I am completely on canned Osmolite and crushing all pills because I'm aspirating everything (that's bad!)due to radiation damage. So they put me on nothing by mouth - everything by feeding tube. I'm not gaining much weight and it varies so much! 97lbs. one day and 93 lbs the next day. I weigh at the same time every day. I finished radiation in November 08.
I cannot stick my tongue out of my mouth - it will go only as far as the edge of my bottom teeth. They have given me tongue exercises to do to improve my swallow function which was damaged by radiation (see paragraph 1) and causes the aspiration. I have seen no improvement but I don't do many of the exercises because it's so painful. My tongue is also swollen on the cancer side. I've had numerous PET scans and it appears the cancer is gone. but I'm having another Monday.
I also have trissmus - mouth is closing up. I cannot get a toothbrush in on the left any more. Have a dinasplint but the salesgal said to quit using it since it's so painful. Can anyone relate to any of this? Is there any hope?