My John has been in swallowing therapy since the middle of January. He had radiaion and chemo ending in Sept 2002 and a modified radical neck dissection in October. He still has the tube. His therapist is great but I notice that John chokes more when eating if he is tired. His therapist said he should still be taking an afternoon nap. John has very reduced motion of his epiglottis because of the radiation. HIs tumor was very close to the epiglottis. I think that the problems one encounters are related directly to where the tumor was and its size. John was told by one therapist that he would never eat again. The one he has now is as determined as he is. Good people are the key. If you have not watched your own swallowing study (with the barium) on xray--do so. It will show you where your problems are. Then the therapist designs exercises for the muscles that are stiff from radiation. Our thoughts are with you all.
Meredith