Talking

Hi MrsPooks Yes no real problems speaking but the throat can be seriously painful in general . You have to go through it to experience it. Its going to hurt but is a temporary thing until something else hurts 

Hi there

For me, I found it too painful to speak from about 4 or 5 weeks into treatment and for 2 or 3 weeks after. I used to communicate with a pen and small whiteboard. Not the easiest way to communicate but it did the job at the time

Morninng MrsPooks

My cancer is in the right side of my tongue and rear floor of my mouth, which makes it painfull when i move my tongue around and swallow. I have had a NG Feeding tube for four months, it's being replaced on Wed with a RIG.

Some days i find my tongue hurst too much to talk, or if i've been chatting for a long time. On those days i use an app on my phone called Speech Assist.

Cat x

Hi MrsPooks 

My feeding tube was in place because I was in too much pain to swallow. It didn't stop me talking though . I doubt much would 

My voice was quieter and I couldn't sing for some months. I lost the ability to whistle for three years

My voice could be husky in the  morning but a drink soon sorted that.

Hi Merrygoround I think you made an executive decision there for the good of the throat . It would have been handy being told what should and should not be done for a quicker recovery imho

I agree. 18 months on I continue to struggle with swallowing and also with a croaky voice. At my SALT appointment this week (and there gave been many) I learned that just by working on my vocal chords my ability to swallow will be greatly improved.  I wish I'd known that 18 months ago to be honest. All that nice food I've missed!

*have

Hi Merrygoround I have been given exercises from the word go and even though I didnt do them religiously more a case of when I remembered but they really helped . So do them is my advice. Opening and closing mouth being a major one , I have since had a salvage neck dissection which is a load more exercises and went to the lymphoma nurse this week , so got even more exercises to do lol All the Best Regards Minmax

Minmax said:

I have been given exercises from the word go and even though I didnt do them religiously

And for life. That was the advice I was given. I still do mine once a day four years on. 

Hi I still do mine daily often in the car or when reading. I get strange looks sometimes at traffic lights. I too was told for life. 
Hazelx