Have you

jackflash22
jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

has anyone had liquid run back down their nose. I was drinking coffee and suddenly felt my nose running and coffee was coming out. Sometimes when I eat a biscuit I feel like I want to sneeze and its in the base of my nose. This is only just started.

Comments

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #2
    Yes

    Swallowing mechanism and structure can change with radiation and surgery - especially if you are relearning how to swallow. It might be a good idea to have a swallow study done so the speech pathologist can see exactly what is going on when you swallow and this is important- make sure nothing is inadvertently entering the lungs.

    My husband has had a few foods come up through the nose as he is weaning off the PEG tube. Mostly it has been around a "difficult" swallow or a mini-choking episode.

    Good luck!

    Barbara

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #3
    Yes I sure do, but my reason is different

    Liquid will take the path of least reisance. With my Laryngectomy which sepperated my air way and throat it can happen really easy. For now take smaller sips which will use less prasure to swallow. Let your ENT know this is happing, and I agree you should have a swallow test which is just a video/xray as you swallow standing and laying back and can see what is happing. I am sorry you are having this as it can burn and hard to clean out. The best way for me [I get solid also] is use a Neti Pot to rince my nose and sinus cavity, as you rince with saline and it will help.

    Bill

  • Craig_Griffin
    Craig_Griffin Member Posts: 52
    #4

    Definately take very small amounts of either food or liquid. My swallowing became so bad that my ENT advised me to eat only foods such as rice or any solid foods pureyed into very small parts. My throat structure is permanently different today and I am still working on taking it slow and easy to avoid choking.

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #5
    nose

    Like Bill, I had a layngectomy.  Milk out the nose is truly an experience.  But, at least I can't choke on food anymore.

    I do need to be careful about the food I eat.  I don't know what your definition of biscuits is, but I don't eat the traditional US buscuits anymore.  Any food that balls up I need to avoid, as it blocks my esophagus.  And then,  out comes the liquid through my nose.  Tortilla chips okay, - Fritos - not.  Potato chips okay - Ruffles with Ridges - not.  Peanuts okay - one at a time - almonds and pecans - never (and one day I will learn the NEVER part).

     

    Lorna

    2007 & 2014

     

     

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #6
    lornal said:

    nose

    Like Bill, I had a layngectomy.  Milk out the nose is truly an experience.  But, at least I can't choke on food anymore.

    I do need to be careful about the food I eat.  I don't know what your definition of biscuits is, but I don't eat the traditional US buscuits anymore.  Any food that balls up I need to avoid, as it blocks my esophagus.  And then,  out comes the liquid through my nose.  Tortilla chips okay, - Fritos - not.  Potato chips okay - Ruffles with Ridges - not.  Peanuts okay - one at a time - almonds and pecans - never (and one day I will learn the NEVER part).

     

    Lorna

    2007 & 2014

     

     

    Thank you

    thank you for your replies. I have a check up next month I'll follow your advice. The biscuits/cookies as you may call them are the little Italian ones you get with a cup of coffee. They are almond and a crisp texture that gives you a nice crunch with the teeth but dissolve with your next mouthful of coffee. They are the only ones I can manage. If you dunk them they end up in the bottom of your coffee.

     

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    #7
    Liquid up the nose

    Yuck! It happened to me about 10 months after treatment ended. I resumed the swallowing exercises, ate everything very consciously for a few weeks, and it did go away. It's funny how everybody has different "difficult" foods. Bread is one of the first foods I felt comfortable eating, but I still can't tolerate cold food or drinks. By the way, those melt in your mouth biscuits/cookies are a Christmas favorite for my family. The kids used to eat them right out of the oven! I hope your swallowing issue will clear up soon.

  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    #8
    The liquid out the nose trick

    Still happens to me on occassion.  Just keep a napkin and tissue handy so when it happens, it doesn't get all over your clothes.

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #9
    MrsBD said:

    Liquid up the nose

    Yuck! It happened to me about 10 months after treatment ended. I resumed the swallowing exercises, ate everything very consciously for a few weeks, and it did go away. It's funny how everybody has different "difficult" foods. Bread is one of the first foods I felt comfortable eating, but I still can't tolerate cold food or drinks. By the way, those melt in your mouth biscuits/cookies are a Christmas favorite for my family. The kids used to eat them right out of the oven! I hope your swallowing issue will clear up soon.

    Got the recipe

    have you got a recipe to pass on. I've never made them, I buy from the store, you don't see them much through the year but loads at Christmas time

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #10
    SASH said:

    The liquid out the nose trick

    Still happens to me on occassion.  Just keep a napkin and tissue handy so when it happens, it doesn't get all over your clothes.

    I do

    I do keep a box of tissues next to me, I've never felt so messy at meal times, like a baby with coughs and dribbles. I hate to socialise if theres things I can't manage, splutter, dribble,cough, spit, you feel you want to explain yourself, how you've been through a terrible trauma that's left you with unsociable problems.its one cancer that's very visible from deformities to eating problems and noises. Especially trying to impress someone and fluids suddenly gush out of your nose ha ha. They try to look unconcerned and stand back a few feet, I have this awful reaction to situations that are embarrassing I burst into fits of giggles and can't stop, it starts over again when relaying the story to friends or even in bed when I think back on it. I had my new grandson in law come to a meal, I wanted everything to go perfect, we started the soup course and I sat opposite him...it was green courgette.......when suddenly..I don't know what happened...but my mouthful of soup just jetted out at such a force it covered him and his nice designer shirt. I looked like something from a horror film I expected my head to start twirling around. ....he's never come to another meal. I'm crying with laughing just writing this down, I have a strange sense of humour.

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    #11
    jackflash22 said:

    Got the recipe

    have you got a recipe to pass on. I've never made them, I buy from the store, you don't see them much through the year but loads at Christmas time

    I'll send it to you tomorrow. Hopefully it's the same one.

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