Nancy,
After my tx, I was starting to eat. It was slow and painful, but I was getting back into the swing of things. Then came March 2 and my ND. I have not be able to swallow since. Swallowing study and CT scan shows that my epiglottis shows signs of thickening with very little movement at all. I did not asperate but the "potential for asperation" is there.
All solid food gets stuck in the back of my throat. I have to muscle everything past the epigolttis. I can swallow water. My speech pathologist says there is nothing to be done but wait for the swelling to go down and excercise. My gag reflex is coming back, slowing. Babyfood gets stuck. I have been working on it since March. I have given up a dozen times. I get sad, frustrated, pissed, hopeful...I gave my ENT a copy of the studies, he did not order them, he called me the other day and has refered me to a GI. I started thinking "Whoopy, now someone will fix me" My speech pathologist popped that bubble telling me that she didn't think he would be able to do anything. I will still see him next week, of course. But I am less hopeful. So while are problems might be just alittle different, I completely understand were your coming from. I just want something with some taste. Family is not making it any easier. Everytime I speak with one of my family that live out of state they want the "eating update". I understand that they are just worried and care, but if something were to change, do you think I would let them know?
Amy

Charm,
I've been doing the VitalStim on and off for a while now. When my gag reflex started coming back, I started feelin the electrods much better. Now if she turns it all the way up, it hurts. This is suppose to also be a good sign. We'll see.
Amy