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Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (Difficulty Swallowing)
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: May 13 6:00pm | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
Well, although my situation is different, I can relate to the stopped up feeling because with cricopharyngeal dysfunction the sphincter just sometimes won’t open, so food backs up until it releases through a burp or slowly passes through (like a clogged drain). Sometimes the burps feel like regurgitation. I’ve been doing a ton of high calorie smoothies and protein shakes to supplement other meals which have either been puréed soups or soups with some pieces in them. It is extremely frustrating to not be able to eat normally, I totally agree. Often takes me 1.5 hours to finish anything that isn’t a smoothie or protein shake. Most frustrating health issue I’ve experienced in my life thus far.
The dysphagia exercises I’ve been doing include laryngeal massage, neck massage, Masako manuever, chin-tuck resistance exercises with a towel, supraglottic swallow (when food gets stuck) as well as shaker exercise when food is stuck. I believe they’ve helped make me more comfortable when I swallow but haven’t solved the issue. I hope others who have undergone radiation like you will share what exercises they’ve done.
I have a question about the Botox - did you experience any adverse side effects from the injections?
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Thanks for the exercises. I have looked them up on Google and hope some might help.
In the Botox injection that I had last fall, for a week or two afterwards I burped a lot afterwards. As a result, I chose not to get the optional followup injection a week later. It did seem to help my ability to speak a little bit, but soon afterwards I started radiation treatment which took that away.
I had had a swallow test the week before the Botox where I was shown that food was getting stuck part way down. At that time, I could eat anything but needed to take small bites, chew completely and then drink a fair amount of water to get it to go all the way down. It did not really impair my quality of life the way my swallowing problems do now.
In my laryngectomy, the crycopharyngeal muscle was not cut. Apparently this is done sometimes and depends on whether the surgeon determines it is necessary for that person.
I have found that when I get completely stopped up, I can't get anything down until whatever is plugging me up gets burped up. That usually happens after about 2 hours and its always when I am trying to eat something solid. No matter how much I try to chew and dissolve it in my mouth before swallowing, a very small piece about 1/4 inch across will go down and get stuck. In my last swallow test, the SLP showed me again what was happening when I was trying to swallow. There are multiple things going on but one is strictures in the esophagus from the radiation and the other is the crycopharyngeal muscle spasming and not relaxing.
Although I have been encouraged to keep trying to eat solid food, its something I have to avoid for at least the first half of the meal so that I can get something down.