Katrina,

Have you seen a speech pathologist (these are the folks who can help you improve your swallowing) to see if they can help you with your swallowing and give you some exercises to do. I have also had problems with esophageal strictures--they can happen even if you are swallowing liquids, they don't just happen ebcause of not swallowing they are a reaction radiation that some of us have worse than others.

I've had to have my throat opened three times (the first time it was completely closed up)and I need another dilation soon. Often you need to have the surgery repeatedly, but there are exercises you can (and should) do to build up your swallowing muscles as well. If you are having a hard time swllaoing your own phlegm and saliva, that's a sign you probably need another dilation.

Whatever you do, do't give up! I don't know why this is so hard for some of us when for most people swallowing returns without these problems, but there is more and more research being done on rehabilitation of this problem (the surgeon who does my esoph. dilations is at a major CCC and tells me this problem is more common as radiation is recommended for more and more oral cancer patients and is more effective at getting the cancer--likewise strictures ahve become a bigger problem. A speech pathologist I saw who is an expert in dealing with swallowing problems for oral cancer pts. told me that the problems seem to be worse with IMRT but my local ENT says that isn't true.)

I wish I could tell you I was off the g tube at last--after the last diulation I got so I was getting half my calories orally (though almost all liuquidor yogurt/pudding texture stuff) before my throat seemed to tighten up again. I am determined that eventually I will get off the tube entirely and am doing exercises failry religiously towards that end. Please send me a private message if you want some support through this.

Nelie