#81019 09-23-2008 10:32 PM | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 | OK, I tried searches for VitalStim and Swallow Therapy, but neither one got me what I was looking for. I've looked through a lot of posts and still haven't seen it, so if it's in here somewhere, please help me find it.
Has anyone else received VitalStim therapy in swallow therapy? I did, and it really did help - at least until my throat closed up, but that was a different issue. I had to stop, temporarily I hope, due to insurance copay issues, but I hope to get those cleared up and return to it soon.
For those who don't know what it is, it's these little electrodes hooked up to certain places on your neck that encourage your muscles to relearn to swallow. At least that's the really quick way to explain it. I'm sure there's a much more technical way, but I'm not a technician. It really was no problem for me, either. Three times a week I was hooked up for about an hour and the therapist & I just visited (once we talked about the excercises, how I'm doing, etc.) I really actually liked the therapist and enjoyed my time there. And it really was helping!
So has anyone else had this therapy?
Lani
SCC part glossectomy 3/06, recur 8/06 glossectomy, floor of mouth, part of jaw removed, RT/chemo thru 10/12/06, PET clear 7/08
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn"
Passed away 12/14/08
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 | Sorry, this should probably have gone into a different topic, but I only just found out how to do that. Please have patience as I learn.
Lani
SCC part glossectomy 3/06, recur 8/06 glossectomy, floor of mouth, part of jaw removed, RT/chemo thru 10/12/06, PET clear 7/08
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn"
Passed away 12/14/08
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Here are some links to articles about it:
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/searchresults.htm?cx=015422755131303034108%3Ao3fylifwmag&cof=FORID%3A11&q=vitalstim#310
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 250 | Thank you Gary,
I do have lots of info on it. My therapist stocked me up with it. I was just wondering if anyone else here had experience with it, and if it helped them also. I know that it's in discussion at speech therapy seminars, etc. For every one who believes in it, I'm told there's one who doesn't. It will be interesting to see how it fairs in the long run, but I know it did help me.
I will check out the info you found, though, and thanks again.
Lani
SCC part glossectomy 3/06, recur 8/06 glossectomy, floor of mouth, part of jaw removed, RT/chemo thru 10/12/06, PET clear 7/08
"A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn"
Passed away 12/14/08
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