Meredith, as you know, my husband began this experimental program for his swallowing at University Hospitals in Cleveland. He just came back. He was part of a group of 10 or so patients who use the "electric stimulation", or "e-stim"; a device which emits a certain vibration frequency, which stimulates the swallowing nerves. While my husband saw that many people who had brain tumors or suffered from paralysis were greatly helped (one woman who couldn't eat anyting at the beginning of the 10 day was able to eat angel hair pasta very effectively). Unfortunately, it really didn't help my husband.

It was recommended to him that he to a "dilitation", or a throat stretch, in conjunction with the "e-stim", which he did. It was very painful for him. His throat had an aperture of 20 (I think this probably means 20 mm in circumference), and most normal adult esophagi or esophagal sphincters are around 60. His had shrunk that much because of the radiaton. They stretched his throat to a 38, and the following day, he did a barium swallowing test. It seemed to have shrunk from the previous day. It was then suggested to him, that he do at least 3 throat stretches (dilitations) within 8 days of each other, and preferably with the "e-stim".

My husband can't go back to Cleveland, and will do it here in NYC (where another swallowing specialist has recommended BOTOX injections to relax the aperture) or in New Haven.

Needless to say, he is very frustrated, and he is impatient as well. It was a very painful procedure, and it looks like this is just beginning. He was diagnosed April 1, 2002, finished treatment June 2002, and hasn't been able to swallow much of anything.

I'll keep updating you on progress reports.