I had cancer in my tonsil and it spread to my lymphnodes. I had a radical neck disection, left side, in October 2003 and 33 radiation treatments that ended end of January 2004. Since that time I have not been able to eat. I had a barium swallow test that showed nothing going down. I had 7 dilatations so far. I also did 29 hyperberic oxygen treatments to help heal the ulceration in my esophagus. I am also undergoing the vital-stim treatments (9 so far). After my last dilatation, I was able to wash down some thick soup. The next day, back to only being able to swallow thin liquids (water etc.). I also have to spit the leftovers. My speech therapist mentioned a cricopharyngeal myotomy, but that may not be an option because my cricopharyngeal muscel may be damaged. There is a stricture and my doc described it as friable. Not good. I don't know if there are any other options. I will continue to go for the dilatations every 2 weeks or so, but I don't know if they will ever work. The doctors aren't giving me any sense of hope for eating again. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Jeff