Kris's Trans Oesophageal puncture has failed to heal. He is desparate to drink some fluid even though he then aspirates and coughs fairly explosively as a result. Just brushing his teeth causes him to aspirate. He is using the PEG as a result of this set back so is getting enough nutrition. Boy am I sick of it all. When will we ever get a break?
His team have decided it is time to definitively treat this. So we go again on Saturday to see them. The choices are to have them inject around the hole with a collagen type substance to plump up the tissues and get a seal. Harvest some fat from him and inject his own fat into the tissues to plump it up or just suture the hole closed. We would then have to wait 3 months before they would again make a new Trans Oesophageal puncture to insert the speaking valve through.
I hate this silence and I really am fed up with the constant coughing and distress he goes through.
Personally I am in favour of the collagen injection. At least then they could reinsert the speaking valve. Seems to me this would kill 2 birds with one stone - seal the leak and stop the aspiration and allow him to communicate. Though this is only a temporary measure as it would only last around 6 months.
Sometimes I really do feel all alone. No one else has these problems.
I hate this awful disease.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!