Trouble swallowing

Hi Cath58

I am so sorry to read that that the trouble swallowing has started again for your husband, and I know only too well how scary it is waiting for the date of the scan and then the scan.

Firstly as a suggestion I would say, if your husband doesn't already do so, try fizzy drinks whilst eating, my husband has found that the fizzy drink taken the beginning of a meal, lubricates the pipe, he then takes regular sips if he feels uncomfortable in his eating. We have started to reduce his meat intake quite considerably, mince he can do without a problem but lumps of meat have to be cut small, and this is usually done in the kitchen before placing the plate down to eat. The reason, the lumps seem to get larger as he cuts and eats them, than if it is all cut up beforehand. This is something that he does for himself, he makes the choice, dependent on how he feels on the day.

As an example we will cook and strip chicken wings, the eat that meat with salad & salad dressing, and or boiled potatoes slightly bashed with butter. We eat foods high in anti-oxidants often blitzed as smoothies, but my husband has found that he really has to slow down when eating... He can eat almost anything now but is sometimes over cautious and this in-turn causes blockages.

I want to apologise that I have not responded to your messages on the forum before, I haven't seen them, though I have reviewed them now and if you need a friendly ear, I am often around so feel free to message me.

You mention that your husbands chemo finished in November, do you know why?  Is he receiving any other treatment at all?

Take care of both of you

Lowe'

Hi, he used to drink milk with his meal so we changed to water so I will try the fuzzy juice. We are cutting meals down, he eats little and often now. Chemo finished as was end of the course. He still gets pins and needles in his feet and hands and now he losing feeling in tips of fingers.

I have my daughter home with us so we share things together. 

Thank you for your kindness

Catherine

I am so sorry to hear of his difficulty in swallowing.  I went through this also--  trouble in swallowing, unpleasant regurgitation.  I could only eat half-teaspoon at a time, after chewing very completely the food.  Avoided most foods--  bran flakes breakfasr cereal was the best for me.

Then I received chemo and radiation (8 chemo sessions, 28 radiation treatments) over a seven week period.  After the second week--  I could swallow again,,,then swallow normally at the end of treatment.  It is now two years after completing treatment--  I swallow normally.  Every day is a good day!  I do have fatigue, but it is tolerable.   My cancer was at the bottom end of the gullet where it joins the stomach.

I hope your hubbly does as well as I did,

Best wishes to both of you.

Hi Cath sorry to hear about the swallowing difficulties , I had the same trouble , radiotherapy burnt my throat so much I just couldn’t it , after surgery I kept vomiting and food getting stuck ,even porridge would stack in my throat found out I needed dilatation to stretch the scar , it’s been a long problem as after a while it strings back , now had 11 and can eat anything but slow and small portions , hopefully it will get better for your husband too, good luck and stay positive