trouble swallowing

Pumakitty
Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi everyone,

I have a quick question. My dad is 7 monthes out of treatment and at times still has trouble with food getting stuck in his throat. He also still has some of the mucus issues. At times he says his throat feels swollen in the morning and then better by evening. Most of the time his trouble is when he first gets up. Does any one else have this problem.

He is able to eat most everything, he also has not teeth so he can not chew.

Thanks for everything.

Kathy

Comments

  • KristynRuth86
    KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
    #2
    Same here
    Hi Miss Pumakitty! I'm sorry your dad is having trouble, and I have those exact same problems, when I wake up in the morning it's the worst then it gets better. And I would describe the feeling the same way, as if my throat was swollen. I don't have any remedies, I do take 5mg of Hydrocodone before I eat so I'm more comfortable when I swallow. I thought my mucus was gone for good last month, but I noticed it sneaking back up on me :( Now I'm gagging and dry heaving all over again, typically just in the moring. Sorry for your poor dad!
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    KristynRuth86 said:

    Same here
    Hi Miss Pumakitty! I'm sorry your dad is having trouble, and I have those exact same problems, when I wake up in the morning it's the worst then it gets better. And I would describe the feeling the same way, as if my throat was swollen. I don't have any remedies, I do take 5mg of Hydrocodone before I eat so I'm more comfortable when I swallow. I thought my mucus was gone for good last month, but I noticed it sneaking back up on me :( Now I'm gagging and dry heaving all over again, typically just in the moring. Sorry for your poor dad!

    Hey Kit Kat.
    You know I have a stricture. Blah. Blah. Blah. But yeah, it is harder to swallow for me when I first get up. It's gets a bit better the more I'm up. I'm not a big eater when I first get up anyway. I find it easier to just drink a cold banana smoothie when I get up it is easy to get down and seems soothing to me.

    If stuff is getting stuck, has he had a swallowing study? He could need a dialation. It can really make it much easier to eat.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Hi Kathy
    I am 5 ½ years passed treatment and at times still have problems swallowing and getting food stuck in my throat. I agree with Sweet on getting the ENT to see about dialation and if it will help. As my ENT would say, sounds like a normal side affect of radiation.

    Take care
    Hondo
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #5
    Hi Kathy
    I'm eight months out from treatment and I have this issue also. I'm thinking he's not really "swollen"; what he has is edema. My doc told me I had it on the outside of my throat, and on the inside as well. I've also noticed sometimes that my tongue seems swollen as well. It affects my speech.

    It's typically worse in the morning because he's been lying flat all night, and gravity causes the fluids to accumulate. When he gets up and moves around, it subsides. Massage of the throat will help somewhat.

    The other thing I've noticed about myself is that that my swallowing muscles seem to be impaired. I don't have a stricture, and I don't have pain. I DO notice that it typically takes me two or three good swallows to get a mouthful all the way down. The food doesn't really get hung up, and it has never blocked my breathing, but typically, it won't go all the way down without a couple of extra pushes. If it's dry, a slug of water will help it along.

    I'm thinking the radiation also somehow affected my throat muscles. I'm optimistic that this will continue to improve over time. More of the gift that keeps on giving.

    Deb
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #6
    D Lewis said:

    Hi Kathy
    I'm eight months out from treatment and I have this issue also. I'm thinking he's not really "swollen"; what he has is edema. My doc told me I had it on the outside of my throat, and on the inside as well. I've also noticed sometimes that my tongue seems swollen as well. It affects my speech.

    It's typically worse in the morning because he's been lying flat all night, and gravity causes the fluids to accumulate. When he gets up and moves around, it subsides. Massage of the throat will help somewhat.

    The other thing I've noticed about myself is that that my swallowing muscles seem to be impaired. I don't have a stricture, and I don't have pain. I DO notice that it typically takes me two or three good swallows to get a mouthful all the way down. The food doesn't really get hung up, and it has never blocked my breathing, but typically, it won't go all the way down without a couple of extra pushes. If it's dry, a slug of water will help it along.

    I'm thinking the radiation also somehow affected my throat muscles. I'm optimistic that this will continue to improve over time. More of the gift that keeps on giving.

