#54773 04-29-2004 08:37 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 Gold Member (100+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 | Anyone else have to use massive amounts of water to swallow? It usually takes me about 3 glasses to get one scrambled egg down. By then I'm waterlogged. Water even taste metalic to me now. I finished treatment January 23rd. I thought things would be getting better by now. I was doing very well before radiation and now I can't swallow very much before I start gagging. Things feel like they are getting stuck. Anyone had to have their esophagus dialated?
Lynn
Stage 3, N0, M0 oral tongue cancer survivor, 85-90% of tongue removed, neck disection, left tonsil removed, chemo/radiation treatments, surgery 11/03, raditation ended 1/04, lung mets discovered 4/04,
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#54774 04-29-2004 11:56 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 | hi Lynn,
water is good... but i like dairy products, espcially milk. the fat seems to help things slide down easier... for awhile i was drinking a couple gallons of milk each week because it helped me swallow food.. ice cream is also a must have. yogart is good to. milk shakes also work.. i had a chocolate one with my fish sandwich for lunch today. Chocolate milk if yummy. sometimes recently i have been cutting my milk 50/50 with water to cut calories.
Got milk?
cu,
larryb | | |
#54775 04-29-2004 01:59 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | I elected for a PEG tube after six weeks of fighting to eat and get the proper nutrients required daily. Lost 40+ pounds.
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
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#54776 04-29-2004 03:43 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Send a private message to get digtexas to talk with you. He has been through the dilation process, and I just saw him in Houston. He seems to be very happy with the results and is doing great. He may not catch your posting and that is why I am suggesting you contact him personally. You can find him in the directory link at the top of the first page.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#54777 04-29-2004 03:55 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I could not swallow water and spoke with several that either buy the thick water additive or thickened water. I drank 1-2 gallons of whole milk like Larry partially for the extra calories even though I do not like the taste. I am 7 months out and I still choke on water and use quite a bit to wash down drier things like pie crust and bread. I feel like there is a shelf or something about half way down that holds food or fluids until something else literally pushes it down. I can't chew ice anymore and ice cream stops at the "spot" and starts burning until I wash it down with something. I tried to get the ENT to do a dilation a while back but he was hesitant and I saw a story in the SPOHNC newsletter about someone that ruptured the pharyngeal wall and caused some other complications. I could fax the article from the March 2004 newsletter if you like.
Ed
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#54778 06-13-2004 02:08 AM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 11 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 11 | I'm not sure what I would do without my water bottle being with me at all times...especially during the course of trying to eat. I'm 7 months post radiation therapy and still have very little taste, can't eat any form of bread or spicy foods. Eating has become the worst part of my day..that and sleeping, but that's another story. Milk and milk shakes are great though...lost a total of 54 pounds and have only gained six back. | | |
#54779 06-13-2004 05:22 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hi Lynn,
I have trouble swallowing and each swallow is a thought out process. I drink alot of water also. Milk seems to help and I'm drinking about 4 cups of whole milk per day. I mix carnation instant breakfast in it.
Also take small bites and chew like hell!!. Soup is much easier for me to eat than solids. I'm trying to make sure I get enough nutrition daily. Don't want to lose any ground, I'm skinny enough as it is!!!
Good Luck with your problem, Please post after you talk to Danny G.
Sincerly, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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