Donnajean,
I am going through some of the same stuff. My chest scan showed aspiration pneumonia. The swallow staff assumed that I have reflux and prescribed nexium. The gastro/ent. who has dialted my esophagus three times disagrees. He says that the chemo/radiation combination that I had changed the shape and function of my epiglotis and my swallowing mechanism in general has been affected by it. This makes the most sense to me, but since the Nexium is apparently harmless, I am taking it anyway.

The dilation worked and food no longer gets stuck in my esophagus, but I still have a difficult time swallowing anything but soft stuff and still deal with mucous in my throat. I can drink a big volume of milk shake, but cannot seem to eat much volume of food. I still use my PEG once or twice a day but probably could drink the Boost Plus and dispense with it. The good news is that I am gaining a little weight. However I never thought that approaching 8 months after radiation ended,I would swallow so poorly and still have a PEG.

But on the bright side, I feel good and am enjoying life. So what if I can't eat a big juicy steak or a wonderful looking brownie. At least I get to hack it around the golf course tomorrow and to attend my daughter's high school graduation at the end of May.

Danny G.