Erik,

Even at 9 months I experience everything you are right now. I have warned people not to sit in front of me when I am eating because I just don't know when the body will use the sneeze reflex to clear my throat. Sitting in front of an air conditioning vent fries my throat at church. I have felt so good this week that I developed an illusion that life is back to "normal". Then after dinner last night, my throat started hurting and today I can barely talk or swallow. I have to admit it has been several weeks since my throat hurt and the swallowing, talking thing has happened. I was just discouraged from it, nonetheless.

I also share your sentiments on the work thing. I don't have the same drive of putting in the hours I used to and I want to spend nights with my family. I have traveled a lot since about 1999 for work and I just don't want that to be the only option right now. As hard as I have been looking for something, though, I may not have a choice.

Take care and be patient. It does take time.

Your lost brother,

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