Personal introduction - "why swallowing matters"

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So glad and pleased that a forum such as this exists and the opportunity to be a part of it.  I've recently come out of what was for me major surgery for oropharyngeal and neck cancer and was left with one huge problem: swallowing sufficiently strongly to get liquid and foods down.  I've devised out of pure necessity a couple of management techniques and would be happy to share them with anyone in need of help. Being unable to drink is a terrible problem to have to deal with. In my case it prevented anything more than snatches of sleep, led to horrible nightmares, and eventually sent me back to A&E suffering from dehydration and malnutrition.  I've worked hard on finding solutions to a weak swallow and a painful swallow and would only be delighted if I could help others to avoid living with the same problem. 

  • 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. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • 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

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

  • “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.