I could not swallow water and spoke with several that either buy the thick water additive or thickened water. I drank 1-2 gallons of whole milk like Larry partially for the extra calories even though I do not like the taste. I am 7 months out and I still choke on water and use quite a bit to wash down drier things like pie crust and bread. I feel like there is a shelf or something about half way down that holds food or fluids until something else literally pushes it down. I can't chew ice anymore and ice cream stops at the "spot" and starts burning until I wash it down with something. I tried to get the ENT to do a dilation a while back but he was hesitant and I saw a story in the SPOHNC newsletter about someone that ruptured the pharyngeal wall and caused some other complications. I could fax the article from the March 2004 newsletter if you like.

Ed

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