Advice and suggestions to help with eating and swallowing

Hiiii…

I had the same as you, but as the cancer was in my lymph node also I had Radiotherapy which made eating even harder.

im now 12 months since I finished my treatment and still struggle a bit with food, but it does get better I can assure you.

if you can drink the meal supplement drinks take those I didn’t like them and lost over 5 stone, the nurses or doctors can give you pain relief and mouth washes to help don’t be afraid to ask for help, I was on lots of morphine.

the best things are soups make your own with vegetables and blend them, soft eggs scrambled it’s very important you get your calories in I had a lot of Mac Donald’s milk shakes and ice creams just to get calories in me. Just keep going it will get better your doing well

Hi A

Two weeks ago today I had the same surgery as yourself and have spent every day since on this feed harassing everyone that has been on this journey before us.

For over a week I really struggled with food, fluids and trying to swallow medication was impossible. (I’d had Tors surgery the month before and it wasn’t as bad)

i had great input from the guys on here and when reading other threads I suspected I may have thrush.  Long story short I do have and after a few days of medication it’s getting better. 

Today I managed a fresh cream Chocolate Eclair.. it was not an attractive look as I still can’t open my jaw wide so most of it was up my nose and over my face but I managed it.

so yeah, make sure there is no other infection, buy some ‘thin’ ice poles and know that every day is a wee bit better.

keep in touch 

Allana 

Thanks Allana...I'm laughing in a totally understanding way at the image of the fresh cream éclair entering your digestive system in s variety of ways...

Thanks for your reply...and the laugh.

Annx

Hi, it is mainly down to time.  I assume they removed the tonsils??  If so then probably around day 10 you will start to feel much more comfortable.  I started on really soft things and was probably on shepherd's pie by around day 12.  Strangely buttered toast I found quite acceptable, mainly because the bread (being toasted) did not clag up in my mouth into balls too painful to swallow.

I found taking paracetamol around 30 minutes before food helped with the pain of swallowing.

Hopefully in a few days you will be wondering what all the fuss was about.

Hi One tonsil removed...and some lymph nodes. Good advice re paracetamol. Thanks

Ann