VITALSTIM OR E-STIM

wlm44
wlm44 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,

My husband was diagnosed with throat cancer is August finished treatment in November had both Chemo(2) & Radiation(35) and now has difficulty swallowing. He has a PEG yet but only uses it for water. He is able to eat some foods and drinks ENSURE. His swallow studies show he is aspirating on some of his swallows. In talking to the speech therapist they are recommending he have e-stim treatments. I have also found information on Vitalstim for help with his Dysphagia has anybody used either type of stimulation and have you had any success. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Wendy

Comments

  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #2
    2 Chemos?
    No to the e-stim, for me- not needed.
    Still have my PEG, but haven't used since just-after the last rad in 4/09. Ensure was what first replaced the formula in the PEG, for me. I am Nasopharyngeal, which is not throat cancer, but because of the Unknown Primary had to get the full head and neck rads, etc.

    2 Chemos, Wendy? How were these two Chemos delivered into your husband? I was Cisplatin and FU5, and had 2 sessions with them. Am very interested in how the Drs. delivered the Chemo, and exactly what Chemo meds your husband got. Very interested.

    kcass
  • wlm44
    wlm44 Member Posts: 3
    #3
    Kent Cass said:

    2 Chemos?
    No to the e-stim, for me- not needed.
    Still have my PEG, but haven't used since just-after the last rad in 4/09. Ensure was what first replaced the formula in the PEG, for me. I am Nasopharyngeal, which is not throat cancer, but because of the Unknown Primary had to get the full head and neck rads, etc.

    2 Chemos, Wendy? How were these two Chemos delivered into your husband? I was Cisplatin and FU5, and had 2 sessions with them. Am very interested in how the Drs. delivered the Chemo, and exactly what Chemo meds your husband got. Very interested.

    kcass

    My husband had Cisplatin
    My husband had Cisplatin twice 3 weeks apart. Do you have any trouble swallowing yet??
  • Landranger25
    Landranger25 Member Posts: 210 Member
    #4
    wlm44 said:

    My husband had Cisplatin
    My husband had Cisplatin twice 3 weeks apart. Do you have any trouble swallowing yet??

    Swallow the water!
    Just my 2 cents worth but if possible, sip and swallow the water instead of putting it through the PEG. Probably the most important statement my Onco said to me was before the treatment even started (33 rads and 3 chemos) "Whatever you do, don't lose your swallow". If your husband can sip that water he will be exercising the muscles that do that work. They will get stronger and begin to work better. Even when I couldn't eat, I sipped water and I firmly believe it has made a huge difference in my recovery. Good luck and keep trying!

    Mike
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #5
    Landranger25 said:

    Swallow the water!
    Just my 2 cents worth but if possible, sip and swallow the water instead of putting it through the PEG. Probably the most important statement my Onco said to me was before the treatment even started (33 rads and 3 chemos) "Whatever you do, don't lose your swallow". If your husband can sip that water he will be exercising the muscles that do that work. They will get stronger and begin to work better. Even when I couldn't eat, I sipped water and I firmly believe it has made a huge difference in my recovery. Good luck and keep trying!

    Mike

    swallowing, etc
    No trouble swallowing- NPC is in the nasal/pharanyx (back of throat behind the mouth). But I'm 16-month, now, and was able to swallow okay not too long after the last rad in early-April. The initial hassle with me was what food did to my mouth.

    You didn't really answer my question about the two chemos- were they drips at the Oncology place? Does your husband have a Port? I do, and I do wonder how they put the Chemo med into him. My delivery seems to have been somewhat radical, and I am a-wondering.

    kcass
  • wlm44
    wlm44 Member Posts: 3
    #6
    Kent Cass said:

    swallowing, etc
    No trouble swallowing- NPC is in the nasal/pharanyx (back of throat behind the mouth). But I'm 16-month, now, and was able to swallow okay not too long after the last rad in early-April. The initial hassle with me was what food did to my mouth.

    You didn't really answer my question about the two chemos- were they drips at the Oncology place? Does your husband have a Port? I do, and I do wonder how they put the Chemo med into him. My delivery seems to have been somewhat radical, and I am a-wondering.

    kcass

    chemo
    My husband did not have a port. His were administered thru an IV in his arm at Froedtert Cancer Center in Milwaukee. We would go to the Center in the morning and it was a slow drip, fluids first than chemo and then fluids again over a 5-6 period and while there the radiation girls would come get him and he also got radiation those days. He was originally suppose to have 3 rounds of cisplatin but his blood counts were so bad that they felt the 3 round would do more harm than good and decided to not give him the third treatment.

    Wendy

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