    Deb

    Thank you all
    Everything that you have wrote sounds like what he is experiencing. Deb, that sounds like the exact same thing. I know there have been post about exercises and massages that would help with this problem, how can I find them.

    Kathy
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #7
    Pumakitty said:

    Thank you all
    Everything that you have wrote sounds like what he is experiencing. Deb, that sounds like the exact same thing. I know there have been post about exercises and massages that would help with this problem, how can I find them.

    Kathy

    Not sure if this is the one
    Not sure if this is the one you are thinking of. I had this post by Marine book marked.

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/196680

    You can try typing in 'neck message' in the search box. It says 'search CSN content'.


    <3 D
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #8
    sweetblood22 said:

    Not sure if this is the one
    Not sure if this is the one you are thinking of. I had this post by Marine book marked.

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/196680

    You can try typing in 'neck message' in the search box. It says 'search CSN content'.


    <3 D</p>

    Thank you
    Thanks Sweet that did the trick.

    Katt
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #9
    Pumakitty said:

    Thank you
    Thanks Sweet that did the trick.

    Katt

    You're most welcome Katt.
    You're most welcome Katt. =^,,^=

    Is that a new kitty picture?? Cute. :)
  • sportsman
    sportsman Member Posts: 97
    #10
    D Lewis said:

    Hi Kathy
    I'm eight months out from treatment and I have this issue also. I'm thinking he's not really "swollen"; what he has is edema. My doc told me I had it on the outside of my throat, and on the inside as well. I've also noticed sometimes that my tongue seems swollen as well. It affects my speech.

    It's typically worse in the morning because he's been lying flat all night, and gravity causes the fluids to accumulate. When he gets up and moves around, it subsides. Massage of the throat will help somewhat.

    The other thing I've noticed about myself is that that my swallowing muscles seem to be impaired. I don't have a stricture, and I don't have pain. I DO notice that it typically takes me two or three good swallows to get a mouthful all the way down. The food doesn't really get hung up, and it has never blocked my breathing, but typically, it won't go all the way down without a couple of extra pushes. If it's dry, a slug of water will help it along.

    I'm thinking the radiation also somehow affected my throat muscles. I'm optimistic that this will continue to improve over time. More of the gift that keeps on giving.

    Deb

    Swallowing
    I am four years post treatment at the end of February. The radiation really did a number on me as well as the neck dissection where a number of lymph nodes were removed. I have what my ENT calls a severe upper stricture. I have been dilated now five times over almost the last four years. Saliva glands were burned up by the radiation also and really have very little or no saliva other than what is called the thick ropey type. So far as the edema goes I have had theraphy to move this lymph fluid that collects in my neck and face. This is done with a massage. My wife does the massage now but was trained by the physical therapist to do this. It is not hard to learn, certainly not brain surgery. After she does the massage I wear this awful lycra thing that fits around my neck and facial area. This keeps the fluid from immediately moving back into the neck and facial areas. The swelling feeling from the tongue is also more than likely coming from the edema. My voice has changed significantly since radiation. My doctor refers to radiation as the gift that keeps on giving. It can take care of the cancer but destroys so many more things. This is why a lot of us on this site refer to living life as the new normal. It is very difficult at times but I am still alive and have hope and faith that someday things will get better.
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #11
    sweetblood22 said:

    You're most welcome Katt.
    You're most welcome Katt. =^,,^=

    Is that a new kitty picture?? Cute. :)

    New picture
    Sweet,

    Yes this is a new picture of Spot. He is planning on going into modeling :)

    Katt
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #12
    Pumakitty said:

    New picture
    Sweet,

    Yes this is a new picture of Spot. He is planning on going into modeling :)

    Katt

    Spot
    I think he has a good future. Lol. Handsome devil.
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    #13
    sportsman said:

