Do you ever stop worrying

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  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #22
    patricke said:

    WORRY

    Hey Jackie,

    Congratulations on the success of your dilation procedure, that is awesome!  I was very anxious about swallowing after my esophagus was reconstructed, but with my doc and SLP's encouragement, I pushed myself, in spite of my fears, to pour those liquids down.  I believed them when they told me that it was important to use my esophagus to maintain its' effective functioning.  I started slow and gradually increased the amount and thickness of the liquids that I was swallowing.  Initially, I had a voice prostesis that was placed in the wall tissues between my trchea, and esophagus which was very problematic for me leading to a host of issues topped with a couple of stints in the hospital with asperation pneumonia.  I had that opening sealed a year and a half ago, so no more problems with asperation.  Jackie, since you are not a laryngectomee, you probably won't have the same asperational issues to deal with.  I'm sending my best wishes for continued progress on swallowing with less anxiety, and more comfort.

    PATRICK

    throat

    thanks Patick, I did get a problem from stuff going into my lungs while in hospital after having the tumour removed from my bowel, I ended up with pneumonia. The hospital kept insisting I ate soft foods but gave me things I couldn't easily swallow it would stick and I would cough and my voice go soggy. I'm too scared now to try to swallow more than water. It's a pity because my throat dilations have taken me to 16 mm so far have another one in two weeks. I don't want to waste the work of the surgeons but I'm afraid the pneumonia will come back.it was pretty horrid for two weeks.

  • wmolivertx
    wmolivertx Member Posts: 16 Member
    #23
    jackflash22 said:

    Thanks folks

    thanks for your replys.  I'm reassured with your remarks. I will get used to swallowing again. My kids are getting me a Nutribullet blender so I can make healthy soups and shakes. Already I feel more socialable at meal times, my partner and relative are as relieved as me that they were able to open my throat after so long. My partner often forgot I couldn't swallow and when he got up to make. A coffee he'd say. "Do you want one" and at Christmas I was given 3 boxes of chocolates, two from my brother. It's difficult for them to know what it's like to be unable to swallow. The chocs I'm keeping for a rainy day if my great granddaughter doesn't find them first. I'm sure she can smell out my hiding places. She's only three and yes I do give her one or two now and again.....

    Eating

    I think maybe I will come up with a cook book on using a Ninga blender.  I have been having swallowing problems since around 2009 from paralyzed left vocal cord and paralyzed cranial nerve to tongue.  For breakfast I usually take some Cheerios, add a banana and maybe some peaches along with some protien powder, and blend with milk.  I loved hot dogs and susage so I will grind them up and put into a bun or bread which takes the choking component out of those two things.  I have been known to take a nice steak and do the same so can enjoy that flavor again.

    My advice is to be creative and look to the foods you once liked and come up with some ground up version.  Soups and stews are easy to be creative and add things that can be ground up.

     

    Good luck.

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