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#147465 03-25-2012 05:26 PM
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Dawnb Offline OP
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Finished 5 weeks of radiation and chemo. Husband has been using PEG for 1 1/2 weeks now. Only met with swallowing therapist once and was given exercises for swallowing and told to swallow at least 20 bites. He has fallen short on 20 bites, sometimes only 6 or 10 and missed a couple days. Yesterday I found him gagging up the peaches. He is convinced they are going down fine and his swallowing is fine and that all food gags him but I wonder why he has such trouble getting things down and keeping them down. (not throwing up after using tube). Could this be a start of losing the abilty to swallow? I can only nag and push so much. I plan on calling the therapist tomorrow without him knowing and let her request an appointment and hopefully a swallowing test. Maybe I am wrong but don't want him to have issues forever with swallowing.

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Hi and welcome:
I can remember how hard it was to swallow anything of substance at first but was forced to swallow by mouth in order to retain my swallowing ability. At the 1 1/2 week timeframe like your husband, I swallowed mostly liquid supplements, one in particular is (still do it now if I have trouble swallowing some days), Nestle VHC (Very High Calorie) Carnation Instant Breakfast. One small can has 560 calories. It only comes in vanilla, but doesn't taste too bad, but I chug-a-lug it down with a straw, but it still counts as swallowing by mouth wink. I order mine from CVS Drug Store by the case and they usually get it by the next day. Everyone is different it seems with their swallowing capability, and even though it's been 4 years for me, like I said, I have trouble now and then swallowing and when I find things I can swallow, stick to them. Good luck and keep in touch. Others will respond as soon as they see your post. This is a wonderful Forum.
Julieann


Julieann
Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer smile
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Dawn, when someone undergoes radiation for the head and neck areas it will greatly impact their swallowing capabilities. This happens to every single one of us, even the ones who seem to sail right thru it easily. As a former patient, I can tell you that several times I choked while attempting to eat and it really scared me to keep trying. A few times were pretty bad!

Nutrition and hydration play a huge role in how good your husband will feel during his treatments. I know you cant force him to eat or drink but if he does not take in enough he will end up being hospitalized. Every single day he must take in a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water, more is even better. If he isnt getting this amount in then he will not feel very good and it can cause dehydration and malnutrition.

He should try sipping water and he should be doing this every single day. Believe it or not, a patient can lose their ability to swallow and their muscles 'forget'. Have him keep sipping water all day to keep his swallowing muscles working. Here is a list of easy to eat foods which should be helpful.

Easy to East Foods


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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Dawnb Offline OP
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Thankfully my husband is getting his 7 cans (2625 calories, as recommended by dietitian) and I aim for 80 oz. of water. Wasn't sure if we were hitting that since he would tell me he drank some from a glass. I marked 5 bottles of 16 oz. water 1-5 today and just put the last one in the tube. Of course he protested saying he was FULL but I told him he would be sleeping in a minute. Also put in some juice for extra. Tonight he had tried cheerios, I asked how much and he said "8". WOW!! I think everything tastes so bad he mentally can't keep it down. He is actually looking at a cruise for the end of May, I won't be booking till he is back to eating. (I don't dare mention to him how long it could take to be back to normal.)

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I finished rads may 4th... Last year - then went to LA - aug 4 - eating still wasn't much fun... But I enjoyed my trip regardless. just bring some extra nutrition with you or make sure there's some available (ensure? Boost?thanks way if there are a bunch of things he can't eat he'll still have something reliable to fall back on. I flew into LA bought a protien powder - and made my monin smoothie very day before we left the house hat way if we didn't fin anything palatable - hen. Had a least had my smoothie to fall back on. Good luck.


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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Traveling can still be done even when a person isnt able to eat properly. Of course eating is such a social event that a cruise might not be that enjoyable until he is better able to eat. Ive heard cruises have the most wonderful food available 24/7.

Getting extra protein will help him to heal faster. From what you wrote, your husband is doing very well with his nutrition and hydration. I have found a liquid protein which has 25 grams of protein in only 2.9 oz. I began using this instead of the protein powder.

The sense of taste should begin to return after about a month. Things will taste great one day and horrible the next. It will be a long road to get his full sense of taste back. For some they will still see improvements at the 2 year mark. Small portions will work best until he recovers more.

Best wishes with a speedy recovery!


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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Posts: 167
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Hey there Dawn - hope you guys were able to get in to see the SLP. Now is the perfect time for swallowing therapy! It can help him swallow safely, decrease risk of aspiration, and help him eat more and more with greater ability - he still has a bit of a road ahead of him so good therapy now could make a big difference!
Best wishes!


Jennifer (39)
02/10 SCCa Tongue & Base, HPV-
03/10 Partial Glossectomy & ND 11/10 Revision due to additional nodes 12/20-2/2/11 IMRT & concommitant chemo 2/11 PEG in 3/11 PEG out
Back at work and feeling good 03/24/11!
12/20/11 - 9 month f/u PET/CT - all clear!
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It sounds like he's getting the nutrition and water, but all through the tube. I think Christine meant it would be good for him to have water next to him at all times just to sip and swallow. That's what Kevin did and he never lost the ability to swallow. Just a thought, but definitely sounds like it's time for an appt.


Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
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Dawnb Offline OP
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Two and half weeks out of treatment and husband is not eating anything, drinking a little water. Called therapist twice and sadly they don't seem to worried. Wish I could get a barium swallowing test scheduled. He thinks he is still doing ok and his swallowing not affected. I can only hope all his gagging up the buildup in his throat is maybe exercising some of the muscles down there. A note was made on his chart to address this issue on May 2, when he meets with the ENT and swallowing therapist again. At least I have tried. Hard to convince someone to eat something that seems spoiled and foul tasting. I did find him trying a Cheeto and he kept trying to spit the taste of his mouth because it was making him feel so nauseated. WOW, just one Cheeto. I think I'll be a long road to eating normal again.

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Yawning helps stretch the throat try to get him to sip and swallow if possible. Hugs.


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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