treach tube and speach

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thennies61
thennies61 Member Posts: 285
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi everyone...just curious if anyone else had gone though speach class? I started alittle bit while in rehab and going to try to go more now that I'm and hopefully during rad treatment.But seem I sound alittle hollow even with treach capped off.Am having trouble with some letters but want to start to make my tounge as strong as it can be.I'm hoping as the swelling goes down speach will improve somewhat.Am reading out loud talking to the dog even more.lol

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  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #2
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    speech therpy

    Starting in the hospital, I had speech therpy for almost 8 months, I didn't have a trach but, during surgery,my vocal cords were bowed. I must say, speech, in my case, covered so much more than implied..swallowing, talking,breathing, eating... I wasn't the nicest to my speech therpist at times, she pushed and pushed..I went 3 times a week. Listen to your therpist, do what she says..it's all in your best interest...I'll never forget the day, a croaking voice came out of my mouth, only to be followed by my voice...I still, 2 yrs,4 months out, do the exercises

    I do think, you are being a little hard on yourself, you've only just begun recovery and it takes some time..sounds like you're doing great and that will continue as you heal... Live strong!

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #3
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    Grandmax4 said:

    speech therpy

    Starting in the hospital, I had speech therpy for almost 8 months, I didn't have a trach but, during surgery,my vocal cords were bowed. I must say, speech, in my case, covered so much more than implied..swallowing, talking,breathing, eating... I wasn't the nicest to my speech therpist at times, she pushed and pushed..I went 3 times a week. Listen to your therpist, do what she says..it's all in your best interest...I'll never forget the day, a croaking voice came out of my mouth, only to be followed by my voice...I still, 2 yrs,4 months out, do the exercises

    I do think, you are being a little hard on yourself, you've only just begun recovery and it takes some time..sounds like you're doing great and that will continue as you heal... Live strong!

    From what I understand it

    From what I understand it will be up to the speach therpist when I can start to eat at least soft foods.Not hard on myself more hurrying myself and need to slow down a tad

  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #4
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    That's true

    it will be up to the therpist, and if she/he tries to rush you, tell them no..mine started out with applesauce, tinted blue, so she could see if it was going down correctly and not into my lungs..the day she had a graham cracker, I told her, no way am I able to eat that and swallow, clamped my mouth shut and dared her to try opening it haha. She was such a great person, I apolgised to her many times. They will work you up gradually to soft  ( pureed ) food....It took me almost 1 year to be able to swallow anything, since that, it's on! I lived on mashed potatoes,gravy,heated V8 and crushed ritz crackers,yogurt ( no fruit) , boost,ensure,pudding,ice cream in a shake, etc.  

     

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