My throat is tight and hard to breath

breathing, eating, smelling, croaking
From your description, it sounds as though the breathing issue is a problem mainly when you wake up in the morning. If this is so, I would doubt that you have a constriction in your trachea (the tube that leads to your lungs). Air, after all, doesn't require much in the way of a tube to get where it needs to go.

It may very well be that the rads did a job on your salivary glands, such that during the time you are sleeping, not tending to your mouth, dry mouth is setting in, yielding the sore throat and the thick phlegm, the latter which consequently restricts your breathing (much as an allergy or a sinus affection might). Your mention (I think this is what you are saying) that drinking cold water clears up the phlegm AND makes it easier to breathe also suggests this is a the culprit.

If this turns out to be the case, consider buying a humidifier for use while sleeping.

A raspy voice may also be the result of dry mouth (and throat) or even dehydration. While doctors have debunked the old '8 glasses of water a day' bromide, it may be that in our situation it would be a good idea to make sure we DO get an extra measure of H20 daily, and, as well, that we refrain from alcohol, which dehydrates while also being a cancer agent.

Another possible cause for a raspy voice: if you are only recently getting back into the swing of talking a lot, believe it or not it can be both tiring and cause the raspiness you describe.

I would hope that your doctors are keeping track of your weight loss, dennis. At some point, if the loss continues, they will probably consider implanting of a tube, at least for awhile. It sounds as though you can avoid that however. You mention the shrinking of your stomach as a possibility, and I would advise that you think and act as if that were so when you eat, if eating is a problem, particularly if swallowing is a problem: have smaller meals but have more of them.

Speak to a nutritionist about a diet plan adapted to whatever your limitations are at the moment (if any). Those folks can really help because they know what you can do and also what foods and mixtures within that set are not only going to give you needed heft, but healthy heft.

The foul smell may very well be lingering odor of uncleared food. But it may also be the continued sloughing off of dead tissue and the fact that your salivary glands are not doing the cleansing job they once did. Dental hygiene is more important to you now than it probably ever has been. You should be brushing and rinsing with antiseptic after every meal now, no matter how small the 'meal' is: a candy bar requires brushing, even, something you might not have considered in the past.

It DOES get better, but it is important that you help it get better.

And if your problems persist, the raspy voice in particular, you should see your doctors about it.

Take care,

Joe

handl1983 said:

Hi Dennis!
My husband (Herb)
Hi Dennis!
My husband (Herb) has the same problems. His rads were finished in early Dec. and he still has burns that come out-so the Dr. tells him. His voice is also raspy and some days he cant breathe well either. It seems that he will have 1 or 2 good days followed by 3 or 4 bad days where he cant do much of anything. He is now the king of oatmeal! The Drs think he may need to have his esophagus stretched? I hear this is a very common proceedure, but not sure how its done. He also has 2 holes in his soft palate, so it makes it very hard for him to eat without coming out of his nose. The thing that kills me is that the Drs tell us to be patient!! How would they feel if it were them?? All bets would be off !!This probably isnt helping much except to know that you are not alone with your symptoms.
I have not noticed a smell, but everything else is very familiar!! Will keep you posted on the esophagus stretch!!! Hang in there!!! Lori

Dilation
I have had a couple of dilations (what you refer to as esophagus stretch). If your husband's mouth is sufficiently open that they do not have to do this via the nose, it is really not painful, in my experience.

I have a page on this site along with a blog, and in the blog I write about my experiences with the dilations (one was in January of this year, the other in March). Everyone's experiences are different, of course, but it might give you an idea of what is in store.

In any event, best wishes to hub and his family.

Take care,

Joe