#96219 05-28-2009 08:38 AM | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 247 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 247 Likes: 1 | I wrote last month about Bob's choking episode while rying to swallow a pill. I said I would post ENT's advice: Wet mouth well (already suggested by Brian) and position chin down toward chest or at least do not hyperextend neck. She said crushing pills and putting them in applesauce works best and would be safer (but not always convenient). She did not like idea of taking pills with food, as food might get stuck on top of pill and cause further problems.
5/09 PET and ENT exam: completely clear!
CG to husband, dx @ age 65, nonsmoker/social drinker. Dx 5/08 SCC Stage IV, BOT T1N2aM0. 33 IMRT - completed 9/12/08. Induction Chemo (Cisplatin, Taxotere & 5FU), plus concurrent Cisplatin.
1/09 PEG removed; 5/09 neg PET/CT; 5/10 PET/CT NED
Dental extraction & HBOT 2013; ORN 2014; Debridement/Tissue Transfer & HBOT 2016
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 622 Likes: 1 | Apple sauce works well, but I found that yogurt worked better and didn't burn. Your (Bob's) mileage may vary, but worth a try!
18 YEAR SURVIVOR
SCC Tongue (T3N0M0) diag 06/2006.
No evidence of disease 2010
Another PET 12-2014 pre-HBO, still N.E.D.
�Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. It matters that you don't just give up.�
Stephen Hawking | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 | When in chemo, occasionally to avoid choking or gagging on a Zofran anti-nausea tablet, I would crush the tablet to powder in a shot glass (using the rounded butt end of a butter knife), add 1 to 1-1/2 oz water, stir, and drink it down.
Age 61, stg IV SCC (tonsillar, invasive at back of tongue, spread to neck lymph nodes); Dx Nov. 2008, nonsmoker since 1974, very light drinker, no other health issues; no surgery, no PEG, 4 cycles chemo (TPF), then weekly chemo + 7 weeks radiation (2 per day) incl IMRT = 70 doses total, done 6/4/09
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 64 | Rex can only take his pills in his peg tube now. I have spoke with the dr. and he suggested that I crush them up and put them with water. The only type of pill he can swallow is a capsol.
Crgvr to Husband 55-yrs, surgery to remove cyst-diagnosed as SCC, 4/3/09 CT & Pet Scan showed more cancer in left lymph node and primary at the base of the tongue.TX Radiation 7 weeks 5 days a week last day is 6/25/09
Chemo completed 6/19/09
Peg Tube 5/22/09
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | For crushing pills, I found the combo pill crusher/ splitter to be very convenient. There is a little razor blade set into plastic that snaps shut and splits the pill. Then the bottom unscrews to reveal a grinder that really pulverizes the pills. Much easier to dissolve in water. The grinders work so well, that you don't even need to split most pills.
Most pharmacies sell them. They have little plastic "teeth" on both sides and you just screw the two halves together.
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 |
For anyone who crushes their pills, please ask the doc. Some meds are not ok to crush.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 247 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 247 Likes: 1 | Thanks Christine. Yes, we were warned to check with MD/Pharmacist about which pills could be crushed. I mentioned it in my original post and should have repeated the warning.
CG to husband, dx @ age 65, nonsmoker/social drinker. Dx 5/08 SCC Stage IV, BOT T1N2aM0. 33 IMRT - completed 9/12/08. Induction Chemo (Cisplatin, Taxotere & 5FU), plus concurrent Cisplatin.
1/09 PEG removed; 5/09 neg PET/CT; 5/10 PET/CT NED
Dental extraction & HBOT 2013; ORN 2014; Debridement/Tissue Transfer & HBOT 2016
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | The worst pill I had to take when crushed was a potassium pill that was mixed with something reddish . It burned my tongue so bad it bled. That happened 1 more time and I told the nurse if she would bring 1 more for me, that she was going to take it while I watched her get sick and get blood on hre pretty whites.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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