Hi Everyone,
My Mom is a cancer survivor, 1 yr. ago she had a portion of her tongue and all lymph nodes one side removed. Thank God, the lymph nodes were clear and she is free of cancer for 1 year now. I have just returned from bringing her home from the hospital for treatment of pneumonia for the 3rd time this year, 2nd time in a month. This time I think we have hit on the problem. She is having a difficult time with swallowing, mostly liquids. Tests performed in hospital today comfirmed this and she must be aspirating liquid into her lungs and it then results in pneumonia and pleursy. She is 85 yrs. old. They have put her on a soft diet which requires all liquids to be thickened. She no longer can drink water nor her favorite, diet soda. I purchased a product "Thick It" from the pharmacy but it doesn't seem to thicken the liquids enough. Can anyone that has had this problem recommend a product that will do the trick. I understand there are several out there, but I would like someone's opinion of the best. I will appreciate any help anyone can give me. She will also be going for therapy. She had no therapy after the cancer surgery as her speech was not impaired. We did not give any thought to her having a swallowing problem, but the bouts with pneumonia have brought this to light.
Thanks,
Margie

Margie, sorry that your mother continues to have problems. Please ask her doctors about VitalStim Therapy, perhaps that will help.

My mom to also had the same problem. She was on a feeding tube though. She would try foods and she had a swallow study done, that resulted in her aspirating to her lungs. I do believe there are excercises the speech theripist will do that will help build the muscles to prevent this from happening.

Hi Mark,
Thanks so much for the information. I just got off the phone with the therapy office and they are referring me to a Swallowing Therapy program that is supposed to be quite new. They didn't give me the name of it, but we are going to schedule an appointment for next week. I will ask them about Vital Stim. I was told that this new therapy is to strengthen her throat muscles, and tongue (which they said were not really too weak), just the throat is weak. My Mom was only stage 1 cancer, no radiation, but she did have a radical neck dissection. Her neck on the outside healed beautifully and you can hardly notice it. However, she will be 86 in Sept. and I think age is a factor in the muscle weakness. Again, congratulations on you 4 year's of being clear. Your name is now added to my prayer list. Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Margie

Hi Karen,
Thanks for responding. I am also a primary care giver and I am so glad the doctor really listened to me this time. I mentioned the chocking on food to the last doctor and he didn't pick up on the aspiration pneumonia. This one did. The swallow test showed weakness in her throat muscles and she was given a new way to eat and drink. We are scheduling swallowing therapy and were told that with work, she can overcome the weak throat muscles and she shouldn't have to have everything thickened forever. However, being almost 86 years old, she might be doing this for the rest of her life. She is a feisty woman with a strong desire for life and her motto is "never say die" so who knows. Anyhow, this is just a small price to pay for being alive. I know a lot of people have it much worse so we must be thankful. Thanks so much for your help.
Sincerely,
Margie

Thank you Margie,

My guess is that the "new" therapy will involve the VitalStim. It is a new device that has shown very good results. It sounds like your mother has the right attitude!

I appreciate your sharing the information about your mother & pneumonia. My 75-year-old Dad has been having some similiar difficulties and these postings are the first I've seen about muscle weakness, swallowing tests and pneumonia. I am frustrated at times that the docs seem to disregard the "small" complaints/inputs from my older parents, yet if I persistently inquire, they may come up with a suggestion. In fact, my Dad's oncologist's staff (he's been treated for non Hodgkins lymphoma for 11 years) totally disregarded his complaint about a lump on his tongue and it was my Mom's dentist who ordered the biopsy! Did/do you experience this "it's normal for a person your age to have this symptom" stuff toward your parent(s) at all, Marjorie & Karen? If so, do you have any ideas on how to overcome the issue?