Guest guest Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 , Congratulations on your new hope!! I can imagine that it feels great!! If they give you any tips on the swallowing things, please pass it along as I have the same problem. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 : Please inform me of your medical condition relating to the swallowing problem. I don't want to steer you in the wrong path here. What is the cause of your swallowing problem, symptoms, etc. Do you have medical insurance? Some good medical tests can confirm problems. Thank goodness I have it. I was complaining about the high premiums (and rising), but I am now grateful I have it. I could never get the answers I am getting now without it. From: Gilbert <ngilbert4787@...> Subject: Re: [ ] Good News????? Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 10:03 PM , Congratulations on your new hope!! I can imagine that it feels great!! If they give you any tips on the swallowing things, please pass it along as I have the same problem. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 , Just wanted to let you know I told my speech pathologist today that someone (YOU) had suggested I drink thru a straw, and that it had helped me tremendously (and it has!). Once I get your history and other details, I will discuss my therapy. Also, will learn more on Monday and the following weeks. Thanks, From: Gilbert <ngilbert4787@...> Subject: Re: [ ] Good News????? Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 10:03 PM , Congratulations on your new hope!! I can imagine that it feels great!! If they give you any tips on the swallowing things, please pass it along as I have the same problem. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 : Please e-mail privately concerning your swallowing problem. If you have medical insurance, as you know, this should be taken care of by a medical doctor. Aspiration from choking and dysphagia can result in serious complications. It is imperative that you seek medical diagnosis and treatment. The exercises and tips given to me by my speech pathologist today are in the context of medical treatment. I will be happy to pass these along, but this should be no substitute for seeing a speech pathologist. Have you had a videoradiology screening/barium swallowing procedure? This will give clues to exactly the problem you have (i.e. tumors, neurological disorder, etc.). I got treatment for this initially back in 2007, but didn't follow thru on the exercises and diet they recommended as I got re-diagnosed with mets to the lungs. Had too much on my plate to deal with. I was overwhelmed with having a re-currence of cancer to the lungs last fall and didn't follow thru with the exercises, some of which were given to me two years ago. They were saying I had acid reflux, but got diagnosed with the lung mets about 6-9 months later. This dysphagia problem started in the fall of 2005. There are many causes, so your guess is as good as mine. Elderly folks get it all the time. As they age, the nerves in the throat get weaker, making it harder to get food down without choking. The doctor advised against strong spices (there goes my cayenne I love) as it can trigger coughing/vomiting in the esophogus. I had some hot peppers from the salad bar today as well. I would also avoid excessive intake of highly acidic foods. He told me 1 1/2 years ago to get off tomatoes, lemons and limes and other " acidic " foods, but I won't do it because of my raw diet. A healthy way to thicken liquids is agar-agar, a seaweed. Just mix in and stir. You can get it cheap at www.iherb.com. Don't use the commerical pharmacy Thick 'n as it contains potato starch and other junk. Let's talk! E-mail me offlist. From: Gilbert <ngilbert4787@...> Subject: Re: [ ] Good News????? Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 10:03 PM , Congratulations on your new hope!! I can imagine that it feels great!! If they give you any tips on the swallowing things, please pass it along as I have the same problem. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 , I'm so glad you are finding a sense of renewed hope and determination! > I have easily moved into an all raw diet, with absolutely no cravings for cooked foods. Made dehydrated foods and snacks all week to munch on for comfort foods. I am ordering Pure Synergy and VitaMineral Green this week-end. My speech pathologist is impressed that I am on a raw diet and mentioned to me today that he needs to lose weight!! I told him I had lost 92 pounds from my highest weight back in December 2005. > > I have renewed hope!!! No matter what the tests, scans and docs say, you can find what you need to restore and support your body's ability to heal. I hope the changes in diet are helpful and that your body finds its way to a new level of health. D'Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 , I have difficulty swallowing because my entire neck is swollen due to my thyroid cancer. I can't swallow pills, dry foods get stuck in my throat, but worst of all is liquids. Liquids just go down the wrong say. I have medical insurance and I have told my doctor about it, but I think it is pretty much a symptom of my disease and there's not much they can do for it. Your advice on tucking in my chin was great and I just figured if they gave you any more little tips like that you could pass them along. -- From: Dorr : Please inform me of your medical condition relating to the swallowing problem. I don't want to steer you in the wrong path here. What is the cause of your swallowing problem, symptoms, etc. Do you have medical insurance? Some good medical tests can confirm problems. Thank goodness I have it. I was complaining about the high premiums (and rising), but I am now grateful I have it. I could never get the answers I am getting now without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 , Glad I could help a little. -- ________________________________ From: Dorr <dorrnancy@...> , Just wanted to let you know I told my speech pathologist today that someone (YOU) had suggested I drink thru a straw, and that it had helped me tremendously (and it has!). Once I get your history and other details, I will discuss my therapy. Also, will learn more on Monday and the following weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 The exercises I was given are specifically for dysphagia--difficulty swallowing. The idea is to strengthen the throat muscles so that the swallowing reflex works more efficiently. I am not sure that this will help your situation, but I will gladly tell you what was told to me. Stick your tongue out just a little so that it is between your front teeth. Now bite down. Put your fingertip on your Adam's apple and swallow. When it rises to the top of your throat to the highest level, hold as long as you can---this builds muscle. You can feel it--you won't be able to breathe either so I can only hold a little bit. The second exercise is lying on your back with arms out horizontal with body---everything flat including head. Now raise your head and look at your feet straight ahead--lower the head. Do 20-30 of these, then rest. Now raise your head again, but HOLD it for at least 30 seconds---again this builds the muscles in the throat. Do this 2-3 x. Repeat the first part again---raising and lowering your head 20-30 times and resting. Repeat the second part again---2-3x That's it! I will pass along the info about being able to take supplements when I get that information hopefully next week. I would still advise you to see a speech pathologist who may have other ideas as well. I had resigned myself to living with this horrible problem, until I decided to see if anything would help. It's a horrible problem, isn't it. I coughed at the wheat grass juice stand tonight because I forgot to tuck my chin and use a straw. I threw my head back and drank down the wheat grass in one big gulp. Big mistake, as you know. So sorry you are having to deal with cancer as well. It sucks, doesn't it? Let me know how it goes. , I have difficulty swallowing because my entire neck is swollen due to my thyroid cancer. I can't swallow pills, dry foods get stuck in my throat, but worst of all is liquids. Liquids just go down the wrong say. I have medical insurance and I have told my doctor about it, but I think it is pretty much a symptom of my disease and there's not much they can do for it. Your advice on tucking in my chin was great and I just figured if they gave you any more little tips like that you could pass them along. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 The easiest way to swallow supplements is with Kefir. Put one tablet and slide it down with Kefir. It works for us. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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