Cancer of the larynx newbie

Hi Mattie. Good to hear you are nearly through this and still “eating”

Gargling with Difflam or soluble aspirin ten minutes before trying to swallow might help but I found doing the same with oramorph, then swallowing it was better. I was given antacid with Oxetecaine which is like gaviscon with local anaesthetic in it. It didn’t do much for me but some people found it helpful

As for the mucous,  drinking a lot is the best thing and a nebuliser is better than a face steamer. If it gets really bad you can ask your team for a drug called carbocysteine which can thin the mucous enough to be able to spit it out easily. 
Keep going. 

Hey Dani, thanks that's some great advice. I am using a peg feeding tube for food and meds, but will try your recommendations.

Thanks 

M

Hi again. I had an NG tube. Everything went in that for 8 weeks. I couldn’t be bothered fighting g to swallow much though I did do my exercises. 

Hi Mattie  used a nebuliser around 6 times a day sometime saline sometime cooled boiled water. Even resorted to pulling it out with my fingers. I was ng tube fed from week 4 to week 3 of recovery it did help me concentrate on getting a good recovery as I could hardly swallow   Soda water swilled round mouth as well 

Hazel 

Amazing thanks will try

Hi Mattie 

Welcome to this very supportive group. Glad to hear you are nearing the end of treatment sorry to say that things may get a bit worse before they get better some people its a few weeks and for some of us its a few months.

The Mucus issue can be very troublesome try propping up top end of bed or using lots of pillows ( I had 7 now down to 6)

You can get little foam ended sticks ( got mine from Amazon thanks to Hazel).Most of the time i pulled it out or wiped the thick sticky stuff out with tissues used several boxes a day.

Nebuliser seems to help lots of people,your Cancer Nurse Specialist may be able to loan you a small suction machine if you are chocking on on Mucus.Changed my life stilk use it every morning.

All the best for the coming weeks 

Debbie

Hey Deb, read your story, I was a bit glassy eyed. Poor you, you've been through the mill. I really connect with you on a lot of your issues. The RIG op, omg the pain I literally couldn't move or get out of bed. Nothing would stop the pain. Then boom just went. But I did loose 2kgs in a week, which worried my CNS , I really struggle with the pain in throat and the green goo. Luckily am a healthcare professional so I managed to get hold of a nebuliser and yes really helps. And got some fab advice here tried swilling soda water around mouth that helps too. 

This group is great I wish I had joined sooner, very very supportive bunch.

I have found this through my treatment days and hospital stays, that people in our situation seem to have found it easier to talk with others in same situation and have made some good cancer buddies on this same journey. 

Lovely to meet you.

Matt x

Hi Matt

Yes sorry need to get round to finishing it

I hope you can get the pain sorted Matt .In the end I was on Fentanyl Patches which were great for me and took the severe edge of the pain.

Try everything that Dani and Hazel have suggested, as Im sure youve heard from others you've spoken too different things work for some and not for others.Its all try it and see!

Glad you've made some good Cancer Buddies, mine have pulled me through and still continue yo give me amazing advice.

This group is so supportive, never a daft question  and always so comforting to know others have been through it and willing to help anyone who asks.

Take care Matt we are here when you need us!

Debbie

• Thanks Deb, keep