Jeepster,

I emailed you an article "Independent review and studies report remarkable success using VitalStim therapy. In these studies, more than 70% of patients with chronic dysphagia resumed normal oral feeding after an average of 12 treatment sessions." (Electrical stimulation for swallowing disorders caused by stroke. Freed, et al., RespirCare 2001 May;46(5):466-74). These studies focused on dyphagia related to stroke victims. There is more information available on www.vitalstimtherapy.com.

It may not be the silver bullet that cures all but it would be worth investigating. I didn't have the partial glossectomy or neck dissection and I sometimes choke on even swallowing water so I can imagine how difficult it would be to have 2/3 of the tongue removed. I hope e-stim is a viable option.

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