I'm sure I could find this if I had time to search - those of you who have experienced swallowing issues, did they come on fast or slow? Twice in past year dh has had issues. On one occasion just woke up and couldn't even get water down. This cleared on it's own in 5 days. This time he can only get room temp water down. Swallow test showed silent aspiration though I have some major issues with the test. 6 weeks ago he was eating everything he could find and then suddenly down to room temp water within a week. Swallow test - chew ice chips (the man has no teeth), eat a cookie and when he said he might be able to with some water, the test ended. Peg tube back in now, but I just wondered how other people's issues presented....and yeah, I know that no two people are alike. Dh has also had a severe sinus infection and I'm wondering how much mucus and lack of saliva have played in this. ENT saw nothing on scope. Thanks for any feedback.

I would ask to have the test repeated.

While my situation isnt as serious as your husbands, I occasionally struggle to swallow. It doesnt happen daily or even weekly but then on some days its a few times a day.

Im sure some members who are going thru a similar situation will be along to reply soon.

Best wishes!!!

Alex had 2 modified barium swallow tests. One mid treatment after induction chemo and before chemoradiation, the second 5 months after finish of treatment. After the second one the radiation oncologist told Alex that he could see no functional reason why he couldn't be eating by now. Alex was made to feel like he was some sort of failure and wasn't trying hard enough.

Two days later when we reported this conversation to the Speech Pathologist, her response was "don't these people read my reports?" Apparently, she had found a swallowing issue (peristalsis effectively firing out of order starting with the swallow) which was Alex's main problem.

I would suggest you speak to the person who actually knows what the result of your tests actually mean - which I am guessing is NOT the ENT.

Get an appointment with a Speech Pathologist to discuss your issues and I bet they will have some idea of what is going on AND be able to give you some exercises to maintain the health of your husband's throat.

Alex also had weird stuff happening with his throat and could only drink liquid at close to room temperature. Cold caused his throat to spasm which closed everything down and caused a feeling of something being stuck, followed by a feeling of choking, followed by actually choking as everything went down the wrong way.

It still happens when Alex is not consciously concentrating on the swallowing process. Chewable food is still not an option but he has progressed to "lumpy" soup - lukewarm.

thanks for the feedback - will still be interested in all replies. I spoke with the speech pathologist that actually was in the test room...it was a quite unpleasant conversation - loudly in the hallway outside the test room. Then saw the speech pathologist that recommended some exercises. I asked for a copy of all reports and told them we would be asking for 2nd opinion somewhere else after sinus cleared and dh gained some strength back. Hubby lost about 50 lb in 6 weeks and dehydrated along with sinus infection, took 4 tries to get peg in...endoscopic, IR, surgery, came home and tube fell out next morning...back to hospital and after much hell raisin' got his first surgeon who put the peg in. Stomach is anchored to ab wall until Tuesday. Had to laugh, I read the report tonight and one of the comments was that we were "too emotional" to hear what they had to say....I don't know...12 out of 15 days in the hospital and a tube falling out.......don't know why they would think we were a bit on the emotional side?!?!? I almost called in the flying monkeys

Maby garling with room temp water will help. The flem in our thorats makes swallowing difficukt for me. Water is all I can swallow anyway so I gargle to keep it going down. Chokes ya sometime and helps get the phlem up and succtioned out tho.

Thanks EzJim! Will pass that along!

Cheryl - Your "hell-raisin'" and your emotional side is what gets things done! Bravo! You are a Great Caregiver!! Get those flying monkeys ready for the next round!