    Swallowing
    I am four years post treatment at the end of February. The radiation really did a number on me as well as the neck dissection where a number of lymph nodes were removed. I have what my ENT calls a severe upper stricture. I have been dilated now five times over almost the last four years. Saliva glands were burned up by the radiation also and really have very little or no saliva other than what is called the thick ropey type. So far as the edema goes I have had theraphy to move this lymph fluid that collects in my neck and face. This is done with a massage. My wife does the massage now but was trained by the physical therapist to do this. It is not hard to learn, certainly not brain surgery. After she does the massage I wear this awful lycra thing that fits around my neck and facial area. This keeps the fluid from immediately moving back into the neck and facial areas. The swelling feeling from the tongue is also more than likely coming from the edema. My voice has changed significantly since radiation. My doctor refers to radiation as the gift that keeps on giving. It can take care of the cancer but destroys so many more things. This is why a lot of us on this site refer to living life as the new normal. It is very difficult at times but I am still alive and have hope and faith that someday things will get better.

    Need some answers on this one....
    winter has come and I have noticed my breathing is harder, plus I am getting up more during the night, you all remember of the l/s larnyx being dead. I am experiencing heavy muscus that hardens, you can tell it collects in my throat, shallows my breathing, and have also notice longer sleep pattern, up to 4 more hours, is this shortage of oxygen?..Old age, god forbid, (52)and also experience a buidl of of phlem in mu mouth, I now keep a bottle of water with me all times, take a coule swiggs at night and go back to bed, like flushing the commode..lol Please let me know if anyone is expereincing something close, I return to Doctors Monday, i also had a outbreak of mouth sores....Other than that I eat like a Horse still, and maybe gained 4 ounces...Thanks for Help. Dennis
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #14
    dennis318 said:

    Need some answers on this one....
    winter has come and I have noticed my breathing is harder, plus I am getting up more during the night, you all remember of the l/s larnyx being dead. I am experiencing heavy muscus that hardens, you can tell it collects in my throat, shallows my breathing, and have also notice longer sleep pattern, up to 4 more hours, is this shortage of oxygen?..Old age, god forbid, (52)and also experience a buidl of of phlem in mu mouth, I now keep a bottle of water with me all times, take a coule swiggs at night and go back to bed, like flushing the commode..lol Please let me know if anyone is expereincing something close, I return to Doctors Monday, i also had a outbreak of mouth sores....Other than that I eat like a Horse still, and maybe gained 4 ounces...Thanks for Help. Dennis

    Dennis
    Hi,

    My dad has been having more of a problem with the muscus since it has gotten colder. He also complains about it collecting in his throat. We were thinking maybe it was the colder dry air. Sorry I don't have an answer. I hope things get better soon.

    Kathy
  • WayneAR
    WayneAR Member Posts: 2
    #15
    sweetblood22 said:

    Not sure if this is the one
    Not sure if this is the one you are thinking of. I had this post by Marine book marked.

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/196680

    You can try typing in 'neck message' in the search box. It says 'search CSN content'.


    <3 D</p>

    cancer of pyriform sinus/tonsil ,heavy rads.
    I had heavy rad.therapy from 7/7/08 till 9/18/08. I don't need to tell you how screwed up this made drinking & eating. I had a G-tube for a year & a half, went from 200 lbs. to a 140. Today, i'm cancer free, but still can't taste, drink or eat food like normal folks. Anyway, the VA give me exercises that over time have helped me. They said I would most likely have to do them the rest of my life. Hope they help!
    1. stick tongue out & swallow hard. do it several times(at least 5 times)
    2. lay on floor,shoulders flat,tilt head up,chin on chest, hold for 30 seconds. rest 10 seconds, repeat 5 times.
    3.use any carbonated drink. drink a little,don't.swallow. tilt head back & gargle 10 seconds, wait 5 seconds & repeat 5 times.
    4.do #1 but gently hold tongue with teeth head down. try & hold the swallow a few seconds. THIS ONE WAS HARDEST FOR ME, BUT VA SAID IT PROABLY HELPS THE MOST.
    GOOD LUCK1
  • par
    par Member Posts: 23
    #16
    Dry Mouth
    By accident I have found if I drink low sodium club soda (8 oz.twice daily)it has helped my dry mouth better than anything else.I hope it works as good for you as it has for me.I was really having problems until I found this.

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