Personal introduction - "why swallowing matters"

Yes please do. Tips from fellow sufferers are always welcome 

There is a good article HERE 

I was given a list of exercises by speech and language 

I did my swallowing exercises religiously during treatment and three years later I still do an “ effort full swallow” and trismus exercises. 

Hi Matteo. As Dani says please do always good to have firsthand experience . I had an excellent speech and language therapist and was given swallow exercises from week 1 which I still do the hard swallow one and mouth opening 3 years on. 
Best wishes Hazel

“When you swallow, your tongue pushes the bolus to the back of your mouth. Then, a reflex takes over and the back of your tongue pushes the food into your esophagus.” What happens if you can’t manage to swallow solids or liquids following surgery or other treatment?  This question assumes that pain management is effective.

If and when the tongue muscle is weak, as it will be following robotic-assisted or manual surgery for oropharyngeal cancer, for example, a helpful quasi-vacuum seal can be created as soon as a parcel of food or drink enters the mouth cavity. I found that I could create a useful vacuum by pinching tightly mid-way along the nose, at the end of the nasal bone, both sides, pinching right down into the nose. Keep the mouth closed while you do so and chew/drink and swallow normally. When swallowing is done, open the mouth and breathe. If the food feels a little stuck or felt ‘gravelly’ on its way down, have a sip of a sweet tepid or cool drink, again pinching tightly at the end of the nasal bone, both sides, mouth kept closed. Swallow normally and enjoy the feeling of the food being washed safely down the esophagus. Simple remedy, but as long as you can repeat the enter food/pinch/swallow/release pinch rhythm, it will work consistently and you can enjoy a meal. When I discovered the technique, coming after two weeks of rapid weight loss and hospital readmission for dysphagia and malnourishment, it gave me confidence that I would recover from the operation.

It would have been nice to have received some swallowing exercises from the SALT people at hospital but they are widely available elsewhere.