It has been six weeks since I finished radiation treatment. Although, I have managed to get down a small amount of solid food (like 1 egg per day!) I prefer to get my nutrition from drinking nutritional drinks such as ensure plus. I still have some mouth sores and pain when eating. I know that when it comes to swallowing that if u don't use it you will lose it and have heard it in regards to eating as well. My question is this: if you can swallow liquids well and drink your nutrition, will that also enable you to keep the ability to swallow solids as well? Or to rephrase this: if you get your nutrition from drinking liquids only, will you still lose your ability to swallow solid food in the future? Right now I detest the texture of solid food and the pain it causes but don't want to cause myself anymore problems. If I MUST eat, I shall, but if I don't have to then why endure the extra pain? Thanks for any input! Monica

Oh how I miss Charm!! He would have so much to tell you on this subject - and his answer would be YES - you will lose your ability to swallow. Please push yourself. This is short term pain for long term gain. Good luck.

Donna

Monica,

Sorry for you issues and remember everyone can be different in how they respond to the Tx because of many factors. Also remember none of us are docs, just battle tested.

IMO you need to quickly consult with a swallowing expert. Get a referral from your RO. Time is of the essence so please do not put this off. Until then I would encourage you to continue swallowing what you can.

Thank you so much for your input. I will call him today. I hope you all are doing well and I wish you the best in your journeys.

Hi MonicaJ,

YES, you can lose your ability to swallow! No matter what, you have to keep working at it even if it's painful. Many use Magic Mouthwash to help with mouth pain. It'll give you a window to help get food down. Eat soft foods.

Easy to Eat Foods

I was given a list of swallowing exercises by my SLP and would be happy to post them. They're difficult as all get out but they help and work! You also must continue to do them well into your recovery as many have lost their ability to swallow years afterwards. I don't mean to make this scary but it is and it's serious business.

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

It's still early. I could not eat, drink for 6 months from chemo, up to 7 weeks for my 2nd treatment post radiation, and about the same for my third treatment, and can eat everything now. Just as you can loose the ability to swallow from non use of the muscles due to losing memory, the same memory can come make use back quickly, just like any other muscle does when exercising after non use. It also matters where the primary was, where radiated, and the radiation dosage to the area, and not all are equal. The oropharynx, especially base of tongue, is integral in forming a bolus, swallowing. You also need to take care of the other issues interfering with eating, and swallowing ability..pain, ulcers, inflammation, thrush, other infections.

I had the texture thing going on just from chemo, I could not eat potatoes, bread, which would make me nauseous, for a long time.

I agree with dry swallowing, drinking, eating what you can, exercising the mouth, H&N, seeing a speech and language pathologist.

If anyone has an interest in dysphagia, iPad has a dysphagia apps that has about 10 simulation of swallowing mechanics. There is another one called, iswallow, used in conjunction with a university hospital's speech and language pathology dept, but you can view the 15 mouth, neck exercise videos. If supported by your treatmnf cancer, you can do much more in the apps.

Good luck.

These were given to me by my SPL at Johns Hopkins. Good info!

"T"


Swallowing Exercises

Falsetto Phonation or �Sirening�
Make a siren noise from a low pitch to a high pitch. Use a �ng� sound. Hold the pitch for 2-3 seconds. Repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

Masako Maneuver
Protrude tongue slightly between your front teeth. Hold tongue in this position by bearing down gently with your teeth. Swallow while keeping tongue protruded. Use this technique several times daily when swallowing your own secretions (water if you have no saliva). Repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

Effortful Swallow
Keep your mouth closed and the tip of your tongue elevated to your palate. Swallow as strong as you can, focusing on squeezing with your throat muscles (like you have something stuck in your throat and you have to get it down), repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

Mendelsohn Maneuver
Place fingers gently on your neck to feel how the larynx/voice box rises when you swallow. When you feel your larynx rise to it�s highest point, try to hold the larynx in an elevated position for 5 seconds. Repeat 10X, 3 sets, twice daily.

Swallowing liquids is great but as everyone here has said it's not the same as swallowing food. Do push yourself and do some exercises. Hugs

Thank you all for your great advice. I did see my RO and was referred to a SLP. I had a swallow study done on Friday and am awaiting results. My SLP has given me set of exercises to do at home and they are the same or very similar to the ones that T posted, so thank you T as this was great and accurate advice and very useful for me and hopefully someone else for future reference. I am going to check out the swallowing apps for iPad too. Every little bit of exercise helps. Thank you all for lighting a fire under my butt to DO something and not be so passive. Btw, I didn't know we had to keep these exercises for essentially the rest of our lives, so thanks for that tidbit as well! I would have gotten (hopefully) everything in shape and then....forgot about it! You all have been such a great help.

I am interested in the app for ipad that you spoke of in your post. Do you know if they have a version for the pc as well?