swallow test today

larry447
larry447 Member Posts: 22
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Had my second swallow test today and was able to swallow
some water with very little aspiration. When i had my first
test a few weeks ago i wasn't able to swallow anything. Since
my first test i have been doing the Shaker exercise and maybe
it is helping. I wasn't able to swallow the pudding they gave
me today and told me that my throat appeared to be swollen 5
times the normal size. This is obviously causing blockage
to my airway and preventing me from being able to swallow solids.
I had stage IV throat cancer and a large tumor that required a
large dose of radiation. They also told me that they have seen
cases similar to mine that took a considerable amount of time
for the radition swelling to subside. They also told me that in some cases
the swelling does not go down. I am now 5 months post treatment and
sill have my trach and peg due to the swelling. I am wondering if any
of you survivors encountered this amount of swelling and the amount
of time it took for it to subside. It seems like i always think of the
negative outcome as far as being one of those that the swelling dose not
go away. At 66 yrs of age i need some type of normalcy back in my life.
Larry

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Larry

    Time heals everything, I have to do a barium swallow test Wednesday so they can check the size of my throat so I can it stretched, not looking forward to it but I know it needs to be done. I am also most 5 years out of treatment now and looking forward to March 2011. Just to let you know things get better as you go along, take can and keep posting.

    All the best to you
    Hondo
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi Larry

    Time heals everything, I have to do a barium swallow test Wednesday so they can check the size of my throat so I can it stretched, not looking forward to it but I know it needs to be done. I am also most 5 years out of treatment now and looking forward to March 2011. Just to let you know things get better as you go along, take can and keep posting.

    All the best to you
    Hondo

    Hi Larry. I too have had
    Hi Larry. I too have had problems swallowing because of radiation damage. I had very bad swelling and I have a srticture that is up very high. I ended rads 5/15/09 and had two dialations. I had a peg tube for 18 months. One in october of '09 and one in january '10. The first time they took me from 2mm to 9mm. At this point I could only swallow pudding and yogurt. Then the second one they stretched me a little further. I was then able to eat some mushy foods like potatoes, pastina, bananas, avocado and that sort of thing. Although I have not been stretched again, my eating has gotten better and I have been able to swallow more foods, gain weight to my first goal of 100 lbs and get my tube removed. I think some of the swelling has gone down on it's own, I have learned to adapt and cook and prepare the food to make it easier to swallow, and I am stubborn. I have very little saliva, since they took my left salivary gland during my neck dissection and the right was fried with rads. I cant swallow meats usually, fruit still burns my mouth and tongue, my taste still is off, and I eat mostly, cooked veggies till soft, eggs, cheeses, grains, beans, and ice cream.

    I have had a total of three stretchings and they do help. Hoping they will get you fixed up. I didn't eat any food at all like 6/8 months so I know how depressing and frustrating it can be. If you need anything please feel free to ask of me.

    Blessings,

    Sweet
  • larry447
    larry447 Member Posts: 22
    #4
    Hondo said:

    Hi Larry

    Time heals everything, I have to do a barium swallow test Wednesday so they can check the size of my throat so I can it stretched, not looking forward to it but I know it needs to be done. I am also most 5 years out of treatment now and looking forward to March 2011. Just to let you know things get better as you go along, take can and keep posting.

    All the best to you
    Hondo

    Hi Hondo
    Thanks for your response, are you telling me that they can stretch
    your throat to open it up. Is the problem with your throat a result
    of the swelling from the radiation or is it strictures or sscar tissue.
    Does the narrowing of your throat cause any breathing problems. I am
    concerned because my swelling is causing a blockage to my airway and
    preventing my ability to handle solid foods. Have you had your throat
    streched before. It don't sound like something anyone would want to go
    through but if you need it done, I wish you the best.
    Thanks again,
    Larry
  • MJ70
    MJ70 Member Posts: 75
    #5
    larry447 said:

    Hi Hondo
    Thanks for your response, are you telling me that they can stretch
    your throat to open it up. Is the problem with your throat a result
    of the swelling from the radiation or is it strictures or sscar tissue.
    Does the narrowing of your throat cause any breathing problems. I am
    concerned because my swelling is causing a blockage to my airway and
    preventing my ability to handle solid foods. Have you had your throat
    streched before. It don't sound like something anyone would want to go
    through but if you need it done, I wish you the best.
    Thanks again,
    Larry

    HI Larry:
    I can totally agree with Sweets and Hondo and swallowing and time...I am almost seven years out( scc base of my tongue ) and still have swallowing issures..The swelling and healing will take time for sure...The dilating of your esphogus? or stretching is pretty common i think for all of us...I am told some have it done every six months..i am only at two times but like it when i get it done... If it was less time consuming it would be nice.. They have exercises for every thing at your swallowing clinic.. So they do not make it easy..but it is all livable and become part of our daily life.. But time will make it better...it has for me.. Happy Holidays to every one on this Board...Mel
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #6
    MJ70 said:

    HI Larry:
    I can totally agree with Sweets and Hondo and swallowing and time...I am almost seven years out( scc base of my tongue ) and still have swallowing issures..The swelling and healing will take time for sure...The dilating of your esphogus? or stretching is pretty common i think for all of us...I am told some have it done every six months..i am only at two times but like it when i get it done... If it was less time consuming it would be nice.. They have exercises for every thing at your swallowing clinic.. So they do not make it easy..but it is all livable and become part of our daily life.. But time will make it better...it has for me.. Happy Holidays to every one on this Board...Mel

    Larry, yes, they can
    Larry, yes, they can sometimes stretch out your esophagus so that you may be able to swallow easier. If your stricture or swelling is in your esophagus, then that should not be blocking your airway or trachea. When my food gets stuck I can still breathe tho it is scary when it happens to you the first few times. I only get nervous when I can't get it up or down after about five minutes now. :) Where that used to happen to me about every other bite, it only happens about three or four times a day now.
  • larry447
    larry447 Member Posts: 22
    #7
    sweetblood22 said:

    Larry, yes, they can
    Larry, yes, they can sometimes stretch out your esophagus so that you may be able to swallow easier. If your stricture or swelling is in your esophagus, then that should not be blocking your airway or trachea. When my food gets stuck I can still breathe tho it is scary when it happens to you the first few times. I only get nervous when I can't get it up or down after about five minutes now. :) Where that used to happen to me about every other bite, it only happens about three or four times a day now.

    Hi sweetblood22
    Thanks for your response,it seems that my major problem is the swelling
    in my throat and this is preventing me from swallowing. This was told to
    me by the speech therapist. The swelling is so severe and has narrowed
    my throat opening 5 times the normal. According to the therapist it is not
    my esophagus. I had my esophagus dilated over a month ago and it appears to
    alright at this time. Like i mentioned before i had a real serious dose of
    horrible radiation and this is more like the culprit.Actually to hear some
    of these post from our brother and sister survivors it is really scary to
    think about eating especially with the problems they are encountering. As
    you know and the many others in our situation it is not easy dealing with
    the prospects that you may have to live with a trach and feeding tube forever.
    The one thing positive about this ordeal is getting to meet the wonderful people
    like yourself and who are members of this site.
    Larry

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