it goes....it it doesn't work, then the worst thing is you have to dump it.  Have you tried sipping on milk?  It's a little thicker than water, that might give you an idea of how mush might go down....thinned out, it would just be a bit thicker than the milk.

    Your weight is gain is wonderful.....I don't know if you can gain it back too fast.....I only gained 5 of the 16 I lost back....but would think the docs would be happy to see it. 

    The whole eating thing after treatment is over is one big experiment.....everyday I'd try something just to see if I could stand it and if it could be done.  Generally speaking things that take a LONG time to get back to are meat and breads.....Soft smooth foods are in the experiement range....mac and cheese diluted with milk, all soups (but especially veggie soups, since you might be able to taste them plus they squish up easily and go down the hatch)....cream soups, also.  Make today's experiment thinned out mush Laughing. 

    p

    Thanks P51

    As always, you provide insightful advise.  I don't like milk.  For some reason, it tends to build more mucous in my throat.  I want to try the porridge but afraid of being choke then might not want to try anything again.  But you are right, everything from now on is an experiment.  Trial and error.

    PM

  • Purplemountain
    Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
    #6
    CivilMatt said:

    I bet you do feel something

    PM,

    That (100 watt) Phrannie should bring you out of the dark!

    Your throat feel sounds oh so normal.  Radiation is brutal. My throat doesn’t feel as flexible as it once was.

    If an ENT scoped your throat, he would probably see irritation and all signs of normalcy.

    Yes, if you feel like eating or drinking, try it, just be careful.  Many of us drank smoothies; they are generally H&N safe and delicious. 

    I always have a glass of water or milk or something with every meal.  The days of grabbing a bag of chips and eating freely are no more (for now).

     Matt

    Bright side of it

    Well, I guess not having junk food would be a silver lining.

  • Purplemountain
    Purplemountain Member Posts: 119
    #7
    jackflash22 said:

    Something in throat me also

    I too have a feeling of having piece of biscuit stuck in my throat when I swallow. On swallowing it rises up and I feel it makes me want to gag. I can swallow but nothing goes down so I think my throat has radiation scars and needs stretching.  I haven,t been able to swallow for 3 weeks, I,m getting worried I never will again. I rely on my PEG tube. I don't think you need to worry as your water swallow is OK. When I could swallow I found baby cereal like ready break mixed with a lot of milk went down easily and blended sieved soup.

    Scar tissue

    If there is scar tissue in the throat, what are the remedies?  Manual massage outside of the neck?  Continual swallowing of anything that can go down to exercise the muscle to fight through the scar tissue and one day it flakes off?

    I guess this is one of those time it is good to be a sword swallower to scrape out all the scar tissue.

    PM

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #8
    improvement now

     

    PM.

    For me, the condition of “it feels like something in my throat” resolved itself and it faded away with the healing.  I do not know what your ultimate throat outcome will be, but it is pretty early in your recovery to worry now.  Give yourself time and look for minor improvements.

    Many of the veterans within the H&N forum speak in time frames of months and years.  I am about 21 months post and I am dramatically better now than my first year.

    Matt

     

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #9
    doing pretty darn good

    PM,

    Being at two weeks post, I'd give you an A for your condition. The month post tx is generally when the side effects are at their peak. If you are not in much pain, just keep doing what you are doing and you will get this all behind you in no time, Good luck. Don

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