Aspiration after 5 yrs

Nope. All I do is regular/frequent sippings of flavored water. Holding my tongue against roof of mouth and swallowing from both sides, for reason unbeknownst to me, works best. Do have a "regular" Dr. visit next Tuesday. Need his referral to see a new ENT, which I might do. I don't know if it's liquid in the lungs, or what, but I've gotten short of breath in the last couple weeks- can tell when mowing lawn. Also possible some plant is doing this, like poison ivy. Earlier mowings- no problem. Now these last two times- taken quite an effort. I've never, to my knowledge, had an infection.

jackflash22 said:

swallowing

my speech therapist rang me. She said by the result of my swallowing test one side muscle has got lazy which can happen after a number of years and it's not getting rid of the last drop of liquid. It showed exactly the same place each swallow, I have scar tissue which closed my throat for 18 months until the surgeons used a method of going through the scar tissue from each end. It was successful and after several dilation my throat opened to 16mm. I can't swallow solids but have for about 4 years been able to swallow liquid normally without much bother. The trouble started in November. She said quite often throat cancers can get leaks because scar tissue never gets softer it stiffens. I'm going to start the swallowing excersise I did originally hoping it will help. I've been given breathing excersise to make me cough after a few swallows. Sit and relax upright and take 2 soft breaths in. Then breath in and give two strong HUFFS like I was breathing on glass to clean it. Really strong huffs twice After repeating this usually I start a deep throaty cough which brings liquid and mucus from my lungs. So long as I do this to stop the liquid from remaining in my lungs I shouldn't keep getting chest infections. 

My throat cancer at the same time you had yours roughly same time frame 2013. I started treatment in Jan. Was just a reader for years and just recently joined after getting second cancer. Just wanted to say my heart goes out to ya. You have been through some very difficult times yet you look to the positive. Sorry, you are having this new swallowing problem and hope you get it worked out. Hang in there you were and are an inspiration to me-God Bless

Logan51 said:

Getting tested

Visit with my General Practitioner on Tues. might have been one I'll remember for as long as I live.

First, he noticed I have lost weight- from 134 to around 128. Can't get into particulars, but have a lot of stress going on in my life. Worrying about the shortness of breath when mowing yard is one of them, and the aspiration, but there's two others that are equally big. Did put me on "emotional" meds for the anxiety. And, ordered a swallowing test to be done soon. Follow-up meet with him is on 7/2.

Thing that gets to me: eat a can of Roadhouse Chili and I have no trouble with swallowing. Or a sandwich. Bowl of cereal w/milk, a little. But when I go and sip water, or drink my 3 Ensures for breakfast- coughing up the colored drink has been a regular thing for quite some time. ANYBODY help me on why this is?

As for remembering this Dr. appointment...Did tell him the "dark thoughts" of when I was between diagnosis and tx have krept back into my mind, enlightening him about said being the worst of times for H&N C Patients who, like I did before I was on the forum and made the mistake of doing the Google images thing...Yeah...Understand that a lot has changed in my life over the past 2 months: have moved to a long-nosed Condo community, but into a very small unit that has put me under the microscope of the long noses. House I moved from was built in 1896 and is inhabitable with risk, due to dry rot on key boards and foundation and basement floor issues. Big whig lady at City Hall refused my offer to give the house & garage (7200 sq. ft.) to the city, and said it might take $40-K to demolish house, due to asbestos w/slate siding and on basement duct work. Hence: a lot of the stress can be catagorized as "financial ruin" leading to destitution...And I just spent $740 getting the tops on the front 4 lower teeth rebuilt...Why did I bother, I now ask myself...And  I think of having been abandoned by the Lord, but then look at the picture of the footsteps in the sand, and how the Lord might be carrying me thru this difficult time in my life. Now, 10 years and a week since my last Rad. session, with many of those years being pretty good, so I reckon I got no complaints, and sure as heck don't want no pushover pity party.

So, if anyone knows why I can swallow solids without issue, but not liquids- please let me know.

 

I am a speech therapist whose husband had jaw cancer.  Thin liquids such as coffee, water, and tea are the hardest liquids to manage.  This is why your therapist may put you on  thickened liquids.  Additionally, thin liquids are often silently aspirated, so you may not even know you're aspirating.  Sometimes soups and cereal are difficult to manage because you're basically eating two consistencies (solid and liquid) at the same time.   It's really important that head and neck cancer patients who develop pneumonias or upper respiratory infections request a swallow study to ensure they're not aspirating.

5 years! Now I feel lucky. I didn't notice any aspiration until going into my 9th year. Started with drinking my 3 morning Ensures, which now takes quite awhile to get done. Would cough quite a few seconds after I swallowed and the stuff coughed-up was/is my strawberry favorite. Has grown progressively worse, and am doing what Matt prescribes in regular sip-swallowing exercises. I'm on Medicaid, now, until next Jan. 1st, and my ENT does not accept- only one local does- so I have not had any tests done. Tired most of the time, and mowing yard has become a challenge.

Cannot answer your question, jf. Know in years past there was talk about "strictures"(sp) or dilations to help open esophagus. If the epiglottis is involved, though, which is what I fear about myself- that is not good news. I figure/hoping scar tissue is the problem from Rad damage, rather than a new growth of C. Still, the epiglottis flap should be sealing the top of the windpipe...Do know of others who were permanently put back on PEGs, for one reason or another. Surgeon I had told me about a woman Patient, but did not tell me what her condition was. Only adjustments I've made are smaller swallowings/sippings of everything, and the regular Matt Therapy of sipping often.

Logan51 said:

Thank you

Go in for my test tomorrow AM. Am losing weight, too, unless my scale went haywire. Freaked me out today when I stepped on it- 3 lbs. less than the day before! Have been eating Reese's Peanut Butter cups too...And yes, I do get light headed, so to speak. Got me to thinking C might have come back on me. Only thing that's changed is my suffering some 7 gnap bites over the past couple weeks, including 2 yesterday. Will let you know how the test goes.

Well, they gave me three liquids with varying thickness to swallow, and the end result= Dr.s advised me not to eat or drink anything! As is, with my mind racing just a bit over the speed limit, waiting for my Primary to contact me. Dr.s say that as long as this has been going on with me- they don't know how I don't have pneumonia. Deep broncial coughs many minutes after the test- color of the liquid they gave me.

Out goes the diet of 3 Ensure for breakfast. Iffy about the bowl of cereal for dinner. Gonna stick with the sandwich for supper. Thing that gets to me- my "regularity" is great, so food is getting to and thru my digestive system. So it has to be the solid food is making it to my stomach. And Dr..s said the lungs can handle some water (gets absorbed). 

So, jf22, it all makes the sense we both figured about the energy level. And, yes, I feel feverish from time to time. Thing I noticed long ago= get hot flashes when I cough. 

Anyway...here we go again...

Found I can swallow very solid food, like pizza and toaster pastries you put in microwave, without a problem!!! SO, that was a positive revelation, and might not be as bad as I thought. Figure I'm stuck in the same bad place we all experience- between diagnosis of problem and having something actually done/finding out what the problem is.