This is the second time my husband got a choking feeling. He feels he cant breathe or eat. This is happening after the surgery when the doctors removed his lymp nodes on 14 april.
Is it common to have it. Can some one please advice. Or is there something that can be done to reduce this suffocating or chocking feeling. He feels like some one is squishing his neck from the inside. I feel so sad to see him like this. I hope to see the doctor on friday.
Please advice. Thanks

Yes it's very common - some times I cough so hard from my secretions that I vomit - also his throat was already probably tight from the radiation then they operated - if he gets really upset that will make he situation worse - not sure if he has a lot of pain in his throat if not yawning will help loosen it up - a bit. It helps stretch the muscles also trying to move his neck will help too - it loosens up the outer muscles. It's a horrible feeling - I did my treatments backwards to your husband - I had the surgery then radiation and chemo - so my throat was already tight when I started radiation and it got worse - telL him to continue swallowing as much as he can even if he's not eating or drinking - that works the throat muscles too. But he should probably see a therapist they might be able to help. Good luck!

This will continue but can be eased with nothing but what can be made mushy dipped in hot coffee, tea or even milk. That coughing until you think you are out of air is a part of our lives. At least for me and some others it is. Too bad the cough doesn't bring up the flem and whatever else might be creating it. We learn to grin, groan, pretend and bare it.

Swallowing is a complex function. When our anatomy is changed abrupbtly by surgery, radiation, scarring and swelling we can expect trouble swallowing. Expect it but know that there is something you can and should do about it especially at this early stage in your husbands recovery.
Get a referral to a speech therapist/pathologist, and he/she will likely want to do a Modified Barium Swallow study. It's a painless x-ray that allows us to view the entire swallow process and identify what the problem is and how to solve it.

I have a huge amount of empathy for those who rely on a G-tube because of severe swallow problems. For some - that is an inevitable and harsh outcome. The thing is though, we don't know that for many months to years after the problem presents itself. The vast majority of head and neck cancer Patients, can improve their chances of a better outcome (no choking, no G-tube long term) IF they have good assessment and treatment of their swallowing problem -the sooner the better. So many on this site need speech therapy treatment to improve their swallowing problems - the problem is that most doctors don't recognize this and the Pt is put in the position to push for it - I can't encourage you enough to PUSH for assessment and treatment. If your leg were paralyzed you would not just wait for it to get better, you wouldn't just go see a doctor or physical therapist once a month to see if it's any better yet - you would have active and regular treatment to get better - and that's what those with swallowing problems should do.
Don't wait - get a referral - the swallow is too important to just take the "wait and see" approach of too many physicians.

Thank you Cheryl, Jim and Jennifer . I will go to the doctor and request for the referral for the Therapist and get the barium test done.

Cant thank you guys enough.

Keep us posted Roma - it's been a short time since the surgery - intervention now may be the key to success and ease some of his symptoms!

Thanks Jennifer
We went to doctors they adviced to go to pain clinic. Went there but that clinic turned out more to help with reducing pain medications.
Have asked for a speech pathologist , waiting to hear back from them. It has already been over 1 week since I spoke to their clinic last.

Choking feeling has just come up after neck dissection. Doc said to see a physio therapist, whom we have contacted too but are still waiting to hear back from them also.

Ez Jim - I tried all what you suggested hot tea /milk etc. but nothing seems to work with him.

I hope to hear soon from speech pathologist and physio therapist. Will take it from there.

THank you all for all your support and help.
Roma

I posted a couple of times about sort of the same issue - dh has trouble getting in enough air to laugh, has been sleeping upright in chair for months. Surgeon speculates that his thick mucous is sticking/drying to vocal cords and doesn't let air thru. Prescribed Dulera inhaler which has helped but not enough. Waiting for Medicare to kick in so he can see doc again. We've had a couple episodes where I was running for the phone to dial 911 but he's pulled out of it. Scary stuff. Hope you get some answers soon.