I have to go to the hospital a few times a year for them to put a camera down my food pipe. They usually put it through my nose and it hurts quite a bit. Yesterday I insisted he puts it down my mouth. I told a new doctor that I anyway have to put a tube down daily to make sure it doesnt constrict so why is a camera different. He said that if I bite on it it I can damage the camera which costs a very lot of money. I told him you have made sure I cant bite since all my teeth have been taken out. In the end I got my way and believe me it makes a huge difference. He could take his time looking at my food pipe and could go right up to my stomach without me squirming in pain. The tube I put in is anyway much thicker so I dont know why they make such a fuss about it. I am still waiting to hear about getting a stent.
Interesting that seeker it's not something that's ever crossed my mind before. Personally though I don't think it would've made much difference for me, up the nose was fine it was only when the thing got into my throat that sometimes (not always) it made me gag; so going directly there would've had the same result.
Metastatic SCC diagnosed 8th October 2013. Modified radical neck dissection November, thirty-five radiotherapy fractions with 2xCisplatin chemo Jan/Feb 2014. Recurrence on larynx diagnosed July 2020 so salvage laryngectomy in September 2020.
