BACKGROUND:
I am the main caregiver for my husband. He had radiation for cancerous tumor on left tonsil 6/05--8/05 and neck dissection 10/10/05. In December 2005 a swallowing study indicated severe dysphagia. He started therapy and was allowed to swallow small bites of thickeend liquids. Cancer metastasized and he had five chemo treatments, last one on 5/18. His 6/12/06 PET scan showed that the cancer was in remission.
UNSURE WHO OR WHAT TO BELIEVE
GI DOCTOR IS SAYING ONE THING AND SPEECH THERAPIST SOMETHING ELSE.
A 6/27/06 swallow study given by a speech therapist indicated severe to profound dysphagia and nothing orally per therapist.
Don had a EGD on 7/3 and initially the GI doctor was not optimistic that Don would be able to swallow since a spur was pushing against his throat. However, after a swallow study with the radiologist he was much more hopeful. Per GI doctor, the spur was not interfering with my husband's swallowing and not interfering with esophagus. While he was not able to swallow the barium pill, he was able to swallow three cups of barium. Per the GI doctor, my husband's esophagus is OK. He saw no problems. He said my husband should start drinking liquids. This differs from what the speech theapist is telling us. The GI doctor wants to dialate my husband's esophagus. He feels that once it is dialated he should be able to swallow more thicker foods than liquid. Aside from my husband's brief swallowing in January he has depended on his feeding tube for all of his nutrition.

Does anyone care to express an enlightened opinion?

Eileen