Cant talk ???? need advice

robert77dr
robert77dr Member Posts: 54
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am a year past treatment still cant swallow or produce saliva. Now I can’t talk my voice gives out all I can do is try no one can under stand me what is going on I am wondering what’s next I am about ready to give up, Has any one had this problem ? I don’t know what else to do. Please give me some advice.

Comments

  • jim2011
    jim2011 Member Posts: 115
    #2
    cant talk
    slow down. take lots of fluids. i know that sounds amazing but it affects your speaking.
    you will notice a dif in 1/2 day or next day. if not...off to the doc for a look inside. wish you the best!!!
    Jim
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #3
    Frustrating
    Are you still making progress, or have you stopped gaining ground? My voice doesn't give out, but I do have what I call "puberty boy" voice from time to time, and I cannot get the volume I need. Not a good bit of advice, but I speak better after I've had warm, non-caffeinated drink with fatty, salty snacks.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    Hi Robert
    I've seen your posts the last few weeks regarding your continued struggles with swallowing, saliva, mucous and disccomfort. It is almost certain that these problems are all related. I really think you should go back in and present all of this to your treatment team. That way you can get a proper evaluation and set of treatment recommendations from the professionals, including swallowing/speech therapy. A year is enough you should hope to be better than this.

    Best wishes. Hang in there.

    Pat
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Hi Robert

    I too lost my voice for a while; it was due to one of the damaged nerves in the face that controls the tongue and voice function. One doctor put me on Lyrica and it has made a big improvement on my speech and tongue problem.

    From reading a lot of your post I think you need to call and talk to your doctor and have them look into some of these problems you are still having.

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    longtermsurvivor said:

    Hi Robert
    I've seen your posts the last few weeks regarding your continued struggles with swallowing, saliva, mucous and disccomfort. It is almost certain that these problems are all related. I really think you should go back in and present all of this to your treatment team. That way you can get a proper evaluation and set of treatment recommendations from the professionals, including swallowing/speech therapy. A year is enough you should hope to be better than this.

    Best wishes. Hang in there.

    Pat

    Agree
    Communicate with your team of MD's, you should be making better progress... I know we are all different, but at least they can give you some expectations perhaps.

    Best,
    John
  • sue5749
    sue5749 Member Posts: 170
    #7
    talking
    Hi, My husband has had supragottis cancer now for 1 year has had all the rad treatments and cemo treatments. He is still on a feeding tube and has a track. He has not had anything by mouth now for about 8 months. He has not been able to talk ( just whisper) for about 4 months. It's been a very very hard road that we have had to travel. He is weak, and doesn't do much of anything. So I know some what you are talking about. Hope you do get some help with your voice. If you do, please let me know. Thank you
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
    Robert
    I think because you were doing fine talking before and now you are having issues, you should go get checked out with your doctors. As far as the swallowing and zero saliva, I have finally come to terms that this will probably be the way it is for me, from now on.
  • Bob56
    Bob56 Member Posts: 5
    #9
    Robert
    I see my Dr. on Tuesday. I am in the same boat as you, one year ( Oct.4th 2010)since treatment and my cords had to be removed. When I talk now with the use of a implant ( T.E.P) it seems to be getting harder and harder to talk or get the sound out. I cannot eat only drink my meals after i put it in the blender, no more feeeding tube for me. I had no idea how they removed moved them, not very pretty.Have to let gravity do it's thing since i can not sallow
    I feel pretty good just bump into the depression road once in a while, till i go shopping and spend money i don't have. Lucky for me I am able to stay at A Hope Lodge.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
    Bob56 said:

    Robert
    I see my Dr. on Tuesday. I am in the same boat as you, one year ( Oct.4th 2010)since treatment and my cords had to be removed. When I talk now with the use of a implant ( T.E.P) it seems to be getting harder and harder to talk or get the sound out. I cannot eat only drink my meals after i put it in the blender, no more feeeding tube for me. I had no idea how they removed moved them, not very pretty.Have to let gravity do it's thing since i can not sallow
    I feel pretty good just bump into the depression road once in a while, till i go shopping and spend money i don't have. Lucky for me I am able to stay at A Hope Lodge.

    Hi Bob
    Sorry to hear you are in the same boat as Robert, I too had problems with my voice but it was due to nerve damage from radiation. Glad to heave you here with us on H&N, Welcome to CSN.

    Hondo

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